Western media overwhelmingly portrays sharks in a one-dimensional fashion: as vicious, bloodthirsty killers with a primal desire to hunt humans

Contrary to their portrayal in blockbuster cinema, sharks are neither inherently malevolent nor benevolent creatures. As apex predators occupying a large role in marine ecosystems, sharks play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. However, Hollywood's penchant for sensationalism and dramatic storytelling often distorts the public's perception of sharks, portraying them as relentless killers driven by a primal urge to hunt and devour humans. Blockbuster films capitalize on the fear of the unknown and exploit the primal instinct to survive, depicting sharks as formidable adversaries capable of wreaking havoc and instilling terror in their human counterparts. While these cinematic portrayals may serve as effective storytelling devices and generate box office success, they maintain harmful stereotypes and the vilification of sharks in popular culture, inadvertently promoting violence against them. Ultimately, Hollywood perpetuates a skewed and sensationalized view of these misjudged creatures, overlooking their ecological significance and undermining conservation efforts to protect them by equating sharks’ aquatic presence with danger.

Jacques Cousteau Documentaries

Jacques Cousteau, the renowned French oceanographer and filmmaker, played a significant role in shaping public perceptions of sharks through his pioneering documentaries.

From the 1950s to the 1970s, Cousteau's underwater explorations provided audiences with unprecedented insights into the marine world, including encounters with sharks. Unlike many sensationalized portrayals of sharks in popular media, Cousteau presented these creatures with a sense of respect and admiration for their role in marine ecosystems. Through his documentaries, such as "The Silent World" (1956) and "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" (1966-1976), he showcased sharks as majestic and essential components of the ocean, highlighting their beauty, grace, and importance in maintaining marine biodiversity.

Undoubtedly, Jaws stands out as an iconic and immensely successful narrative of shark-induced terror. American author Peter Benchley's novel, published in 1974, quickly became a bestseller, captivating readers with its gripping narrative and suspenseful depiction of a seaside town terrorized by a man-eating shark.

In a 2000 interview, Peter Benchley was candid about the effect of Jaws on sharks. “What I now know,” he said, “which wasn't known when I wrote Jaws, is that there is no such thing as a rogue shark which develops a taste for human flesh.” (Collider)

Spielberg's 1975 film adaptation further solidified the story's cultural impact, shocking audiences with its groundbreaking special effects, iconic musical score, and nail-biting suspense. The book and film tapped into primal fears and harnessed the public imagination, sparking widespread fear-fascination with sharks and establishing Jaws as a timeless classic in popular culture.

Capitalizing on the public's newfound fear and fascination with sharks, filmmakers began churning out a steady stream of shark-themed movies, ranging from B-movie schlock to big-budget blockbusters. This phenomenon, commonly called “Jaws-mania,” sparked a cultural obsession with sharks and established them as perennial fixtures in mainstream cinema. The success of subsequent shark thrillers, such as Deep Blue Sea (1999), The Shallows (2016), and 47 Meters Down (2017), further cemented the subgenre's popularity and solidified sharks as enduring icons of cinematic terror.

ABSURDIST shark Films

In the animated comedy film "Shark Tale" (2004), sharks are portrayed in a somewhat unconventional and satirical manner. Instead of being fearsome creatures, the sharks in the film are depicted as characters with personalities and emotions, living in a world reminiscent of human society.

The film's main shark characters, including Don Lino and his sons Frankie and Lenny, are portrayed as mobsters rather than ruthless predators. They are part of the underwater underworld and engage in activities that parody organized crime. Lenny, however, is a vegetarian shark whose journey revolves around his struggle to find acceptance and understanding within his family and community despite his differences. He faces pressure to conform to the expectations placed upon him by his father and the broader shark society, which values strength and aggression. As the story progresses, Lenny forms an unlikely friendship with Oscar, a small fish initially intimidated by him. Through their friendship, Lenny embraces his true identity and finds the courage to stand up against his family's expectations. Ultimately, Lenny plays a pivotal role in challenging the status quo and helping to bring about positive change within the underwater community.

Overall, "Shark Tale" offers a more light-hearted and comedic portrayal of sharks, challenging the traditional image of them as purely dangerous creatures. Instead, it humanizes them, giving them relatable traits and flaws.

Baby Shark

Honorable Mentions

Finding Nemo (2003)

Positive depictions

Positive depictions of sharks in animated films offer a refreshing departure from the typical portrayal of these creatures as the sole threat. Through endearing characters and heartwarming narratives, animated shark films challenge stereotypes and foster empathy toward sharks, ultimately reshaping our perception of these often misunderstood creatures. By humanizing sharks and showcasing their softer side, these films entertain audiences and impart valuable lessons about acceptance, understanding, and compassion. Through the lens of animation, positive depictions of sharks achieve the remarkable feat of both entertaining and educating viewers, encouraging them to see beyond fear and embrace a more empathetic view of these special animals.

