As we raise a glass (or a life preserver) to the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the granddaddy of aquatic nightmares that made us all think twice about dipping our toes in the ocean, it’s time to dive into the murkier, weirder waters of aquatic horror. While Spielberg’s shark saga chomped its way into mainstream legend, our horror-craving souls need the slimy, the obscure, and the downright unhinged. This list of the top ten aquatic horror movies is for those of us who prefer our sea monsters with a side of low-budget grit and cosmic fuckery. Grab your scuba gear, avoid the suspiciously bubbling seaweed, and let’s plunge into a briny abyss where the creatures are rubbery, the vibes are soggy, and the terror is gloriously unpolished. This is the proper top ten best aquatic horror films. Disagree? Fight me bitch!

Underwater (2020) might’ve hit theaters with a studio budget, but this Kristen Stewart-led thriller is a gritty, Lovecraftian nightmare that feels like it swam out of a darker, wetter dimension. A crew of divers is trapped in a crumbling deep-sea drilling rig when the ocean coughs up tentacled horrors that’d make Cthulhu call his mom. Stewart’s Norah, sporting a buzzcut and a “not this shit again” glare, navigates a claustrophobic maze of collapsing tunnels and inky waters where every noise spells doom. The practical creature designs (slimy, multi-eyed squid-things) are gloriously fucked, and the film’s unapologetic cosmic-horror climax is a wild, tentacle-slapping ride. Despite some studio polish, its raw intensity and focus on existential dread give it a B-movie soul. Underwater’s suffocating vibe is perfect for fans who want their horror dark and damp. It’s like a panic attack at the bottom of the sea, with monsters that’d make you cancel your scuba lessons. Watch it with a flashlight and a prayer.

Ken Wiederhorn’s Shock Waves is a batshit-crazy, low-budget aquatic zombie flick that’s like stumbling into a fever dream after eating bad shrimp. This 1977 oddity traps a group of tourists on an island where Nazi zombies (yep, you read that correctly… Nazi fucking zombies) rise from the ocean like they’re auditioning for a fascist synchronized swim team. These blonde, goggle-wearing undead, looking like they looted a dive shop in 1945, are creepy and absurd, shambling with a silent menace that’s weirdly hypnotic. The film’s choppy, surreal vibe feels like it was edited by someone half-asleep, but that’s part of its charm. Grainy visuals and a plot that barely holds together make it a B-movie relic. Shock Waves’s raw, unpolished energy is a gift for fans of cult horror. It’s the kind of movie that has you laughing one minute and checking the beach for goose-stepping divers the next. Perfect for those who crave their scares strange and cheap. Dive in with low expectations and a twisted sense of humor.

Larry Fessenden’s Beneath is a lake monster flick that’s as much about dumb humans as it is about a giant, pissed-off catfish. Six teens hit a lake for a boat party, only to become snacks for a prehistoric fish with zero chill. The practical creature effects, rubbery jaws that scream 70s drive-in, are pure nostalgia, and the film’s focus on the group’s selfish, stabby drama adds a sharp psychological edge. Fessenden, a horror veteran, crafts a sunlit nightmare that’s equal parts tense and darkly funny, like Jaws on a lemonade budget. The lake’s murky depths and the teens’ panic are dripping with dread, making every splash feel like doom. Beneath’s lo-fi charm is perfect for fans of obscure horror with bite. It’s a hidden gem that proves you don’t need fancy CGI to scare, just a hungry fish and some doomed idiots. Watch it with a smirk, but maybe avoid skinny-dipping unless you’re ready to wrestle a catfish the size of a Buick.

Stephen Sommers’ Deep Rising is a bonkers, tentacle-filled flick that’s like a monster truck rally at sea. This 1998 cult classic follows a mercenary crew (led by Treat Williams’ charming rogue) battling giant, toothy sea worms that crash a cruise ship like it’s an open bar. The practical effects with wriggling, slimy beasts, are a creature-feature wet dream, and Famke Janssen’s glamorous thief adds campy spice. The film’s unapologetic schlock, with snappy one-liners and a monster that looks like a squid with a grudge, delivers pure fun. It’s got enough gore to satisfy horror hounds and a climax that’s gloriously unhinged. Despite a modest budget, its wild energy feels like a middle finger to tame blockbusters. Deep Rising is like a pirate shanty belted out by drunk sailors—loud, messy, and infectious. Fans of over-the-top horror will adore its cult vibe and relentless pace.

Joe Dante’s Piranha is the sassy Jaws rip-off that’s so much fun it outbites most copycats. This 1978 flick, written by John Sayles, tracks a reporter and a boozy ex-cop uncovering a military screw-up: genetically tweaked piranhas munching through a river resort. The fish are hilariously fake, with practical effects embracing their budget constraints, and the kills are gleefully bloody, tourists become fish chow in seconds. Dante’s tongue-in-cheek humor and chaotic energy make it a love letter to exploitation flicks, with a dash of eco-horror to keep things sharp. The campy dialogue and insane climax are pure joy, like a carnival ride that smells faintly of fish. Piranha’s anarchic vibe is perfect for fans of schlocky horror with heart. It’s the kind of movie you watch while shouting at the screen as idiots dive into piranha-infested waters. Your horror-loving pals will dig its raw charm.

