We’ve all been there: gripping the edge of our seats in a darkened theater, popcorn forgotten, as we wait to see who’s next on the menu for a massive shark. Dun, dun… dun, dun…
But how much of what we see in these cinematic shark attacks is true to life? Let’s find out as shark scientists review 10 famous movie scenes, separating fact from fiction.
Expert Shark Scientists
Before we sink our teeth into the movie scenes, let’s introduce our experts:
- Melissa Cristina Marquez: A marine biologist, shark scientist, and science communicator.
- Apryl Boyle: A speaker and educator on shark advocacy and marine/environmental sciences.
1. Jaws (1975)
Marquez loves the iconic Jaws music, noting how it builds suspense. She also points out the accuracy of Bruce’s counter-camouflage: dark on top, light on the bottom. This helps sharks blend in whether viewed from above or below, aiding their stealthy hunting.
While sharks sometimes ram cages, especially if bait is too close, Marquez says it’s rarely intentional since sharks can’t swim backward. She’s not impressed with the animatronics but acknowledges the cage is accurate even by today’s standards. The creator, Peter Benchley, regretted writing Jaws and later became a shark conservationist.
2. Baywatch (1989)
“They definitely had a lot of fun filming this! The entire thing is a homage to Jaws,” comments Boyle.
Boyle finds it unrealistic that a lifeguard would enter the water when a boat could reach the person faster. First responders are trained not to put themselves in danger while saving others. She concludes, “This movie is a giant love letter to Jaws. Over-the-top absurd, probably a really fun shoot to do.”
3. Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Marquez believes the unrealistic part of this movie is how quickly the scientific results are obtained.
While the underwater labs in the movie are high-tech, many shark labs worldwide focus on medical research and bio-inspiration. In one scene, a scientist loses his arm when a shark jumps out of the tank. Marquez notes that the shark would need more space to propel itself out of the water like that.
4. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003)
Referring to Lara cutting herself to attract a shark, Marquez says an infection is more likely. Also, most sharks don’t make noise, except for Dog Sharks that bark when taken out of water. She laughs, “That sounded more cat-like than shark-like.”
Punching a shark might deter them, but punching underwater is difficult, and punching the nose isn’t wise. Marquez suggests aiming for the eyes or gills to take the shark’s breath away. She adds that Lara is lucky to be wearing gloves, as sharkskin is like sandpaper.
5. Finding Nemo (2003)
Boyle notes many kids have repeated the “Fish are friends, not food” line to her, which is kind of cute.
Boyle believes Finding Nemo’s softer portrayal of sharks has encouraged modern conservation efforts. Sharks do have fish friends like Pilot and Remora fish. However, the idea of a little blood sending Bruce into a frenzy is unrealistic. Most sharks are picky eaters. “Imagine how easy my research would be if this were true!” she concludes.
6. Open Water (2003)
“I am literally getting chills,” says Boyle.
Boyle considers Open Water the scariest shark movie because it’s based on the true story of divers left behind. “Being left behind is literally the worst thing that could happen to any diver. That is the most frightening part of this movie,” Boyle says. She adds that the small shark bite is realistic, as she’s seen sharks take a nibble and swim away if it’s not their food. “This is totally realistic and very, very frightening.”
7. Couples Retreat (2009)
“Why are people always surprised that there are sharks in the ocean? … You’re throwing dead animals into the ocean. What did you think was going to happen?” Marquez muses.
Chumming, using fish blood to attract sharks, helps scientists study them. However, it should never be used recreationally because, unsurprisingly, you might get bitten. Marquez agrees with Marcel’s advice: keep calm, don’t panic, and slowly swim away from the chum.
8. The Shallows (2016)
Boyle comments that the shark is supposed to be a Great White, which are picky eaters. “I have witnessed myself some of them taking a bite of something and spitting it out,” remarks Boyle.
For sharks, it’s about calorie-dense food like seals and sea lions, which have more blubber than humans. The energy the shark expends jumping out of the water isn’t worth the pay-off of eating “poor, slender Blake.”
9. The Meg (2018)
“Megalodon is a very, very, very extinct shark …” laughs Marquez.
This giant shark hasn’t been in our oceans for millions of years, though there is still a fascination with this creature. “I promise you though, there is no shark big enough to get such a massive anchor stuck to itself and pull such a big boat with that many people,” Marquez says.
Marquez shares safety tips for shark-infested waters:
- Always swim with a buddy.
- Don’t draw attention by splashing.
- It’s the shark you don’t see that’s the problem.
The biggest shark recorded is the whale shark, growing to about 40 feet. Even they are unlikely to approach that many people, as most sharks are shy and conserve energy for prey with more blubber.
10. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019)
“While there are some freshwater shark species, they definitely don’t look like this,” says Marquez, referring to the “Frankenstein-zombie-looking creature.” It also seems to be blind, which she hasn’t encountered often. At least it has 5 gill slits, which are anatomically correct.
While it seems unrealistic to have so many sharks in a cave, who knows? A shark was discovered in an erupted volcano a few years ago, so it’s possible. The sharks circle the divers, like they would in real life, to size up potential prey. But, as Marquez says, since these sharks are blind, what the heck are they doing?
Final Thoughts
So, how do Hollywood’s shark attack scenes stack up against reality? While some movies get aspects of shark behavior right, others take significant creative liberties. Remember to take what you see on screen with a grain of (sea) salt!
What’s your favorite shark movie? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
