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| Loved Above & Below? These 16 Shark and Survival Movies Are Your Next Watch. (Photo: Aura) |
There is something terrifying about being trapped underwater with almost no oxygen, a hungry shark circling nearby and dangerous criminals waiting for you if you somehow survive. That relentless combination is exactly why Above & Below has become one of the most talked-about survival thrillers of 2026. Rather than relying on sharks alone, the film raises the tension by throwing cartel criminals, impossible choices and deep-sea survival into one relentlessly stressful adventure that rarely gives audiences a chance to relax.
Viewers have praised Laura Marano's determined performance as Tatiana, while Antonio Banderas brings a calm but intimidating presence as the ruthless Burns. Together, the film blends action, survival horror and crime into a fast-paced story where escaping the sharks is only half the problem. Sometimes the people on the boat are far scarier than whatever is swimming underneath it.
Fan reactions have naturally been mixed in the best possible way. Some loved the constant underwater suspense and creative survival sequences, while others admitted the cartel storyline kept them even more invested than the sharks themselves. Plenty of viewers also joked that the film successfully convinced them to admire the ocean from a safe distance on land forever. Fair enough, really.
Movies Like ABOVE & BELOW.
If Above & Below left you wanting more underwater nightmares, survival stories and crime thrillers where every decision could be your last, these 16 films deserve a spot on your watchlist.
1. 47 Meters Down (2017)
Few films resemble Above & Below more closely than 47 Meters Down. Two sisters become trapped inside a shark cage after it crashes to the ocean floor, leaving them with limited oxygen and great white sharks circling outside. The desperate survival race and claustrophobic underwater setting make it an obvious recommendation.
2. The Shallows (2016)
Blake Lively carries almost the entire film as a surfer stranded on a tiny rock after a shark attack leaves her isolated just metres from safety.
The film thrives on tension rather than spectacle, proving that one determined survivor and one relentless shark can keep audiences glued to the screen.
3. Open Water (2003)
Inspired by real events, Open Water follows a couple accidentally abandoned during a scuba-diving trip. Floating alone in the endless sea while sharks begin circling creates a terrifyingly realistic survival experience. It lacks explosive action but delivers relentless psychological fear.
4. Into the Blue (2005)
This underwater adventure feels almost like a distant cousin to Above & Below. Divers searching for treasure discover a crashed aircraft carrying cartel cocaine, immediately placing themselves in the sights of ruthless criminals. It combines beautiful diving sequences with dangerous crime syndicates and escalating action.
5. Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Scientists trapped inside an underwater research facility must survive genetically engineered sharks after disaster strikes. While the premise is more science fiction than realistic thriller, it captures the same desperate escape energy and underwater danger.
6. No Way Up (2024)
A commercial aircraft crashes into the ocean, leaving survivors trapped inside a submerged cabin while sharks patrol outside.
Limited oxygen, rising panic and impossible escape routes create constant tension that fans of Above &Below will instantly recognise.
7. Underwater (2020)
Set deep beneath the ocean, Underwater follows researchers struggling to escape after an earthquake destroys their facility.
Every step towards safety becomes another terrifying challenge. The crushing isolation and survival themes make it a natural follow-up.
8. The Reef (2010)
Following a yacht accident, several friends are forced to swim towards land while being stalked by a great white shark. The film strips survival down to its basics, creating suspense through realism rather than flashy effects.
9. The Reef: Stalked (2022)
This sequel introduces another group of friends whose kayaking trip turns into a nightmare after a deadly shark begins hunting them. Personal trauma, survival instincts and relentless pursuit keep the tension consistently high.
10. Crawl (2019)
Swap the ocean for a flooded Florida home and sharks for enormous alligators, and you still get the same desperate fight for survival. Crawl delivers non-stop suspense with characters trapped in rising water while deadly predators wait nearby.
11. Adrift (2018)
Based on a remarkable true story, Adrift follows a woman attempting to survive at sea after a devastating hurricane. While there are no sharks chasing every scene, the emotional resilience and ocean survival elements make it equally gripping.
12. Black Water: Abyss (2020)
Friends exploring remote caves suddenly find themselves trapped underground with rising floodwaters and a hungry crocodile. The enclosed environment and limited escape options create a level of claustrophobia similar to underwater diving thrillers.
13. Sanctum (2011)
An expedition inside one of the world's largest underwater cave systems turns disastrous after severe flooding traps the team underground. Every decision becomes a life-or-death calculation, delivering a realistic survival experience packed with tension.
14. Beast (2022)
The setting moves from the ocean to the African savannah, but the formula remains familiar. A father must protect his family from a relentless lion while completely isolated from help. Human determination against an unstoppable predator drives every scene.
15. Rogue (2007)
Tourists become stranded after a giant crocodile attacks their boat in Australia's remote wetlands. With rescue nowhere in sight and danger surrounding them, the film balances creature thrills with genuine survival drama.
16. Fall (2022)
There are no sharks and very little water, but Fall perfectly captures the overwhelming feeling of being trapped with limited options. Two friends stranded hundreds of feet above the ground must rely on intelligence, teamwork and determination to survive. If what you enjoyed most about Above & Below was the relentless survival pressure rather than the sharks themselves, this delivers exactly that.
Next: Where Was ABOVE & BELOW Filmed?
Whether you enjoyed Above & Below for its deep-sea suspense, desperate survival, criminal conspiracy or pulse-racing action, these films explore many of the same themes from different angles.
Some throw characters into shark-infested waters, others focus on natural disasters or ruthless criminals, but they all share one important lesson: holidays have an impressive talent for going spectacularly wrong in films. Perhaps staying at home with a takeaway suddenly sounds like the safest adventure after all.
Which of these movies is your favourite, and do you think another underwater thriller deserved a place on the list? Share your recommendations with fellow film fans and let everyone know which survival movie kept your heart racing long after the credits rolled.