Hi all! 

Every single year, I set a theme for Halloween. In 2022, it was clowns. In 2023, it was haunted dolls/toys. In 2024, it was the Halloween franchise and in 2025, it’s sharks. The fearsome creatures of the deep! Every single day, from October 1st – 31st, I have been posting a different shark movie (including some trivia) on my stories. This horror sub-genre is not lacking for options. However, that can be a problem in and of itself. Out of the hundreds of shark movies, which ones are worth watching? Today I am sharing 5 recommendations to get you started. Without further ado, let’s get into it! 

1.) Jaws 

How could my list not contain Jaws? It’s the most iconic shark movie in history! I’m also recommending it because this year, it celebrated its 50th anniversary. I was lucky enough to catch a special screening at the cinema. 

When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), overrules him, fearing the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist, Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain, Quint (Robert Shaw), offer to help Brody capture the killer beast. Together, the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.

Jaws is the ultimate creature feature. It impacted audiences worldwide. The majority of viewers refused to go near the ocean after watching this 1975 horror classic. It gave birth to a widespread phobia of sharks. It is absolutely worthy of being on this list. We’re going to need a bigger boat! 

2.) Dangerous Animals 

Dangerous Animals is one of my favourite horrors of 2025. Sharks are the modus operandi for this serial killer – it counts! 

A shark-obsessed serial killer holds Zephyr, a rebellious surfer, captive on his boat. Racing against time, she must figure out a way to escape before he carries out a ritualistic feeding to the sharks below. 

The real standout is the Dangerous Animal himself – Jai Courtney as Tucker. His performance was absolutely outstanding. I believed every word and gesture. I also enjoyed Hassie Harrison’s role as Zephyr – the cool surfer girl, with a hard shell. She gave me Katniss Everdeen vibes. A real fighter. The gore was top notch and the scares, palpable. I found myself looking away in certain parts; holding my breath. It got to me and that doesn’t happen often. If you weren’t afraid of sharks before, you will be after watching this one. Enjoy the ride! 

3.) The Shallows

The Shallows is a perfect film to watch with a group of girlfriends. It features a bad-ass female protagonist, surfing at a unfrequented beach in Mexico. 

Nancy (Blake Lively), travels to a secluded beach, following the death of her mother. While surfing, she gets attacked by a great white shark, leaving her stranded on a rock 200 yards from the shore.

Did you know Blake was pregnant during filming, yet still opted to do most of her own stunts? I loved the pacing in this movie. It had enough peaks and valleys to keep me interested. The lead was very resourcesful in her pursuit for survival. I certainly wouldn’t know what to do in her situtation. Furthermore, the aggressive shark was very intimidating. It was out for blood, no matter the time of day. Highly recommend checking this one out. 

4.) Deep Blue Sea

If you’re looking for a blast from the past, check out Deep Blue Sea from 1999. I can confirm, it still holds up to this day! 

On an island research facility, Dr. Susan McAlester (Saffron Burrows), is harvesting the brain tissue of DNA-altered sharks, as a possible cure for Alzheimer’s disease. When the facility’s backers send an executive (Samuel L. Jackson) to investigate the experiments, a routine procedure goes awry, causing a shark to start attacking the researchers. Now, with sharks outnumbering their human captors, McAlester and her team must figure out a way to stop them from escaping to the ocean and breeding.

This movie is unique in that it’s a shark slasher. The genetically engineered beasts pick off the characters one-by-one, in a ruthless game of cat-and-mouse. It’s super enjoyable to watch, giving me all the 90’s nostalgia. LL Cool J steals the show as the comic relief. I love the music and vibes of Deep Blue Sea. If you’re a fan of Jaws, you may spot a certain a Easter Egg! 

5.) Under Paris 

Last, but not least, I wanted to provide a foreign horror recommendation. Under Paris was released last year – still available to stream on Netflix. 

To save Paris from a bloodbath, a grieving scientist is forced to face her tragic past when a giant shark appears in the Seine. 

This movie is incredibly ridiculous and unrealistic. However, it’s still a good time. I loved the setting and circumstances, leading to the epic final bloodbath. It is hard to come up with new shark film ideas, so I appreciate the unique angle Under Paris took. Fun fact, it was actually filmed in Spain, as the Seine is too polluted to swim in! 

Thank you so much for reading. What are your favourite shark movies? 

Peace & Love xoxo