The Meg & 9 Other Scariest Movies About The Deep Sea, Ranked

A common trope in the horror genre is the feeling of claustrophobia. The feeling of the walls closing in or that of oxygen slowly depleting is a great way to elicit fear and unease in viewers. That is why underwater horror and/or science fiction movies are so effective.

Throwing in a mutated creature or supernatural element into an air-sealed environment only adds to the feelings of claustrophobia and terror in the movie. Remember, a large percentage of the ocean is yet to be explored. So, who knows what sorts of creatures are lurking down there…. where no one can you scream?

10 Sphere

Based on the Michael Chrichton novel, Sphere follows a group of marine biologists and scientists who explore an alien spacecraft found at the bottom of the ocean. However, when advanced technology is found on board, the scientists face a series of challenges and must fight to survive.

Despite the stellar cast, this film was not well received. Rotten Tomatoes criticized the film for having “an A-level cast working with B-grade material, with a story seen previously in superior science-fiction films.”

9 Leviathan

This science-fiction horror film follows a group of geologists and scientists who embark on an underwater mission to recover a Soviet shipwreck known as Leviathan. When the crew pulls a safe out from the wreckage, it unleashes a mutant creature that begins preying on the crew.

The film did not receive glowing reviews. Janet Maslin, writing for the New York Times, described the last half of the film as “one long feeding frenzy, guided by a familiar horror-film principle: survival of the best-looking.” Overall, critics perceived it as cliche and forgettable.

8 The Meg

This 2018 film follows rescue diver, Jonas Taylor, played by Jason Statham, as he embarks on a rescue mission to retrieve a research crew that includes his ex-wife, Lori. However, once he reaches the research team, he realizes that they are up against a megalodon (aka Meg) shark.

Critics gave the film generally lukewarm reviews, although they didn’t pan it). Rotten Tomatoes described the film as “a good old-fashioned B-movie creature feature” but “lack [ing] the genre thrills—or the cheesy bite—to make it worth diving in.”

7 Underwater

This recent science fiction movie follows a research crew who becomes trapped at the bottom of the ocean when their facility is hit by an earthquake. As well as having to venture out onto the ocean floor, the crew also has to survive their contact with unknown creatures.

Critics of the film praised the cast and the direction but criticized the film for its “strong sense of déjà vu” caused by its “derivative story.” A critic for The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the cast didn’t quite “match [ing] the vivid chemistry of Alien and its best descendants.”

6 47 Metres Down

When two sisters decide to go shark watching, disaster strikes, leaving the two girls trapped at the bottom of the ocean in a diving cage. Not only is their oxygen running out, but they are surrounded by great white sharks.

The film was a box office success, but it didn’t fair all that well with critics. Rotten Tomatoes lamented that the movie “doesn’t take its terrifying premise quite as far as it should.” However, Variety gave it a decent review, calling it a “compact and sturdily crafted B-movie.”

5 Deep Blue Sea

This late 90s action movie follows a group of scientists who are experimenting on sharks in an underwater research facility. When the sharks awaken, the crew must struggle to survive as the sharks wreak havoc on their research facility.

The reviews on this film were solidly mixed. The Washington Post praised how the film “knows its audience and knows what’ll get them going – and even wondering.” Empire, on the other hand, said that “you’re never entirely sure whether you’re laughing at or with Deep Blue Sea.”

4 Below

This horror film takes place during the height of the Second World War. Navy submarine Tiger Shark picks up four survivors of a plane crash while on patrol. Soon after, supernatural events begin to take place on the vessel, which leads to secrets being revealed.

The film received generally positive reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes dubbing it a “creepy, claustrophobic exercise in style.” Entertainment Weekly, on the other hand, criticized the fact that the movie “never captures the World War II period but sounds ridiculously anachronistic.”

3 The Shallows

Blake Lively plays disillusioned medical student Nancy Adams in this survival thriller. While out surfing, Nancy is attacked by a shark and is forced to seek refuge on a rock. It is then a race against time and the tide for Nancy to get back to shore.

This movie was positively received, with particular praise for Blake Lively’s acting. Rotten Tomatoes praised the film’s ability to “transcend [s] tired shark-attack tropes.” IGN gave the film a glowing review, saying that it “does for surfing what The Blair Witch Project did for camping.”

2 The Abyss

James Cameron’s science-fiction epic follows a SEAL team, as well as an underwater drilling team, as they embark on a rescue mission to retrieve the USS Montana. They must battle against incoming Soviet ships, a hurricane, and alien forces at the bottom of the ocean.

Not only were the reviews for this movie positive, but the movie also went on to win multiple Oscars, including for visual effects, cinematography, and sound. Rotten Tomatoes, along with the visuals, praised the movie for being “a totally gripping, claustrophobic thriller, complete with an interesting crew of characters.”

1 Jaws

Steven Spielberg’s iconic horror blockbuster follows police chief, Martin Brody, as he struggles to protect his quiet beach town from a vicious shark. With the help of marine biologists and shark hunters, Sheriff Brody must not only go up against the shark but against the town’s disbelieving mayor.

Jaws is one of the most iconic and memorable movies in film history. The New Yorker‘s Pauline Kael called it “the most cheerfully perverse scare movie ever made.” It also won three Academy Awards in the categories of sound, editing, and music.