Sharksploitation Explained

Sharksploitation is a subgenre of exploitation film that involves sharks or shark attacks.[1] [2] The genre emerged in the wake of the 1975 film Jaws and its sequels, but fell in popularity soon after.[3] The 1999 film Deep Blue Sea brought it back to public prominence. Other examples of sharksploitation films include Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus (2009), Dinoshark, Sharktopus (both 2010), Snow Shark (2012), Ghost Shark (2013), Avalanche Sharks (2014), and the Sharknado film series (2013–2018).[4]

In 2023, a feature-length documentary film about the subgenre, titled Sharksploitation, was produced and released by Shudder.[5] [6] [7]

Notable sharksploitation films

YearFilmsSeriesGenre
1975JawsJawsThriller
1975Sharks' TreasureN/AAdventure
1976N/AThriller
1976Shark KillN/AAdventure
1977Tintorera, also known as Tintorera: Killer Shark.N/AHorror
1978Jaws 2JawsThriller
1978Cyclone (Spanish:), also known as Terror StormN/ASurvival/Horror
1981The Last Shark, also known as Great WhiteN/AHorror
1983Jaws 3-DJawsThriller
1987JawsThriller
1989Night of the SharksN/AAction
1989Deep Blood, also known as Sharks or Sangue negli abissi (Italian, lit. "Blood in the Abyss")N/AAdventure/Horror
1995Cruel JawsN/AThriller
1999Deep Blue SeaDeep Blue SeaSci-fi/Horror
1999Shark AttackShark AttackThriller
2000Shark Attack 2Shark AttackThriller
2002Shark Attack 3: MegalodonShark AttackThriller
2003Open WaterOpen WaterSurvival/Thriller
2003Red WaterN/AAction/Horror
2003Shark ZoneN/AHorror
200412 Days Of TerrorN/AHorror/Thriller
2004Blue DemonN/ASci-fi/Horror
2005, also known as Sharkman or HammerheadN/ASci-fi/Action/Horror
2005Raging SharksN/ASci-fi/Action/Horror
2005Spring Break Shark AttackN/AAction/Adventure/Drama
2008Shark Swarm, also known as Great WhiteN/AThriller
2008Shark in Venice, also known as Sharks in Venice in the U.S.N/ANatural horror/Action
2009Jaws in Japan, also known as Psycho SharkN/A (unrelated to the Jaws franchise)Horror
2009Malibu Shark Attack, also known as Mega Shark Of MalibuIt is a part of the SyFy Channel's Maneater series (which is unrelated to the Shark Attack or Mega Shark franchises), along with Shark Swarm, Shark Killer, and 25 other natural horror creature features.Natural horror
2009Mega Shark Versus Giant OctopusMega Shark VersusCreature feature
2010DinosharkN/AHorror/Comedy
2010Mega Shark Versus CrocosaurusMega Shark VersusCreature feature
2010The ReefN/AThriller
2010SharktopusSharktopusSci-fi/Creature feature
2011Sand SharksN/AHorror/Comedy
2011Shark NightN/AThriller
2011Super SharkN/ASci-fi/Action
2011Swamp SharkN/AThriller
20122-Headed Shark AttackMulti-Headed Shark AttackSurvival horror
2012Bait 3DN/AHorror/Disaster
2012Dark TideN/AAction/Horror/Thriller
2012Jersey Shore Shark AttackN/AHorror/Comedy
2012Jurassic Shark, also known as Attack Of The Jurassic Shark Jurassic SharkHorror/Comedy
2012Snow SharkHorror/Comedy
2012Ghost SharkGhost SharkHorror/Comedy
2013SharknadoSharknadoSci-fi/Disaster
2014Avalanche SharksN/A Horror/Comedy
2014Mega Shark Versus Mecha SharkMega Shark VersusHorror/Comedy
2014SharknadoSci-fi/Disaster/Comedy
2014Sharktopus vs. PteracudaSharktopusHorror/Sci-fi/Creature feature
20153-Headed Shark AttackMulti-Headed Shark AttackAction/Horror
2015Ghost SharkSupernatural/Horror/Comedy
2015Mega Shark Versus KolossusMega Shark VersusSci-fi/Comedy
2015SharknadoAction/Horror/Comedy
2015Roboshark, also known as Robo Shark vs. Navy SealsN/AAction/Adventure/Comedy
2016Ozark Sharks, also known as Summer Shark AttackN/AHorror/Thriller/Comedy
2016The ShallowsN/ASurvival/Horror
2016Sharkansas Women's Prison MassacreN/ASci-fi/Horror
2016SharkensteinN/ASci-fi/Action/Comedy
2016SharknadoSci-fi/Disaster/Comedy
20175-Headed Shark AttackMulti-Headed Shark AttackSci-fi/Horror
201747 Meters Down47 Meters DownSurvival/Horror
2017House SharkN/AHorror/Comedy
2017Open WaterFound footage/Survival/Horror
2017SharknadoSci-fi/Disaster/Comedy
2018SharknadoSci-fi/Disaster/Comedy
2018Deep Blue Sea 2Deep Blue SeaSci-fi/Horror
2018The MegN/ASci-fi/Action
201947 Meters DownSurvival/Horror
2019N/ASurvival/Horror
2020Deep Blue Sea 3Deep Blue SeaSci-fi/Horror
2020Sky SharksN/ASci-fi/Comedy/Horror
2022The ReefHorror
2022The RequinN/AHorror/Thriller
2023The MegSci-Fi/Action
2023Cocaine Shark, also known as Kanizame ShakurabuN/ACrime/Drama/Horror
2023Big SharkN/AHorror/Comedy
2024The Black DemonN/ASci-Fi/Thriller
2024No Way UpN/ASurvival/Thriller

