5 Underappreciated Shark Films

It's finally here, the 20th entry in my Underappreciated Films series! So, for this entry I wanted to do something very different and cover a type of movie that I hadn't covered yet. This entry will focus on made for TV films.

Let's get to it.

Number 5: The Shallows (2016)

Blake Lively plays Nancy, a medical student who goes on a surfing vacation and ends up stranded in the water being circled by a hungry great white shark. The Shallows was released to a positive reception in 2016, it's well-written and consistently paced - even if the storyline doesn't make complete sense in places - for instance, why is the shark bothering with Blake Lively when there's a massive whale carcass just a few meters away?

If you haven't seen it, this is definitely a good one to waste time with.

Number 4: Deep Blue Sea (1999)

A group of scientists are experimenting on sharks while working on a cure for Alzheimer's. Things...don't go well. One of the scientists is killed and the sharks manage to break into the facility. From there things just go downhill.

The film was a commercial success and grossed $165 million against a budget of around $82 million. The special effects might not be the best, but it's a popcorn movie - something to waste time with on a Friday night with friends.

Number 3: Spring Break Shark Attack (2005)

Spring Break Shark Attack follows a group of teens as they discover that the local waters are becoming infested with hungry tiger sharks. A lot of popcorn and soda has gone into watching this one; it's just that much fun.

It's well-paced and, while it's probably not the best shark movie ever made, it's worth watching; especially if you're a fan of shark movies. The use of tiger sharks is a nice change from the usual great whites. These sharks are known as the trash cans of the sea because they'll eat pretty much anything they can get their jaws around.

Number 2: Open Water (2003)

Open Water is a bit of an oddball on this list because not much happens. The story follows a young couple who take a vacation together to try mending their strained relationship. Part of their trip includes a scuba diving trip, during this trip the two are accidentally left behind at the dive site...

The film is loosely based on the true story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan who were, you guessed it, accidentally left behind at a dive site while on a dive. Open Water was released at the Hampton International Film Festival in 2003 and had a positive reception grossing $55.5 million on a budget of $120 - $500k.

Number 1: The Reef (2010)

A group of friends go sailing towards Indonesia, and end up capsizing when their yacht strikes a portion of a coral reef. As they are stuck on the hull of the yacht, and the current starts taking them further out to sea, the group decides to swim to a nearby island. One member of the group refuses out of fear of sharks.

He's subsequently left behind as the group heads out, they quickly find themselves being followed by a hungry great white shark.

This film has a very grainy look to it, but it's not a bad one; it's worth a watch. Apart from the grainy look, the film is SLOW which can put some viewers off. There's also very little in the way of character development so you don't really know much about the characters which makes it harder to care when one of them snuffs it.

In Closing

So, that's a wrap; the 20th entry of my Underappreciated Films series. That was a lot of fun and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.