Leviathan is a gloriously cheesy deep-sea movie that feels like Alien and The Thing got drunk in a submarine. Directed by George P. Cosmatos, this 1989 cult flick follows a mining crew (led by Peter Weller’s epic mullet) who uncover a sunken Russian ship and a mutant virus that turns them into fishy abominations. Stan Winston’s practical effects, slimy, toothy creatures, are a gooey treat, dominating as the underwater base becomes a wet slaughterhouse. Ernie Hudson and Daniel Stern add charm, hamming it up like they’re in a sci-fi soap opera. The plot’s a blatant rip-off of better films, but with tentacles and 80s vibes, who’s complaining? Its scrappy energy and cosmic-horror hints make it a blast for fans of retro creature features. Leviathan’s like a dive bar brawl, messy, loud, and full of weirdos you can’t look away from. It’s a must for those who love their horror with rubber monsters and a side of camp. Watch with cheap beer.

Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo’s The Deep House is a wild French horror experiment: a found-footage tale of divers exploring a haunted house submerged in a lake. This concept alone is nuts enough to hook any horror fan. Ben and Tina (James Jagger, Camille Rowe) dive into a flooded mansion that’s less fixer-upper and more demonic waterpark. The underwater cinematography is suffocating, with murky visuals and practical sets that make you feel like you’re holding your breath. Ghosts, creepy relics, and a twist that’ll have you choking on your popcorn keep things intense. Maury and Bustillo, known for Inside, bring their knack for visceral scares, turning every shadow and bubble into a threat. The found-footage format stumbles occasionally, but the sheer guts of filming underwater make it a standout. The Deep House’s bold execution and creepy atmosphere are catnip for fans of unique horror. It’s perfect for those who’d rather swim with ghosts than watch another shark movie.

Neasa Hardiman’s Sea Fever is a chilling Irish horror that swaps cheap scares for slow-burn dread and slimy parasites. A marine biology student joins a fishing trawler, only to encounter a bioluminescent sea creature that infects the crew with a grotesque, body-horror parasite. It’s got a gritty, low-fi aesthetic that feels ripped from a sailor’s worst nightmare. The boat’s rusty, cramped quarters crank up the claustrophobia, while the cast (Hermione Corfield, Connie Nielsen) wrestles with ethical dilemmas as their bodies start leaking goo. Hardiman’s restrained direction and science-gone-wrong focus give it a smart edge, ideal for fans who like their horror with brains. The practical effects, think oozing wounds and wriggling critters, are delightfully nasty without needing a Hollywood budget. Sea Fever’s eerie, intimate take on aquatic terror proves you can make waves with minimal cash. It’s a gem for those who crave smart, unsettling scares that linger like a damp chill.

Roger Corman’s Humanoids from the Deep is a gloriously sleazy movie where mutant fish-men terrorize a coastal town with a side of schlocky chaos. Directed by Barbara Peeters (with Corman tossing in extra gore), this exploitation flick mixes environmental horror with pure, unfiltered weirdness. Picture fishy monsters, fresh from failing auditions for Creature from the Black Lagoon, wreaking havoc with gruesome kills and some seriously questionable mating habits. The rubbery creature suits are low-budget perfection, and the film’s “who needs subtlety?” vibe delivers splatter and camp in spades. It’s got that raw, chaotic energy that makes you forgive its flaws, plus a hint of eco-horror about humanity screwing up the seas. The gooey practical effects and over-the-top dialogue are a love letter to grindhouse cinema. Humanoids is like stumbling into a dive bar that smells like seaweed—rough, rowdy, and unforgettable.

Stuart Gordon’s Dagon is a wild dive into Lovecraftian chaos that’ll leave you feeling like you’ve sprouted fins. Adapting H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Over Innsmouth, this Spanish horror follows a shipwrecked couple who wash ashore in Imboca, a coastal town obsessed with a fishy deity who loves a good human sacrifice. The slimy fish-human hybrids, crafted with practical effects, are grotesque in the best way, dripping with eerie charm. Rain-soaked streets and a bonkers climax with tentacles and a twisted family secret deliver pure cosmic horror. The budget’s so low you can almost hear the sets groan, but that rawness makes it all the creepier. Dagon’s unpolished weirdness and devotion to Lovecraft’s deep-sea nightmares make it a cult classic. It’s the kind of film that has you eyeing your shower suspiciously. Perfect for fans of bizarre, unsettling horror who’d pick a stormy, tentacle-filled nightmare over a generic shark flick any day. Watch it on a dark, rainy night with a strong drink to fully embrace the existential terror.