Although the respective films do not inherently promote shark conservation, they can still spark that inspiration for viewers.

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"Baby Shark" originated as a traditional children's song, but it gained widespread popularity after the South Korean company Pinkfong produced and uploaded an animated video version to YouTube in 2016. While it does not directly promote conservation efforts or provide scientific information about sharks, it does contribute to positive shark representation in a different way.

"Baby Shark" presents sharks in a non-threatening and even cute manner, which can help dispel some of the fear and negative stereotypes associated with them. Portraying sharks as playful and friendly characters in a children's song introduces young audiences to these animals in a lighthearted way, potentially fostering a more positive attitude toward them from a young age.

The song's popularity surged in 2018 when it went viral globally. It became a cultural phenomenon and spawned numerous remixes, merchandise, dance challenges, and a social media frenzy. In this way, "Baby Shark" has helped to bring sharks into mainstream pop culture in a fun and accessible way, which can contribute to positive shark representation overall.

B-rated shark movies, characterized by low budgets, cheesy special effects, and over-the-top storylines, have carved out a unique niche within the subgenre. While they may not boast the box office success of their blockbuster counterparts, these films serve a distinct purpose in the entertainment landscape as absurd escapism. With titles like "Sharknado, "Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf," and "Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus," B-rated shark movies captivate audiences with their absurdity and campy charm. Despite their shortcomings in production quality, fantastical shark films have achieved a surprising level of popularity, spawning cult followings and generating considerable buzz on social media platforms.

Beyond their entertainment value, B-rated shark movies offer an off-kilter lens to examine broader cultural attitudes and anxieties surrounding sharks and the ocean. By exaggerating and sensationalizing the threat these creatures pose, these films reflect society's enduring fascination with sharks while serving as cautionary tales about humanity's impact on the natural world. Contrary to the assumed takeaways, exploring B-rated shark movies can uncover more profound insights into our collective fears, desires, and perceptions of the ocean's most enigmatic inhabitants.

In both Finding Nemo (2003) and its sequel, Finding Dory (2016), the animated comedy-drama adventure films produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, sharks are portrayed in a positive and contrary manner compared to the mainstream depiction of them as mindless killing machines.

Finding Nemo marks several significant milestones for Pixar. It was Pixar’s first film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the best-selling DVD title of all time, and the highest-grossing G-rated film to date.

Instead of being fearsome and menacing, the sharks in these movies are portrayed as characters capable of change, redemption, and friendship.

In Finding Nemo, the sharks are members of a support group called “Fish Are Friends, Not Food.” Led by a great white shark named Bruce, they strive to resist their natural instincts to eat fish and adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. After Marlin accidentally hits Dory in the face with a pair of goggles in the sharks’ sunken submarine meeting center, a drop of blood enters Bruce’s nostrils, causing him to break out into a savage, unrelenting chase for the two small fish. However, he overcomes this rampage and affirms that he and his friends are willing to change and overcome their predatory nature, showing that sharks can be friendly and compassionate creatures.

In a video reviewing shark attacks in movies, marine biologist and doctoral student Amani Webber-Schultz tells Insider, “One of the things that this movie did do well is you can actually see the blood from Dory go into Bruce's nose. We have a common misconception that sharks can just smell a drop of blood from a mile away when, in reality, their noses actually work very similar to ours in that they have to get a particle of that blood actually enter their nose for them to realize that it's there.”

In Finding Dory, while sharks do not play as significant a role as in the first movie, there is a continued portrayal of sharks in a positive light. Destiny, a whale shark, alongside a beluga whale called Bailey, is depicted as a friendly and helpful character who assists Dory on her journey to find her parents. Here, the film showcases that sharks are not inherently dangerous or aggressive but can be fun and supportive.

Destiny is even depicted as suffering from nearsightedness, a condition that may actually prove true. Whale sharks, recognized as the largest fish on Earth, can reach lengths of up to 65 feet. Despite their immense size, they possess relatively small eyes. A writer from Bustle Magazine states, “[t]here's a lot scientists don't know about whale sharks and their vision, but a blog post on the National Geographic website notes that a whale shark like Destiny has the ability to "close its eyes, rotate them, and even draw them back into its head for protection." They also come equipped with a "mirror behind the retina" that helps them see in the dark. That said, their eyes are so small (about the size of a golf ball) that scientists are unsure how much whale sharks rely on their sense of sight” (Truffaut-Wong, 2016).