Regarding shark-themed films, we’ve witnessed a diverse array – from excellent ones to mediocre ones, and those that leave you feeling rather peckish. However, among all these cinematic underwater explorations, one stands out as the undisputed champion, and that’s none other than Jaws.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary for Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking 1975 naval-themed horror film, “Jaws”. This timeless masterpiece in cinema-making was once the highest-earning movie ever, leaving an indelible impact beyond its box office success. “Jaws” not only fathered a series of films (with varying levels of quality, I must acknowledge), merchandise, attractions, and various other media but significantly altered the landscape of modern filmmaking and promotion.
Jaws, with its signature jump-scares and suspenseful music, established a foundation for structure and tone that many horror and thriller movies have followed since, like Alien, Tremors, and more recently, Dune, Nope, and Godzilla Minus One. Beyond the horror genre, it’s been acknowledged as a significant inspiration for modern films such as Dune, Nope, and Godzilla Minus One. Various films, including Finding Nemo and Clerks, have paid tribute to Jaws through loving references and homages.
Jaws significantly raised the bar for television commercials promoting theatrical movie releases, while simultaneously reshaping the notion of a “blockbuster.” It paved the way for future summer blockbusters characterized by grand ideas, exorbitant budgets, and substantial profits.
The impact of the movie on culture was particularly significant, causing fear among a whole generation that led them to avoid swimming, and prompting environmental organizations to take action after the film reportedly resulted in the decline of shark populations due to vengeful killings. Spielberg later expressed remorse for his part in this.
The film not only sparked renewed curiosity about sharks and marine life amongst the general public, but it also inspired a new wave of marine biologists. This influx led to an increase in oceanic research and funding. Consequently, it was rightfully chosen for preservation within the U.S. National Film Registry in 2001.
While it’s true that “Jaws” is widely recognized as a groundbreaking and enduring example of shark-themed films, and often associated with the genre, there are numerous other compelling shark movies outside the “Jaws” series that are also worth watching. These range from humorously absurd creature features requiring a certain level of suspension of disbelief, to heart-pounding deep-sea adventures, each offering a unique shark movie experience you wouldn’t want to miss.
The Best Shark Movies That Aren’t Jaws
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
1999’s “Deep Blue Sea,” a product of the popular ’90s monster movie wave, might not be an Oscar contender, but it certainly delivers a thrilling experience. This sci-fi horror film revolves around a group of scientists stationed at a remote underwater research facility. Their predicament escalates when the genetically enhanced and aggressive sharks they’ve been experimenting on breach their confines, leading to a series of attacks. Furthermore, it boasts one of the most startling and unexpected deaths of a well-known actor on screen, a moment that makes the film stand out, even apart from its other elements.
Under Paris (2024)
In Paris, a marine biologist finds herself compelled to face her haunting past as a massive shark emerges in the Seine river, days before a triathlon event. This thrilling spectacle of a disaster movie premiered on Netflix in 2024, seamlessly blending an unexpectedly pertinent ecological message with adrenaline-pumping action and gory excitement. Viewers can either ponder over its relevant themes or simply switch off their thoughts, based on their current state of mind.
The Meg (2018)
In simpler terms,
Unleashing a colossal shark is scarier than just a regular one, right? Well, imagine that magnified! In the 2018 film “The Meg,” a team of underwater explorers accidentally releases an enormous prehistoric creature called a megalodon from a secluded part of the Mariana Trench. Just like its name suggests, “The Meg” is a blockbuster movie with large-scale action scenes that doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is. Despite its ridiculous elements, it offers plenty of enjoyable oceanic chaos as far as disaster movies are concerned.
The Shallows (2016)
In the movie “The Shallows,” a medical student, mourning her mother’s death, escapes to a peaceful secluded beach in Mexico through surfing. However, her tranquil getaway quickly turns into a horrifying ordeal when she encounters a great white shark that has beached itself and is relentlessly pursuing her on a distant rock. The movie, starring Blake Lively, was released in 2016. It’s an intense and suspenseful film due to its remote setting, compelling plot, and the overwhelming sense of despair felt by the main character as she fights for survival against the shark.
Dangerous Animals (2025)
In this 2025 Australian genre fusion, sharks aren’t the deadliest creatures – far from it. Instead, the movie “Dangerous Animals” presents a thrilling tale where a resilient and traumatized surfer battles for survival after being abducted by a deranged serial killer and confined on his boat for a gruesome shark-feeding ceremony. The narrative boasts a strong protagonist, as well as supporting characters that are genuinely worthy of support. Additionally, the film’s violence is quite intense, with Jai Courtney delivering an outstanding performance as an extremely psychopathic sea captain.