Other sharksploitation films

The films below are more shark films that do not yet have their own pages here, or their notability has been unclarified.

YearFilmsSeriesGenreIMDb/Alternate Link
1950Killer SharkN/AAdventureIMDB Wikipedia.en
1969Shark!, also known as Caine and Man-EaterN/AActionIMDb/Wikipedia.en
1981Beyond the ReefN/AAdventure/RomanceIMDb/Wikipedia.en
1991Mission of the Shark: The Saga of the U.S.S. IndianapolisN/AAction/Drama/HistoryIMDB
2001Shark HunterN/A (Unaffiliated with The Shark Hunter (1979), The Shark Hunters (1963), or The Shark Huntress (2021))Action/Adventure/HorrorIMDB
2002MegalodonN/A (Unaffiliated with the 2018 film of the same name or The Meg franchise)Action/Adventure/HorrorIMDB
2003Dark WatersN/AAction/Adventure/HorrorIMDB
2003Pool Shark (short)N/A (There are multiple short films that share this title)HorrorIMDB YouTube - Full film, creators account
2004Snow Shark (short)Snow Shark (This short is set before the events of Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast)HorrorIMDB YouTube - Full film, creators account
2004, also known as Hai-Alarm auf Mallorca (German, lit. Shark alarm in Mallorca)N/AAction/Adventure/DramaWikipedia.de IMDB
2008Marina MonsterN/AHorror/ComedyIMDB
2012Shark Week also known as Shark AssaultN/AAction/Adventure/HorrorWikipedia.fr IMDB
2012Jaws of the SharkN/AComedy/HorrorIMDB
2013Spreeshark (short)N/AComedy/HorrorIMDB
201490210 Shark AttackN/ADrama/Horror/Sci-fiIMDB
2015Sharknado: Heart of SharknessSharknadoComedy/MocumentaryIMDB
2015Raiders of the Lost SharkJurassic SharkAction/Adventure/ComedyIMDB
2015Shark ExorcistN/AFantasy/HorrorIMDb
2015Shark LakeN/AAction/ThrillerIMDb/Wikipedia.de
2015Shark KillerN/AAction/Horror/ThrillerIMDb/Wikipedia.de
2015Shark Island, also known as Zombie SharkN/AAction/Adventure/HorrorIMDb
2015Sand Shark: Not in 3D (short)N/AActionIMDB YouTube - Full film, creators account
2016Ice SharksN/AAction/ComedyIMDb
2016DicksharkN/ASci-fi/Comedy IMDb
2016Piranha SharksN/AAction/ComedyIMDb
2016Planet of the SharksPlanet Of The SharksAction/ComedyIMDb
2016Dam SharksN/AAction/ComedyIMDb
2016Atomic Shark, also known as Saltwater and N/A (Unaffiliated with the Lisa Palenica film of the same name)Action/ComedyIMDb
2016Pool Shark (short)N/A (There are multiple short films that share this title)HorrorIMDb YouTube - Full film, creators account
2017Empire of the SharksPlanet Of The SharksAction/ComedyIMDb
2017Land SharkN/AAction/Adventure/ComedyIMDB
2017Mississippi River SharksN/AAction/Adventure/ComedyIMDB
2017Trailer Park Shark, also known as Shark ShockN/AAction/Adventure/ComedyIMDB
2018Surrounded, also known as FrenzyN/AAction/Adventure/DramaIMDB
2018Multi-Headed Shark AttackAction/ComedyIMDb
2018MegalodonMegalodon (The Asylum)Action/Adventure/HorrorIMDB
2018Santa JawsN/AAction/ComedyIMDb
2018Shark Attack (short) (also known as Summer Of '89)N/AHorrorYouTube - Full film, creators account
2019Bad CGI SharksN/AAdventure/Comedy/HorrorIMDb
