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The killer shark movie genre is notoriously filled with appallingly terrible entries, and many a made-for-TV movie. As 47 Meters thrashes its way into theaters this weekend, you’re bound to be itching for more shark #content. Despite the frequent less-than-stellar quality of these flicks, they are undeniably fun to watch. Sure, there’s a handful of classics, but the majority of the genre is crowded by strange shark hybrids, unrealistic scenarios, bikini-clad damsels in distress, and lots of bad CGI. Before you write all of those things off as negatives, turn off your judgmental side and allow yourself to fully indulge in the guilty pleasures that crazy killer shark movies can provide.
Whether you’re a fan of the countless SyFy Channel shark movies that are so delightfully bad you can’t look away, enjoy the better-made blockbusters featuring a many-toothed fiend, or simply want to turn your brain off and watch the best B-movie quality carnage you can find, you’re bound to be happy with the absolutely insane selections available to you. These people just don’t understand that the ocean is the shark’s house, and they tend to pay the price (usually with an arm or leg). We fished through the seaweed to find you the craziest killer shark flicks on streaming.
'Jaws'
There wouldn’t be a shark movie list without this genre-defining beloved blockbuster. Steven Spielberg‘s iconic 1975 thriller takes us to Amity Island, a quaint New England tourist town that sees its summer traditions turned upside down after a bloodthirsty shark goes on a killing spree. To prevent the loss of more lives and save Amity as they know it, a dysfunctional trio including Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw must team up to take down this beast from the deep.
'Deep Blue Sea'
Jaws might be the ultimate genre classic, but Deep Blue Sea takes killer sharks to a whole new level. On a quest to find the cure to Alzheimer’s, a group of scientists expand the brain mass of sharks while researching on an isolated research facility. While the experiments initially seem successful, the increasingly smart sharks start fighting back, and gory chaos ensues. Starring Thomas Jane, Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, and Stellan Skarsgård, this bonkers flick is equal parts scary and campy – you’ll find yourself laughing one second and holding your breath the next.
'The Shallows'
What begins as a quaint surfing expedition off the coast of Mexico soon turns into the vacation from hell after Nancy (Blake Lively) finds herself stranded a mere 200 yards from shore as she’s circled by a very hungry great white shark. This compact thriller knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to do anything fancy, and that’s why it succeeds. Lively’s main co-star in this movie is a seagull, and honestly, the bird is talented as hell. He really holds his own opposite the Gossip Girl star.
'Sharknado'
Every single one of these stupid movies is a shameful delight. The first one sees a freak hurricane tear through Los Angeles and bring airborne sharks with it, and as one would expect, complete insanity follows. Each of the sequels are just as wonderfully campy as the former, and the absolutely bananas performances and terrible special effects really cements this as the ultimate guilty pleasure. It’s best enjoyed mildly intoxicated with a group of friends.
'Dark Tide'
Did you know Halle Berry made a killer shark movie a mere five years ago? Well, now you do. Berry stars as a professional diver scarred by a traumatic shark incident who returns to the deep waters after a year. Surprise surprise, this finned fiend is still lurking beneath the surface and ready to finish what it started.
'The Reef'
This Australian horror film follows a group of friends living their best life on a yacht who are put to the test when it capsizes and they are stalked by a great white shark. Despite their best efforts to swim to a nearby island, they find themselves terrorized and picked off one by one as they fight for survival and stay afloat on the reef that the shark refuses to share.
'Shark Night 3D'
Thought sharks could only get you in the ocean? Think again! Even lakes aren’t safe! Seven swimsuit-clad college pals on vacation could never have guessed they’d end up fighting off 15 species of sharks when all they wanted to do was waterski and hookup at Sara’s lake house! With no cell service or means of transportation, all seems to be lost. Who can they trust in a time like this?! Definitely not the sharks, that’s for sure.
'Sharktopus'
Another bonkers SyFy gem, Sharktopus means exactly what you think it means. A shark-octopus hybrid created by the military who wreaks havoc in the Dominican Republic while its scientist creator tries to track it down and put an end to its reign of terror. Why did Eric Roberts do this movie? Who knows. What we do know is that it’s an hour and a half of truly horrible special effects that will tickle you in ways that cinematic classics cant.
'Swamp Shark'
It’s a shark… in a swamp. How does it end up there? Good question. An animal smuggling deal goes bad in the backwoods and it escapes from its confines to go eat some folks and pet alligators, which lights in a fire in one woman who vows to take her revenge on this ruthless water breather. If bad CGI sharks are your jam, you’ve come to the right place. Swamp Shark truly outdoes itself in this department.
'Sand Sharks'
Now, EVERYWHERE is the shark’s house! The one place you swim to for safety isn’t even safe anymore in Sand Sharks, as an underwater earthquake cracks open a crater and unleashes a prehistoric predator that can SWIM in SAND! This shockingly entertaining flick will convince you to avoid the beach altogether. It’s just not worth it.
