When most people think about ‘shark movies’, it’s likely that the first films that come to mind are ones that paint the creatures in a pretty terrifying light.
The stylistic choice of making a razor-toothed sea mammal into a main villain, and even sometimes the title character, is undeniably a fantastic way to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Unlike many other scary movies, whose plotlines can be rationalized with “well, that would never happen in real life”, we all know that sharks do exist, and their population is growing.
While there hasn’t been evidence of 60ft sharks, as seen in “The Meg”, dating past prehistoric times, most people also know that more than 80% of the ocean remains unexplored. Having so little information on what’s really out there, in combination with rising shark encounters evokes a different type of fear that no possessed doll or creepy twins that speak in unison could ever match.
All that being said, there are also shark movies that are about as far from ‘scary’ as one can get. In the list below, we’ll also recommend some titles that are made for kids, but enjoyed by adults of all ages.
Without any further introduction, let’s get into 6 of our favorites to add to your watch list.
The Best Shark Movies
6. Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Featuring Taylor Lautner and George Lopez, “Sharkboy and Lavagirl” follows 2 superheroes who rescue a young boy named Max from his harsh reality of being bullied at school and listening to his parents constantly argue at home.
The three go on wild adventures in an attempt to save Planet Drool, where Sharkboy and Lavagirl are from, fighting off giant evil robots and hungry dogs that electrocute their prey. In the film, Sharkboy (Lautner) is an energetic, quick to anger, loyal friend to Max.
He morphed into half-shark half-boy when his father went missing at sea and he was taken in by a shiver. At the end of the film, Max is happy at school and at home, Lavagirl is crowned Queen of Volcanoes, and Sharkboy becomes King of the Ocean.
5. The Meg
Jon Turtletaub’s “The Meg” was released in 2018, and is about a group of scientists who come face to snout with a 75-foot megalodon shark, while on a rescue mission in the Pacific Ocean. Knowing that the rest of the world could never handle such a creature, instead of fleeing the sea floor, they decide to pull their knowledge and strengthstogether to kill the Meg.
Eventually, Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham), the main character and professional diver on the submarine, is able to injure the Meg before it reaches a crowd of people off the shore of Sanya Bay. We’ll leave the fate of Jonas, his crew and the Meg up to you to watch!
4. Shark Tale
DreamWorks’ 2004 “Shark Tale” is an animated film that follows Oscar, a bluestreak cleaner wrasse fish who dreams of being rich and famous one day. When he is offered a suspicious ticket to the top, he learns quickly that wealth does not equate to happiness.
With some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, and Martin Scorsese, “Shark Tale” grossed $374.6 million worldwide, and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
3. The Shallows
“The Shallows” is one of the more terrifying, graphic shark movies on this list, definitely not intended for children. It tells the story of Nancy Adams (Blake Lively), who journeys to a secluded island for some peace and quiet to mourn the loss of her mother. Against her better judgment, Nancy decides to go surfing by herself and is attacked by a great
white shark. She is badly injured, but able to get to safety by swimming to a rock about 200 yards off the coastline. With tides rising and the shark circling, the young woman must figure out a way to get back to the beach before it is too late.
2. Soul Surfer
If you don’t know this movie -- where have you been!? “Soul Surfer” tells the true, heroic story of surfing legend Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack when she was just 13-years-old.
During a typical session off the shores of Kauai, Hawaii, with her dad and best friend (another legend Alana Blanchard) a tiger shark bites off Bethany’s left arm all the way up by her shoulder.
“Soul Surfer” is about her brave journey learning how to live with just one arm, and getting back into the sport she loves too much to give up.
1. Jaws
Can you hear the theme song?
“Two notes… and you’ve got a villain” - Jack Black, ‘The Holiday’.
When a great white shark with a mission to eat every living thing in sight starts lurking along the coastline of a Cape Cod beach community, oceanographer Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), local shark hunter Sam Quint, (Robert Shaw) and police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) come together and attempt to kill the beast.
(Jaws made it on our list of the best beach movies, too.)
If you need any further description, trust us, and just go watch the film!
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