The Top 10 Best Shark Movies

5. The Meg

The Meg is a shark movie that pits Jason Statham against a Megladon. I know it sounds too stupid to possibly work. However, everything somehow comes together to make this not just one of the best shark movies, but probably the best creature feature I’ve seen in years. The Meg manages to embrace it’s absurdity in all the right ways, which is why it’s earned a spot on this list. While so many other shark movies try to be legitimately scary, this is more of an action adventure with really intense moments. It’s probably the best popcorn flick of 2018, and the one that I’ll most fondly remember the summer for. I was hoping for the best when I saw The Meg in theaters and I was far from disappointed. After all, shark movies are pretty ridiculous in general, at lest this one plays to it’s strengths.

4. 47 Meters Down

I’ll be honest, not all shark movies are… Good. That’s probably why I put off watching 47 Meters Down for as long as I could. In fact, when I did finally put it on it was simply for background noise. It slowly became apparent though that this was a movie that I couldn’t simply watch casually and it sucked me in. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt manage to create nearly unbearable tension with their performances as two fun-loving Americans who are trapped in a nightmare. With little hope of rescue in shark-infested waters, they’re forced to try to survive while their air runs dangerously low. Of course, things keep going wrong for the two girls and 47 Meters Down features an ending that will absolutely blow your mind. Definitely check it out if you haven’t yet.

3. The Shallows

Blake Lively took a note from her husband Ryan Reynolds and decided to tackle a film that pretty much featured only here for nearly an hour and a half. While I love her husband, maybe even as much as she does, I have to admit that The Shallows was a lot more fun than Buried. It features her as a surfer who ends up trapped on a reef while a giant shark trolls the water looking for prey. With no hope of rescue in sight, starvation and dehydration setting in, the waiting game that this massive predator is playing with her turns into a deadly fight for survival. As far as shark movies go, this one was probably the biggest surprise for me. I went into it expecting the bare minimum and found myself enjoying a taut thriller that left me shaken.

2. Deep Blue Sea

Hey, I’m man enough to admit that Deep Blue Sea has been a guilty pleasure of mine since it hit theaters all those years ago. In fact, I remember having the choice to see it or the Blair Witch Project at the time, and I think I chose wisely in the end. Best of all, I rewatched this and it holds up surprisingly well. It’s also filled with recognizable actors from Thomas Jane to LL Cool J to even Samuel L. Jackson. Needless to say, it’s definitely got a cast that all other shark movies can be jealous of. For me, Deep Blue Sea is an incredible blend of comedy and horror, which totally offsets the absurdity of the premise. Unfortunately, the sequel was a huge letdown. Still, if you are looking for a shark movie that won’t keep you up at night and is just downright fun, this is your best bet.

1. Jaws

When it comes to shark movies, Bruce will always reign supreme. The beauty of Steven Spielberg‘s Jaws was the fact that the damn shark never wanted to work. So, the fresh-faced (at the time) director took a page from Ridley Scott’s Alien and used the monster fish as sparingly as possible on camera. The result is not only the greatest shark movie ever made but one of the all-time greatest horror films. The same can’t be said for the sequels, unfortunately. However, I was always a fan of the second film since it managed to recapture the spirit of the first. That being said, Jaws is a cinematic masterpiece, which means it is more than deserving of capturing the number one spot on this list. Just don’t watch it before heading to the beach anytime soon (take it from personal experience).

Those are the ten best shark movies that Stars & Popcorn managed to come up with. If you have some other great shark movies we should check out though, be sure to leave a comment below to let us know. Like I said earlier, I love shark movies and your suggestions are more than welcomed! In the meantime, be sure to check back from time to time to see what new shark movies might make their way onto this list of killer films. Oh, and if there’s ever a top 10 movie list you want to see in the future, just let us know in the comments below!