2020Shark SeasonN/AAction/Horror/ThrillerIMDB
2020Ouija SharkOuija SharkHorror/ComedyIMDb
2020Shark Encounters of the Third KindN/AHorrorIMDB
2020From the DepthsN/ADrama/Horror/MysteryIMDB
2021Megalodon RisingMegalodon (The Asylum)ActionIMDB
2021Great WhiteN/AThrillerIMDb
2021Sharks of the CornN/AHorror/ComedyIMDb
2021Noah's SharkN/AAction/Adventure/HorrorIMDB
2021Jurassic Shark 2 - AquapocalypseJurassic SharkAction/Horror/ComedyIMDb
2021Huge Shark, also known as Red WaterN/AHorrorIMDb
2021Apex Predators, also known as Jaws of Los AngelesN/AHorrorIMDb
2021Mako (Arabic: فيلم ماكو)N/AAdventure/ThrillerIMDB
2021Bigfoot Vs MegalodonN/AAdventure/Sci-fi/ComedyIMDB
2021Virus SharkN/ASci-fi/HorrorIMDB
2021SwimN/AAction/HorrorIMDB
2022Bull Shark, also known as Blood In the WaterN/AAction/Horror/DramaIMDb
2022ManeaterN/AAction/Horror/ThrillerIMDB
2022No SharkNo SharkDrama/Comedy/HorrorIMDB YouTube - Full film, creators account
2022Shark Side of the MoonN/AAction/Horror/Sci-FiIMDB
2022Pool Shark (short)N/AHorror/ThrillerYouTube - Full film, creators account
2022Ouija Shark 2, also known as Ouija Shark vs Tarot-GatorOuija SharkHorrorIMDb
2022Shark WatersN/AHorror/ThrillerIMDb
2022Alien SharkN/ADrama/Horror/Sci-fiIMDb
2022Thrashed (short)N/AHorrorIMDb YouTube - Full film, creators account
2023Blind WatersN/AAction/Horror/ThrillerIMDB
2023Jurassic Shark 3: Seavenge'Jurassic SharkHorror/ComedyIMDB
2023Invisible SharkNo SharkDrama/Comedy/Sci-fiIMDB YouTube - Full film, creators account
2023Everything Will Kill You: Rip (short)Everything Will Kill YouHorror/ThrillerYouTube - Full film, creators account
2023Narco SharkN/AHorror/ComedyIMDb
2023Puppet SharkN/AComedyIMDb
2023Deep FearN/AAction/ThrillerIMDb
2023Megalodon: The FrenzyMegalodon (The Asylum)Action/Adventure/HorrorIMDb

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sharksploitation! Jaws and the sad decline of the shark movie. Onion. Rebecca. June 16, 2005. Slate. April 27, 2020.
  2. Web site: 'Sharksploitation' – Shudder Original Shark Horror Documentary Premieres This Summer. Squires. John. June 22, 2023. Bloody Disgusting. July 25, 2023.
  3. Web site: How 'Jaws' Forever Changed Our View of Great White Sharks. Choi. Charles Q.. June 20, 2010. LiveScience. April 27, 2020.
  4. Web site: The last 'Sharknado' won't be the end of sharksploitation films. But sharks do need saving.. Howard. Jules. August 19, 2018. NBC News. July 25, 2023.
  5. Web site: Doc 'Sharksploitation' Delves into the Sub-Genre Spawned by Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws' (Exclusive). de la Fuente. Anna Marie. August 2, 2021. Variety. July 25, 2023.
  6. Web site: 'Sharksploitation' – Shudder Original Shark Horror Documentary Premieres This Summer. Squires. John. June 22, 2023. Bloody Disgusting. July 25, 2023.
  7. Web site: Sharksploitation Trailer: Shark Horror Doc Debuts on Shudder This Friday. Mack. Andrew. July 18, 2023. Screen Anarchy. July 25, 2023.

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