As Jaws turns 50, the 10 scariest shark movies ever made
The scariest films tap into something primal. Shark attack movies may have begun with Jaws in 1975, but the genre endures because Jaws was merely the first to articulate a fear that nearly all of us have felt – the dread of what may be lurking below our feet in the watery depths below.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws' release today, here are some of the most terrifying films – in no particular order – that tap into the age-old dynamic of man versus shark.
47 Meters Down (2017)
47 Meters Down is directed by Johannes Roberts, and stars Mandy Moore and Claire Holt as sisters. The film follows the two as they go on a shark-cage diving expedition off the coast of Mexico. During the dive, the winch snaps and the cage drops 47 metres to the ocean floor.
As the oxygen depletes and panic ensues, sharks begin to circle the cage. Made on a modest budget of $5 million, the film grossed more than $60 million in box-office returns. The small budget allowed for a larger focus on creating a suspenseful and toe-curling experience without the need for bombastic effects.
Open Water (2003)
In 1998, Tom and Eileen Lonergan went out with a scuba diving group on the Great Barrier Reef, only to be accidentally left behind. They were never seen again.
Open Water, from director Chris Kentis, imagines what may have happened to them into one of the bleakest films of the century thus far. And while it does eventually build to violent confrontations with the ocean's apex predators, Open Wate r is at its most chilling in anticipation of that fateful event. And because it was made on a low-budget in pseudo-documentary style, it's impossible to divorce this film from the reality that inspired it.
Jaws (1975)
Director Steven Spielberg has made a plethora of masterpieces in his decades-long career, but even if he'd stopped after Jaws, his reputation would have been sealed.
Jaws remains a masterclass in suspense filmmaking and the birth of the modern blockbuster, all with richly rendered characters. But what's most surprising is, even 50 years later, it's still deeply unnerving. A true classic – and should remain a film each generation discovers at a young age when they're ready for something scary.
Dangerous Animals (2025)
Written by Nick Lepard and directed by Sean Byrne, Dangerous Animals may have had its premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, but this is no highbrow art film. The film follows Hassie Harrison's Zephyr, an American surfer kidnapped by a shark-obsessed psychopath Bruce Tucker, played by Jai Courtney, who holds her captive aboard his trawler for ritualistic shark-feeding sessions.
The movie may be the latest shark-based horror flick in a long line to deliver nautical scares, but many are calling it the best in years. Combining the fear of sharks with the demented mind of a serial killer, Dangerous Animals, now in cinemas, delivers a truly new experience to the subgenre.
The Shallows (2016)
Less is more. Rarely is that more clear than in director Jaume Collet-Serra's The Shallows.
There are only two main characters to be found here – one is a medical student named Nancy Adams (Blake Lively), who goes out surfing and is stranded on a rock 180 metres from shore, and the other is a great white shark. In the film's pulse-pounding 86-minute runtime, Adams must find a way back to safety.
Jaws 2 (1978)
While it's often dismissed because of the greatness of its predecessor, Jaws 2 deserves a second look. Sure, it may not reach the heights of the first, but it's a cracking horror film in its own right – revealing the monster far earlier and upping the body count.
Ultimately, Jaws 2 is more comparable to Halloween or Friday the 13th, only the shark is the slasher picking off the core characters one by one instead of Jason or Michael Myers. Give it a shot, and you'll find it's one of the most underrated fright flicks of the 1970s.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
The sci-fi horror directed by Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin, who previously directed Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger may not be realistic, but it delivers the goods. Set in an isolated underwater research facility, the film follows a group of scientists who are genetically engineering mako sharks to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease.
Things go horribly wrong when the sharks attain intelligence and turn on the scientists. Renowned for its fast-paced action, suspenseful atmosphere and surprising plot twists, Deep Blue Sea features a strong cast that includes Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J and Samuel L Jackson.
The film has become a cult favourite for its mixture of CGI and animatronic effects, which were provided by Stan Winston Studios that previously worked on Jurassic Park and Aliens.
The Reef (2010)
Australian survival horror film The Reef is written, directed and produced by Andrew Traucki. The filmmaker specialises in survival thrillers, but this remains his best.
Inspired by real-life events, the film follows five friends whose boat capsizes on the way to Indonesia after striking a coral reef, forcing them into shark-infested waters as they attempt a perilous swim to safety.
