Top 5 Shark Movies... So Far!

Shark movies have become a staple in popular culture. Ever since Steven Spielberg’s classic ‘Jaws’ burst onto the scene in 1975 (which may or may not be featured in this list, you will have to keep reading to find out), many films have tried to re-capture the terror of Jaws, with only a handful of releases actually succeeding at that herculean task. Celebrating the release of Universal's latest entry in the crowded ‘Shark, creature-feature’ genre, I will be taking a look at the top 5 shark movies of all time. These are my personal picks, so please take it with a grain of salt and as much as I enjoy ‘Asylum’ releases like the ‘Sharknado’ titles, they will not be making an appearance here. So, without further ado, let's go!

The Reef Stalked (2022) – In 2014, Australian film ‘The Reef’ took genre fans by storm, giving audiences a tense and realistic depiction of a group of friends stuck off a reef in Australia, with a shark circling them. Fans, including myself, were eagerly awaiting a follow-up, and in 2022 we got just that. ‘The Reef Stalked’ uses footage of real sharks to make up a lot of the underwater sequences in the film. This adds to the tension as we are seeing a real animal stalk its prey, in an isolated location. The film uses this tension to craft a terrifying, albeit realistic scenario, that stands above a lot of recent shark related films. In my opinion, the film is better than the original and worthy of being on this list.

Jaws (1975) – Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film ‘Jaws’ is unmatched in the genre. Whilst there are plenty of shark-related films that are entertaining and well-made, Spielberg did it first and did it best. Jaws has fantastic characters, an amazing story, and Bruce the mechanical shark that brings it all together. It  is over an hour before we actually see the shark in the film, which builds suspense, dread and tension throughout the entire runtime. The summer setting at Amity Island is iconic as well, providing a real Summer feeling. It's hard to talk about Jaws without treading familiar ground, but there is no denying its place on-top of any horror or shark film list. It’s the undisputed champ for a reason!

The Shallows (2016) – 2016’s ‘The Shallows’ is the closest that any big-budget related shark film has come to matching the intensity and tension of Jaws. Jaume Collette-Serra’s vision here, see’s Blake Lively’s character Nancy, trapped 200 metres away from the shoreline, with a Great White lurking in the shallows (hey that’s the title of the movie), preventing Nancy from getting to safety. Lively carries this film on her back, as she is using all the strength she can muster to stay alive. The film is gorgeously shot, using its location to its full advantage, with Collette-Serra’s vision perfectly encapsulating the fear of the situation. ‘The Shallows’ isn’t a masterpiece by any means, but it is a well-crafted creature feature that will keep the audience on the edge of their seat!

Deep Blue Sea (1999) – One of the more fun films involving the deadly predators is 1999’s ‘Deep Blue Sea’, starring Thomas Jane, Samuel L. Jackson, L.L Cool J and Michael Rapaport. The film is full of 1990s cheese and the audience is all the better for it. Renny Harlin uses the absurd premise of genetically altered bull sharks to his full advantage. The isolated research station setting is also memorable, as it adds to the looming threat of the sharks, as the research station slowly sinks into the ocean. The film also spawned two direct-to-video sequels ‘Deep Blue Sea 2’ and ‘Deep Blue Sea 3’, which are also a lot of fun! You can get all 3 in a 3-movie pack from Sanity now!

47 Metres Down: Uncaged (2019) – 2017s ‘47 Metres Down’ became a cultural phenomenon. The idea of two people stuck in a cage, 47 metres below the surface with deadly sharks surrounding them is utterly terrifying! Director Johannes Roberts saw an opportunity for franchise potential here and a sequel was greenlit quickly after the success of the first film. The sequel sees a group of teenage girls stuck in a sunken, ancient cave system off the coast of Mexico. After a cave-in under water, the girls become stuck with large great white’s lurking in the cave. The premise again is terrifying and thanks to some amazing underwater photography, the film looks gorgeous. It has its issues including a few fake outs in the third act, but overall, the film is a lot of fun and one that genre fans will love.

There are so many shark, creature-features to choose from, including the Jaws sequels which also have their own merit, but these are the films I find myself re-watching quite regularly. You can pick-up all these titles and more from your local Sanity and online. Be sure to also pre-order your copy of ‘The Reef: Stalked’ today on DVD or Blu-Ray, which arrives on shelves across Australia next Wednesday August 31st. 

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here