6 Best Lifeguard and Open Water Peril Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 9, 2026

The sunny beach has danger just offshore, and these films patrol it. The Shallows has a surfer stranded on a rock facing a great white, Open Water leaves a couple behind by their dive boat, and The Guardian trains an ambitious Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Baywatch plays it for laughs, with Blue Crush and Lifeguard rounding out the six.

Baywatch (2017)

TMDB ★ 5.4

A group of lifeguards uncovers a dangerous criminal plot threatening their beach and their town.

Directed by Seth Gordon · 1h 56m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Shallows (2016)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A surfer stranded on a rock just offshore must outsmart a great white shark to survive until help arrives.

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra · 1h 26m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Guardian (2006)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A legendary Coast Guard rescue swimmer trains a talented but arrogant new recruit.

Directed by Andrew Davis · 2h 19m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video · Buy: Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Open Water (2004)

TMDB ★ 5.7

A couple on holiday are accidentally left behind by their scuba diving boat and must survive alone in shark-infested water.

Directed by Chris Kentis · 1h 19m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Blue Crush (2002)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A talented surfer balances her dream of competing professionally with work and family responsibilities.

Directed by John Stockwell · 1h 44m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lifeguard (1976)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A thirty-two-year-old lifeguard faces a midlife crisis over whether to finally grow up and move on.

Directed by Daniel Petrie · 1h 36m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Lifeguard and Open Water Peril Movies

Baywatch (2017)

The Shallows (2016)

The Guardian (2006)

Open Water (2004)

Blue Crush (2002)

Lifeguard (1976)

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