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| Loved Chum? These 24 Survival Thrillers Deliver More Sharks, Chaos and Unhinged Villains. (Credits: IFC) |
Chum has quickly become one of the most talked-about survival thrillers of 2026. Between its shark attacks, collapsing marriage drama, stranded-at-sea tension and a fisherman who somehow makes the shark look reasonable, viewers have found themselves searching for something that delivers the same mix of danger, suspense and pure stress. If watching people make increasingly questionable decisions while fighting for survival is your idea of entertainment, there are plenty of titles worth adding to your watchlist.
The appeal of Chum is not just the giant predator lurking beneath the waves. The story works because danger comes from every direction. The ocean is deadly, the shark is relentless, friendships crack under pressure and the supposed rescuer turns out to be an even bigger problem.
That combination of creature-feature thrills and psychological tension has reminded many viewers why survival stories remain such a popular genre.
Movies Like CHUM
1. The Shallows
The Shallows follows a surfer stranded on a small rock after a shark attack leaves her trapped just offshore. Like Chum, the story strips survival down to its essentials.
The ocean becomes a prison, every movement carries risk and the shark never seems to be far away. Both stories thrive on the idea that help feels painfully close yet impossibly distant.
2. Open Water
Few survival films feel as brutally simple as Open Water. A couple accidentally gets left behind during a diving trip and must survive in open sea while predators circle nearby.
Fans of Chum will appreciate the same feeling of isolation and the growing realisation that nature does not care about anyone's plans.
3. Adrift
Adrift combines relationship drama with life-or-death survival after a devastating storm leaves a couple stranded at sea. Like Tina and Tom in Chum, the central relationship becomes just as important as the physical struggle to stay alive.
4. Deep Water
This tense thriller throws characters into dangerous waters where survival depends on quick thinking and trust. Similar to Chum, every decision feels like it could be the wrong one, which is exactly what keeps viewers glued to the screen.
5. Black Water
In Black Water, stranded survivors find themselves hunted by a massive crocodile. Swap the shark for a reptilian predator and the survival formula feels remarkably familiar. Nature becomes the villain, and the odds remain stacked firmly against the characters.
6. Black Water: Abyss
The sequel takes survival terror underground as a group becomes trapped inside a flooded cave system while a deadly predator stalks them. Fans of Chum will enjoy the claustrophobic atmosphere and relentless tension.
7. The Reef
A boating accident leaves several friends stranded in shark-infested waters. The similarities to Chum are obvious. Friendship dynamics, panic, survival choices and an ocean that suddenly becomes the worst possible place to be all play major roles.
8. The Reef: Stalked
This follow-up adds emotional trauma and revenge themes into the shark-survival formula. Like Chum, it explores how personal baggage can become almost as dangerous as the creature hunting everyone.
9. 47 Meters Down
Two sisters find themselves trapped underwater while sharks patrol around them. The story delivers the same escalating dread that made Chum so effective. The deeper the situation gets, the worse everything becomes.
10. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged
A group of young explorers discover that swimming with sharks sounds far less exciting when the sharks are actually trying to eat them. Fans of Chum will appreciate the constant danger and survival-focused storytelling.
11. Crawl
Instead of sharks, Crawl uses alligators and a hurricane. The result is another survival thriller where escaping nature seems almost impossible. Like Chum, the film balances family drama with creature-feature action.
12. Sweetheart
A stranded woman discovers she is not alone on a remote island. The film shares Chum's blend of survival tension, psychological stress and an increasingly dangerous environment.
13. Harpoon
If you enjoyed the tension between the characters in Chum, Harpoon is an excellent choice. Friends become trapped on a yacht while paranoia and mistrust slowly destroy their relationships. Sometimes people are more dangerous than monsters.
14. Dead Calm
This classic thriller follows a couple who encounter a mysterious stranger at sea. Like Roy in Chum, the stranger quickly proves that accepting help from the wrong person can create far bigger problems.
15. Shark Night
A group of friends discover that their holiday destination has become a feeding ground for sharks. The film leans into creature-feature fun while delivering many of the same thrills that attracted audiences to Chum.
16. Great White
A scenic trip turns into a survival nightmare after passengers become stranded in shark territory. The setup feels remarkably close to Chum, making it one of the easiest recommendations for fans.
17. Dangerous Animals
This thriller adds a disturbing human threat into an already terrifying situation. Similar to Chum, the danger comes from both predator and person, creating a constant sense of unease.
18. No Way Up
Passengers trapped after a plane crash find themselves fighting for survival underwater. Like Chum, the story thrives on impossible odds and a setting where every second counts.
19. Into the Deep
A woman becomes entangled with dangerous criminals and shark-infested waters. The mix of human villains and marine predators mirrors one of Chum's strongest storytelling elements.
20. The Boat
A lone sailor boards an abandoned vessel and quickly discovers that survival will not be straightforward. While lacking sharks, the film captures the same feeling of helplessness and isolation that made Chum so gripping.
21. Kon-Tiki
Based on real events, Kon-Tiki follows explorers crossing the Pacific Ocean on a primitive raft. Fans of survival stories will appreciate the constant battle against the sea and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
22. Sea Fever
A mysterious organism threatens the crew of a fishing vessel in this atmospheric thriller. Like Chum, the story blends creature horror with interpersonal tension and difficult survival decisions.
23. The Last Breath
Divers become trapped beneath the ocean surface in a race against time. The underwater setting and desperate fight for survival make it a natural recommendation for anyone who enjoyed Chum.
24. The Terror
Although set in the Arctic rather than the Mediterranean, The Terror combines survival, psychological pressure and a deadly creature stalking stranded victims. The series proves that changing the location does not make survival any easier.
Next: Chum Recap.
Viewer reactions to recommendations like these have been mixed in the most entertaining way possible. Some fans argue that The Shallows, The Reef and Great White come closest to recreating the shark-focused tension of Chum.
Others believe the human threat from titles such as Dead Calm, Harpoon and Dangerous Animals is what truly captures the film's atmosphere. Meanwhile, plenty of viewers seem united on one point: after watching Chum, suddenly taking a relaxing boat trip feels like a terrible life decision.
What makes Chum stand out is its ability to combine multiple thriller sub-genres into one chaotic package. It is part shark horror, part survival adventure and part psychological battle between deeply flawed characters. The titles above tap into one or more of those elements, making them ideal choices for viewers searching for their next adrenaline-filled watch.
Have you already seen any of these titles, or do you think another survival thriller deserves a spot on the list? Share your favourites, compare rankings and join the conversation—because survival fans never seem to agree on which nightmare at sea is the ultimate one.