6 Best Shark Attack Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 26, 2026

The primal terror of a shark attack has powered some of cinema’s most enduringly popular thrillers. In Jaws (1975): A police chief, a marine biologist, and a grizzled fisherman hunt a killer great white shark terrorizing a beach town. Worth seeking out is The Shallows (2016): A surfer stranded on an isolated rock must outsmart a relentless great white shark to reach shore.

The Meg (2018)

TMDB ★ 6.0

A deep-sea rescue team must survive an encounter with a massive prehistoric shark thought to be extinct.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub · 1h 53m · Rated PG-13

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

47 Meters Down (2017)

TMDB ★ 5.7

Two sisters trapped in a shark cage on the ocean floor must find a way to survive and resurface.

Directed by Johannes Roberts · 1h 29m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Starz Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Shallows (2016)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A surfer stranded on an isolated rock must outsmart a relentless great white shark to reach shore.

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

Open Water (2004)

TMDB ★ 5.8

A vacationing couple is accidentally left behind by their scuba diving boat in shark-infested waters.

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

Where to watch

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

TMDB ★ 6.2

Genetically enhanced sharks turn on the research team that made them dangerously intelligent.

Directed by Renny Harlin · 1h 45m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, Starz 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

Jaws (1975)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 97% Metacritic 87

A police chief, a marine biologist, and a grizzled fisherman hunt a killer great white shark terrorizing a beach town.

Directed by Steven Spielberg · 2h 04m · Rated PG

Won 3 Oscars16 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, YouTube TV, Netflix Standard with Ads · 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, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Shark Attack Movies

The Meg (2018)

47 Meters Down (2017)

The Shallows (2016)

Open Water (2004)

Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Jaws (1975)

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