The Reef (2011)
The movie titled ‘The Reef’ is about a group of friends who find themselves adrift at sea after their boat overturns during a sailing trip in the Indian Ocean. Their struggle to survive becomes increasingly urgent as they discover they are being pursued by a dangerous great white shark. This terrifying Australian film, released in 2011, creates a strong sense of tension due to the fear of being lost at sea and having no control over the situation while in the water.
Bait (2012)
Back in 2012, I found myself captivated by the movie “Bait.” In this film, a sudden and unforeseen tsunami plunges a crowd of shoppers into an underwater grocery store. The struggle to survive isn’t just about fighting inflated prices; it’s also about eluding a relentless shark. Now, let me tell you, the concept is downright zany (not quite as outrageous as “Sharknado,” though). It makes for an amusingly cheesy, horror-filled experience that’s perfect for late-night viewing when you’re in the mood for something so bad, it becomes good.
47 Meters Down (2017)
In the 2017 film “47 Meters Down,” a sisterly beach vacation takes an alarming turn when two sisters end up trapped in a sunken shark-infested diving cage during a deep-sea excursion. Stranded at the ocean bottom, they soon discover their predicament is dire – their oxygen levels are dwindling and they’re being hunted by sharks. Suspenseful and confined, this movie will leave you on edge; but remember not to use up your air supply while watching!
Open Water (2004)
Open Water” is a movie about an American couple who get left behind during a scuba diving tour. Stranded in the ocean, they struggle against hunger, exhaustion, injuries, harsh weather, and a group of sharks. The film, released in 2004, is a suspenseful survival story that’s particularly chilling due to its realistic feel – it could potentially happen to anyone.
Sharknado (2013)
Glance upwards! There it is, in the sky – not a bird, not a plane, but a… shark? While Syfy Channel’s 2013 television film, “Sharknado,” might not be considered cinematic masterpieces by all, it has earned its status as a cult favorite. This movie vividly portrays the chaotic destruction that strikes Los Angeles when an unusual storm and towering waterspout launch countless bloodthirsty sharks throughout the city. For those who enjoy their shark films with a heaping dose of cheese, this is the perfect spectacle of absurdity.
The Best Dinosaur Movies That Aren’t Jurassic Park
1. The Lost World (1925)
In 1925, the silent film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic novel “The Lost World” was unveiled. This breathtaking adventure film, filled with fantastical monsters, was produced during the Golden Age of silent cinema and showcases pioneering stop-motion effects by Willis O’Brien, who later worked on the 1933 blockbuster “King Kong”. The movie tells the story of a team of explorers who encounter dangerous dinosaurs after discovering a prehistoric plateau while searching for a missing expedition. As the first American feature film to primarily use stop-motion animation, it blends animation with live-action footage, paving the way for future films’ technology. Its impact on cinema is significant as it was the first successful dinosaur-themed movie and remains compelling a century later.
2. The Land Before Time (1988)
The Land Before Time,” released in 1988 by Don Bluth, isn’t just a great dinosaur movie; it stands out as one of the finest animated films ever made, especially for those who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s. This heartwarming tale revolves around an orphaned baby Apatosaurus named Littlefoot, who embarks on a journey with an unusual gang of friends to seek his lost family members after a T-rex, called “sharptooth,” kills his mother in a tragic manner similar to Bambi’s. This unexpectedly touching and deeply emotional story explores themes of friendship, courage, loss, and prejudice. The film showcases stunning traditional animation and an unforgettable score by James Horner. With the support of influential executive co-producers like Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall, the movie was a commercial success upon release, earning over $48 million at the U.S. box office, and it went on to inspire several profitable direct-to-video sequels.
3. King Kong (2005)
Experiencing Peter Jackson’s 2005 reimagining of the timeless 1933 movie isn’t just about dinosaurs, but they undeniably take center stage in the cinematic escapades of Kong and his comrades. One pivotal sequence showcases the titanic Kong engaging in a fierce battle against a trio of fearsome T-rex analogues, who are attempting to feast on the character Ann Darrow. (The pulse-pounding moment when Kong tears the last beast’s jaw apart and crumples it into its skull is both brutal and exhilarating all at once.) The film is filled with numerous scenes that showcase the creatures’ dominance, such as when our hapless protagonists are cornered (and some meet their end by being trampled) by a panicked herd of Brontosaurus. Adorned with spectacular special effects, Jackson’s blockbuster was a massive success, earning over $556 million worldwide, ranking it among the top five highest-grossing films of the year.