The Reef is another stellar example of a shark attack film that delivers scares without a massive budget. Filmed on location in Queensland, the movie uses actual great white shark footage mixed with on-set scenes.
If there is one true hidden gem to be discovered from this list, it's The Reef. Its sequel, however, is more of a mixed bag.
Bait 3D (2012)
While you may have to adjust your aesthetic expectations from Steven Spielberg to more of an old-school Roger Corman monster movie, Bait is an often-thrilling suspense film that follows a group of people who are being hunted by bloodthirsty great white shark while strapped in a grocery store during a freak tsunami. This is a good time if you don't set your expectations too high.
Under Paris (2024)
A global hit when it released on Netflix last summer, this French action-horror disaster film directed by Xavier Gens follows a grieving marine biologist who is compelled to face her tragic past to save Paris from a giant shark that appears in the Seine river. While it's more thrilling than scary, it does offer moments of claustrophobic tension that may have you gasping for air.
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The National
4 hours ago
- The National
As Jaws turns 50, the 10 scariest shark movies ever made
The scariest films tap into something primal. Shark attack movies may have begun with Jaws in 1975, but the genre endures because Jaws was merely the first to articulate a fear that nearly all of us have felt – the dread of what may be lurking below our feet in the watery depths below. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws' release today, here are some of the most terrifying films – in no particular order – that tap into the age-old dynamic of man versus shark. 47 Meters Down (2017) 47 Meters Down is directed by Johannes Roberts, and stars Mandy Moore and Claire Holt as sisters. The film follows the two as they go on a shark-cage diving expedition off the coast of Mexico. During the dive, the winch snaps and the cage drops 47 metres to the ocean floor. As the oxygen depletes and panic ensues, sharks begin to circle the cage. Made on a modest budget of $5 million, the film grossed more than $60 million in box-office returns. The small budget allowed for a larger focus on creating a suspenseful and toe-curling experience without the need for bombastic effects. Open Water (2003) In 1998, Tom and Eileen Lonergan went out with a scuba diving group on the Great Barrier Reef, only to be accidentally left behind. They were never seen again. Open Water, from director Chris Kentis, imagines what may have happened to them into one of the bleakest films of the century thus far. And while it does eventually build to violent confrontations with the ocean's apex predators, Open Wate r is at its most chilling in anticipation of that fateful event. And because it was made on a low-budget in pseudo-documentary style, it's impossible to divorce this film from the reality that inspired it. Jaws (1975) Director Steven Spielberg has made a plethora of masterpieces in his decades-long career, but even if he'd stopped after Jaws, his reputation would have been sealed. Jaws remains a masterclass in suspense filmmaking and the birth of the modern blockbuster, all with richly rendered characters. But what's most surprising is, even 50 years later, it's still deeply unnerving. A true classic – and should remain a film each generation discovers at a young age when they're ready for something scary. Dangerous Animals (2025) Written by Nick Lepard and directed by Sean Byrne, Dangerous Animals may have had its premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, but this is no highbrow art film. The film follows Hassie Harrison's Zephyr, an American surfer kidnapped by a shark-obsessed psychopath Bruce Tucker, played by Jai Courtney, who holds her captive aboard his trawler for ritualistic shark-feeding sessions. The movie may be the latest shark-based horror flick in a long line to deliver nautical scares, but many are calling it the best in years. Combining the fear of sharks with the demented mind of a serial killer, Dangerous Animals, now in cinemas, delivers a truly new experience to the subgenre. The Shallows (2016) Less is more. Rarely is that more clear than in director Jaume Collet-Serra's The Shallows. There are only two main characters to be found here – one is a medical student named Nancy Adams (Blake Lively), who goes out surfing and is stranded on a rock 180 metres from shore, and the other is a great white shark. In the film's pulse-pounding 86-minute runtime, Adams must find a way back to safety. Jaws 2 (1978) While it's often dismissed because of the greatness of its predecessor, Jaws 2 deserves a second look. Sure, it may not reach the heights of the first, but it's a cracking horror film in its own right – revealing the monster far earlier and upping the body count. Ultimately, Jaws 2 is more comparable to Halloween or Friday the 13th, only the shark is the slasher picking off the core characters one by one instead of Jason or Michael Myers. Give it a shot, and you'll find it's one of the most underrated fright flicks of the 1970s. Deep Blue Sea (1999) The sci-fi horror directed by Finnish filmmaker Renny Harlin, who previously directed Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger may not be realistic, but it delivers the goods. Set in an