More than fifty years after instilling terror in viewers with “JAWS”, the success of the terrifying shark remains undiminished, as it is once again featured in a blockbuster on Netflix.
You too may feel a hint of unease when dipping a toe into the ocean, with the unsettling prospect of spotting a menacing fin slicing through the waters during your swim. You are not alone: according to studies, between 30% and 50% of the population admits to fearing sharks.
Partly to blame is cinema. Since the great white shark from the film “JAWS” spread terror on Amity Island and made box office history, the aquatic creature has remained one of the most iconic monsters of the big screen – and its counterparts still hold immense fascination for the public.
The classic from Steven Spielberg has paved the way for many successful shark-themed films, including “The Reef”, “The Meg”, “The Shallows”, “Open Water”, and “Deep Blue Sea”.
Proof that its success continues, Netflix is capitalizing on the terror that this mammal inspires with the recent release of “Thrash” (predatory nature), a horror film directed by Tommy Wirkola. According to “Page Six Hollywood”, the film garnered immediate success on the streaming platform, accumulating 37.7 million views in the first week and 34.5 million in the second week, thus topping the charts for both weeks.
Not to mention other upcoming films: “Deep Water”, starring Aaron Eckhart, set to be released on May 1st; “Shiver”, by Tim Miller with Keanu Reeves, scheduled for release in theaters in 2027, as well as a seventh installment of the successful “Sharknado” franchise, with the first six films being aired between 2013 and 2018.
And this success is not surprising, according to expert Shawn Robbins in “Page Six”. “Steven Spielberg’s classic is considered the original ‘summer blockbuster’, and it’s no coincidence: it transcended genres. Since then, all shark films have followed in its footsteps.”
“Shark films have a knack for box office success, to varying degrees, whether they are minimalist independent films or big-budget Hollywood productions with special effects,” said Shawn Robbins, director of analysis at Fandango and founder/owner of Box Office Theory.
“The ocean is a mysterious place. We still know very little about our oceans – we know more about the Moon – and yet, it covers about 75% of our planet,” emphasized Nima Farchadi, a marine ecology researcher at San Diego State University, in “Page Six”.
“Sharks contribute to this mystery. They are so diverse, and it is truly exciting and captivating to observe them. Seeing a five-meter fish leap out of the water is simply incredible.”
“Incredible,” indeed… but also a chilling prospect for many swimming and cinema enthusiasts.
