I don’t know why, but I’m actively seeking shark movies. Last week, I recommended Thrash as the top Netflix thriller of the week. Is Thrash going to win an Oscar? Absolutely not. It’s quite ridiculous, actually, but I had a blast watching sharks terrorize a coastal town. I needed an entertaining movie where I could turn my brain off. Thrash did that for me.

Inspired by Thrash, the No. 1 movie on this list is the greatest shark movie ever created. I’m sure you can guess what it is without looking. Because that great white shark captivated my attention, I figured it would only be fair to include its sequel on the list. I couldn’t recommend Jaws 3 in good conscience. Instead, I picked a Spanish survival thriller set at sea. All three movies can be found on Netflix in the U.S.

3

Nowhere

Stuck at sea in a container

The beauty of Netflix is discovering an unexpected hit. I’m always surprised to see movies I’ve never heard of break into the streamer’s weekly top 10. That happened in 2023 with Nowhere, Albert Pintó’s thriller starring Anna Castillo and Tamar Novas. In the film’s thumbnail, you see a woman sitting on top of a shipping container at sea. To quote Django Unchained, “You had my curiosity, but now you have my attention.”

In the dystopian Nowhere, the world is in peril. An evil government is now killing innocent people to conserve resources and end population growth. A pregnant Mia (Anna Castillo) and Nico (Tamar Novas) decide they must leave Spain for the safety of their unborn child. Ireland, believed to be a safe zone, is their best bet. The only way out of Spain is to be smuggled onto a cargo container, but Nico gets separated before they get on the ship.

Back to the thumbnail, Mia’s container falls into the ocean, forcing her to use the resources to survive. Now, Mia is like MacGyver playing Tom Hanks’ role in Castaway—creating some makeshift tools to prolong her life. I’m all for the unlikely heroine who exceeds her expectations and goes past what she’s capable of. I don’t know if the film’s message about hope will resonate with you. However, Castillo’s committed performance is undeniable. ​​​​​​​

2

Jaws 2

We’re still going to need a bigger boat

Whether you like it or not, Jaws 2 exists. Jaws—more on that below—did not need a sequel. How could you follow up one of the greatest movies of all time? Spielberg had the same thought and passed on the sequel. Roy Scheider returned because of a contractual agreement with the studio. Plus, Scheider got a boatload of money, which can never hurt.

Despite all of these challenges, Jaws 2 is a real movie that I sneakily enjoy. It tries to implement what worked in Jaws—a shark terrorizes a town, and Chief Martin Brody (Scheider) must stop it. Brody, who has been haunted by what happened in Jaws, is even more neurotic in this movie, trying to convince the townspeople that a shark has returned. His reward? The town ousts him as the police chief. Without Quint or Hooper, Brody is now forced to act alone and save a group of children, including his sons, trapped on sailboats, with the shark stalking them nearby.

The genius of Jaws is how Spielberg hid the shark for most of the movie. Jaws 2 did the complete opposite by having the shark wreak havoc the entire movie. Jaws 2 is a popcorn thriller, and Brody’s quest to save the children is extremely entertaining. However, I watch Jaws 2 for the comedy. The water-skiing scene, which features a woman covering herself in gasoline before the boat explodes, still baffles me to this day. I laugh uncontrollably every time.

1

Jaws

An undeniable masterpiece

Where do I even begin? Name a superlative—the best movie, the most important blockbuster, and the most influential film of all time. Jaws has strong arguments for all three. I’ve now reached the point where it’s challenging to find new ways to describe Jaws’ greatness, but I’ll try.

If you’ve never seen Jaws, it centers around a great white shark that wreaks havoc on the residents of the Northeast beach town of Amity Island. Chief Brody (Scheider) tries to convince Mayor Larry Vaughn to close the beaches, but the latter refuses because the economy relies on tourism. To say that was a mistake would be an understatement. After multiple people die, Brody finally gets the OK to kill the shark with Quint (Robert Shaw), an insane hunter, and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), an oceanographer.

Every decision Spielberg makes is brilliant, including hiding the shark for nearly the first half of the movie. John Williams’ score became a character itself, as the music strengthened the film’s ominous tone. I still look at the horizon for sharks before I go into the ocean because of Jaws. I have no notes. It’s a perfect movie. Once Brody, Quint, and Hooper get on the boat, strap in because you’re about to witness cinematic magic.

More Netflix movies and shows to add to your watchlist

You’re almost never going to run out of options on Netflix. Whatever mood you’re in, odds are you’ll find the right movie or TV show on Netflix. If you need a new movie, try watching Roommates, a sweet coming-of-age story about finding yourself at college. If you prefer a miniseries to binge in one weekend, give Bodyguard, a fabulous action thriller, a shot.

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