4. The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
In “The Valley of Gwangi”, an intrepid team of cowboys stumbles upon a concealed valley teeming with ancient beasts, one being a formidable Allosaurus named Gwangi. Lured by the prospect of glory and wealth, they make the fateful decision to capture this monster for a circus performance. However, their plan unravels when the enraged creature escapes and wreaks havoc upon the town. Despite a lukewarm reception at its initial release due to weak promotion, meager studio backing, and changes sweeping through cinema during that era, the lively film has since earned cult status and left an impact on works such as “Jurassic Park”. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Ray Harryhausen, a legendary figure in animation, created the stop-motion creature animation for this movie.
5. Walking With Dinosaurs (1999)
In 1999, Tim Haines and BBC took on an intriguing challenge: creating a documentary about creatures long extinct – dinosaurs. Inspired by the popularity of Jurassic Park, they produced a groundbreaking six-part nature doc titled Walking With Dinosaurs. This series, which was broadcast as a feature-length special in the US, combined cutting-edge CGI, animatronics, live action footage, and captivating storytelling to portray dinosaur life during the Mesozoic Era.
The first episode attracted 15 million viewers, and it went on to win two BAFTA Awards and an Emmy. Notably, this series was commended for its scientific accuracy, authentic depiction of prehistoric Earth, and handling dinosaurs as real animals rather than horror movie monsters. To this day, Walking With Dinosaurs continues to stand out as one of the most engaging pieces of dinosaur media.
6. Dinosaur (2000)
In 2000, contrary to popular belief, “Chicken Little” from 2005 wasn’t Disney’s first venture into CGI animation outside of Pixar. That honor goes to a film titled “Dinosaur,” which was released five years earlier and combined live-action with CGI. This film tells the story of a young Iguanodon and his adopted lemur family, who are forced to leave their home after a catastrophic meteorite strike. They encounter various challenges, including a barren wasteland, a pack of ravenous velociraptors, and two menacing Carnotaurs.
“Dinosaur,” with a production cost of $127.5 million, was the most expensive CGI film at that time. It earned an impressive $349 million globally, making it the highest-grossing animated film of the year. The movie also inspired a ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Critics generally praised its groundbreaking animation and visuals but criticized its somewhat predictable plot and resemblance to another movie on this list. Despite its success, “Dinosaur” has seemingly been forgotten over time, even by ardent Disney enthusiasts.
7. Godzilla Minus One (2023)
There’s been much debate over the years about whether cinema’s famous monster icon, Godzilla, should be classified as a dinosaur. In 2023, director Takashi Yamazaki of “Godzilla Minus One” confirmed that Godzilla does have a dinosaur-like origin in terms of skin texture. However, when wounded, Godzilla’s regeneration process creates a different texture, unlike any typical wound. Furthermore, early Japanese film versions portrayed Godzilla as a Jurassic-era creature called the Godzillasaurus before his atomic mutation. Although opinions vary on whether Godzilla is considered a dinosaur or not, for this discussion we’ll make an exception since he meets most of the criteria.
“Godzilla Minus One,” set in the aftermath of WWII, skillfully combines emotional human drama with pulse-pounding kaiju action, making it one of the franchise’s most captivating entries. It’s no wonder that this film won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects and boasts a remarkable 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
8. The Good Dinosaur (2015)
The fascination of dinosaurs among children is timeless, leading to an abundance of animated dinosaur movies like Disney and Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur”. This movie envisions a world where dinosaurs didn’t become extinct. It tells the story of a young Apatosaurus who gets separated from his family in a flood and befriends a wild caveboy during his quest to return home. The film features a charming and emotional, yet somewhat predictable, narrative. However, its real charm lies in the visuals – the dinosaurs are stylish and cartoonish, while their environment includes grand landscapes inspired by the American West with vast vistas and realistic scenery. Despite being Pixar’s first box-office disappointment, earning $332 million against a budget of $175-$200 million, it generally received positive reviews and is worth revisiting for those who might have forgotten about it over time.
9. Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)
10. One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Made by Hammer Film Productions and boasting the renowned stop-motion animation of Ray Harryhausen, this 1966 British fantasy adventure film beautifully encapsulates the campy charm of its time. The story follows a tribal warrior from prehistoric times who is exiled from his tribe. He then fights terrifying dinosaurs and cavemen in an effort to win the heart of a stunning woman he meets from a coastal tribe. While it’s a bit cheesy, the real draw of the film is Harryhausen’s remarkable special effects. The film is also remembered for its iconic image of lead actress Raquel Welch in her fur bikini – you know the one.
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2025-08-26 17:00