A handful of shark films had existed before Jaws (1975) but none had made much of a splash.
Post Jaws? Suddenly the market was infested with misunderstood fish monsters. Resulting in a lot of pretty terrible films.
A stand out was Mako the Jaws of Death (1976). A film that ironically attempts to sympathise with sharks who are hunted and slaughtered by making a film in which real sharks are really hunted and slaughtered. The disregard the filmmakers show for the animals means I can’t in good faith suggest anyone watches it.
Other films from the post Jaws rip off era that are surprisingly good but won’t make the list include Piranha (1978), Orca (1977) and Grizzly (1976). All fun films despite the lack of a shark antagonist, so do check them out if you’d like more reasons not to go into the water/woods.
This sub-genre is murky for sure. Jaws is DEFINITELY the best of them by far… at least 25 feet. I say this to prepare you for some pretty trashy films… but good fun trash. There’ll be none of those "so bad they’re good" shark films like Sharknado, or Ghost Shark or Shark in Venice or Bite Fight or Santa Jaws. Would you believe only one of those titles is made up? It’s not the one you think.
But yes, none of this is high-brow. I chose 7 films because the number looks like a sideways shark fin. That’s the level we’re at…
Open Water (2003)
With a miniscule budget of $120,000, this lo-fi little horror was labelled "The Blair Witch Project at sea". Inspired by the tragic true story of a husband and wife who were left stranded in the middle of the ocean after a scuba trip due to a miscount, Open Water supposes what may have happened next.
Daniel and Susan resurface to find the boat has returned back to land without them. Distraught as they thread water they face hunger, dehydration, exhaustion, jellyfish and of course… sharks. It's a nightmare situation and it plays out in a gruellingly realistic way, partly down to the fact that they shot with real sharks, no puppets or CGI here.
Modern day audiences may be put off by the look of the film. The budget meant the film had to be shot on shockingly fuzzy early 2000's digital cameras. Seriously, I can’t prepare you for how low cheap this film looks, but give it a chance and you’ll find a bleak and grim feature that fills you with dread that lasts for days after viewing it. If that’s what you’re into.
Currently streaming on Now and available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV and Rakuten TV
The Reef (2010)
Unsurprisingly, the first of two Australian films to make the list. Five friends find themselves stranded atop a capsized sinking boat in the Great Barrier Reef. Four members of the group leave to swim for land. It's 12 miles to the nearest island and their splashing has caught the attention of a hungry great white.
Like Open Water, this is loosely based on a true story. Unlike Open Water, things aren’t as hopelessly bleak from the get go and there’s a lot more action as the shark stalks and toys with it’s victims. Some of the CGI effects are a little date but forgivable for a low budget non Hollywood film, plus the film uses real life shark footage brilliantly.
Some great thrills and genuinely tense moments. Highly recommended.
Currently streaming on Shudder and available to rent on Apple TV, YouTube and Rakuten TV
Bait (2012)
Remember what I said about good trash? Bait is what I was talking about. The second Australian film on the list has some iffy effects, terrible dialogue, hammy performances but… it's a hoot.
A tsunami floods a beachside shopping mall and brings two great white sharks with it. A ragtag bunch of survivors are left to fight off the mallsharks as the waters rise.
Also known as Bait 3D, this film is full off "paddle ball moments". Moments that exist just to thrill 3D audiences. The name comes from the 1953 film, House of Wax, a 3D film that dedicates a minute to a man playing with a paddle ball. Needless to say watching moments like this in a 2D version really feels jarring.
Despite the hokey 3D moments, it’s a surprisingly fun film. It has no interest in realism regarding the behaviour of sharks… or people for that matter but you won’t care, silly and very gory entertainment.
Currently available to rent or buy on YouTube, Rakuten, Apple TV and Sky Store
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Back to Hollywood. Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, Samuel Jackson and LL Cool J star in a shark film with a considerably bigger budget. Produced by Warner Bros. Deep Blue Sea was seen as the first real contender in the sub-genre dominated by Jaws. Did it take the crown?
No, of course not, Jaws is the best, remember? Jaws is too good to even be on this list. But Deep Blue Sea is enjoyable with an interesting set-up. Scientists in an underwater research facility believe that there may be a cure for Alzheimer's in a protein found in the brains of mako sharks. So they genetically engineer several sharks to increase their brain size. Now these deadly predators have gotten a lot smarter.
Chaos ensues when a corporate executive, Russell (Jackson) pays a visit to the facility just before the sharks escape and run amuck.
Anyone who has ever seen Deep Blue Sea in the cinema in 1999 will happily tell you about the amazing twist shocker that happens surprisingly early in the film. I won’t ruin it here but that moment was quite an experience.
With just the right amount of glossy Hollywood silliness makes for a very enjoyable thriller. The 1999 CGI is terribly dated for the most part but thankfully the animatronic sharks hold up well.
Currently streaming on Amazon Prime and available to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Sky Store and Rakuten TV
The Meg (2018)
A film with Jason Statham fighting a giant prehistoric shark? Sign me up.
After the initial disappointment that at no point does the Stath attempt to headbutt the shark into oblivion fades you'll discover that there’s a lot to enjoy about this B-movie creature feature.
A group of scientist on ANOTHER underwater research centre lose contact with the crew aboard one of their submersible. Underwater rescue expert Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited to help. Spurred on by the suggestion that the disappearance may have something to do with a giant shark that caused the death of his crew five years earlier, Jonas takes the assignment.
The Meg is big dumb fun. All subtlety is out the window as our hero faces a 75 foot long shark. Jason Statham is always amusing as a leading man, just the right amount of cockney swagger. There’s very few actors who could plausibly take on this fight - and he’s one of them.
Currently available to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Sky Store and Rakuten TV
The Shallows (2016)
On a solo trip to Mexico, Nancy (Blake Lively) finds herself in an isolated surfer's paradise. While out on her board she’s attacked and bitten by a great white, Nancy escapes to a small rock 180 metres from shore. The tide’s coming in and the shark is still out there.
A scaled back simple tale of survival, Lively succeeds at holding the audience’s attention while being largely the only screen presence for most of the running time, her only companion is Steven, a seagull with an injured wing. It’s a captivating experience watching her use invention and ingenuity in an attempt to survive a possibly hopeless situation.
Currently available to rent on YouTube, Apple TV, Sky Store and Rakuten TV
47 Meters Down (2017)
You might have noticed that the plots of these shark films are largely based around one question, "what if?". What if sharks were smart? What if they were giants? What if they were swimming around a shopping mall?
What if you were in a diving cage that got stuck at the bottom of the ocean…and also, there's sharks?
That’s the question 47 Meters Down attempts to answer, Sisters Lisa and Kate (Claire Holt and Mandy Moore) are under experienced divers who find themselves in a cage surrounded by great white sharks when the winch that’s supposed to gently lower them into the water breaks and they plummet a very specific 47 meters down. Low on air and time, they fight for survival.
A tense and stylish thriller, 47 Meters Down is a low budget film with large portions shot in a backyard pool. It doesn’t show, this may be visually the most impressive film on the list with the most convincing shark effects. The filmmakers know just how much to show to keep it feeling genuine and scary.
Currently streaming on Netflix and available to rent on Apple TV, YouTube, Rakuten TV, and Sky Store