isolated underwater research facility, the film follows a group of scientists who are genetically engineering mako sharks to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. Things go horribly wrong when the sharks attain intelligence and turn on the scientists. Renowned for its fast-paced action, suspenseful atmosphere and surprising plot twists, Deep Blue Sea features a strong cast that includes Thomas Jane, Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J and Samuel L Jackson. The film has become a cult favourite for its mixture of CGI and animatronic effects, which were provided by Stan Winston Studios that previously worked on Jurassic Park and Aliens. The Reef (2010) Australian survival horror film The Reef is written, directed and produced by Andrew Traucki. The filmmaker specialises in survival thrillers, but this remains his best. Inspired by real-life events, the film follows five friends whose boat capsizes on the way to Indonesia after striking a coral reef, forcing them into shark-infested waters as they attempt a perilous swim to safety. The Reef is another stellar example of a shark attack film that delivers scares without a massive budget. Filmed on location in Queensland, the movie uses actual great white shark footage mixed with on-set scenes. If there is one true hidden gem to be discovered from this list, it's The Reef. Its sequel, however, is more of a mixed bag. Bait 3D (2012) While you may have to adjust your aesthetic expectations from Steven Spielberg to more of an old-school Roger Corman monster movie, Bait is an often-thrilling suspense film that follows a group of people who are being hunted by bloodthirsty great white shark while strapped in a grocery store during a freak tsunami. This is a good time if you don't set your expectations too high. Under Paris (2024) A global hit when it released on Netflix last summer, this French action-horror disaster film directed by Xavier Gens follows a grieving marine biologist who is compelled to face her tragic past to save Paris from a giant shark that appears in the Seine river. While it's more thrilling than scary, it does offer moments of claustrophobic tension that may have you gasping for air.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
'Jaws' at 50: Steven Spielberg says he was surprised by Oscar snub
For acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, making Jaws was an unforgettable and stressful experience. So much so that he thought the ordeal would land him a best director nod at the Academy Awards. The famed filmmaker recalled in National Geographic's upcoming documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. "When a film is on the cusp of being considered for awards, it's not so much what you want for yourself — it's what everyone else says is going to happen for you," said Spielberg. "So I just understood, 'I guess I'm getting nominated." "So when I wasn't, I was surprised. And I was disappointed," he said. "Because I was believing the noise, and you have to not believe that stuff." Despite Spielberg missing out on a best director nomination, Jaws was nominated for four Oscars in 1976 and won three, only missing out in the best picture category. John Williams took home best original score for his iconic music, while the shark thriller also clinched trophies for best film editing and best sound. Directed by Laurent Bouzereau and produced in partnership with Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries, Jaws @ 50 includes the only interview with Spielberg about the movie's milestone. Other famed directors who appear in the documentary to reflect on Jaws' legacy include James Cameron, JJ Abrams, George Lucas, Jordan Peele and Guillermo del Toro. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres July 10 on National Geographic.
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Jaws turns 50: Which came first, the phobia or the film?
In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews are joined by The National 's arts and culture editor William Mullally to talk about Jaws to mark the film's 50th anniversary. The iconic shark attack film had such a massive impact in Hollywood when it was released in 1975, carving out an entire thriller genre for decades to come. In fact, people began describing hit summer films as "blockbusters" because of Jaws. The hosts discuss with William how director Steven Spielberg masterfully tapped into a primal human fear to create a work of art that still stands the test of time. They also talk about the film's potentially damaging impact on sharks and counter efforts in the industry to rehabilitate the marine ecosystem. Enas and Farah also had the chance to visit the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection at Manarat Al Saadiyat. The exhibition, presented by Abu Dhabi Culture, features special works by renowned artists across genres and eras. The hosts had the chance to view El Gran Espectáculo (The Nile) by the famous American 1980s artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The collection has also brought together a pair of paintings by Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin that had been separated, only to be reunited now for the first time since 2014. Enas and Farah talk about the value of giving the public unfiltered access to such significant works right here in the heart of Abu Dhabi's cultural district.
