12 Movies Like Blackfish You Need to Watch
Discover documentaries, thrillers, and more like Blackfish, including Seaspiracy, Fathom, Fin, Rust and Bone, and other tense ocean stories.
If you were drawn to the tension, emotion, and real-world impact of Blackfish, this roundup brings together twelve films and documentaries that hit similar notes from different angles. You’ll find hard-hitting nonfiction such as Seaspiracy, Fathom, and When Sharks Attack, plus fiction titles that carry the same sense of danger and unease, including Fin, Grabbers, and Jaws: The Revenge. For a more human, character-driven take, Rust and Bone adds drama and intimacy to the mix. Together, these picks cover documentary, drama, thriller, romance, and adventure, giving you plenty of ways to stay with the themes of nature, survival, and the consequences of our choices.
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01
Rust and Bone
drama · romance
Put in charge of his young son, Ali leaves Belgium for Antibes to live with his sister and her husband as a family. Ali's bond with Stephanie, a killer whale trainer, grows deeper after Stephanie suffers a horrible accident.
Directed by Jacques AudiardCast Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure, Céline Sallette, Corinne MasieroHulu -
02
When Sharks Attack
documentary
Terror-filled deep sea saga using underwater photography, gripping news archives & paralyzing testimony to investigate three mysterious and deadly recent shark attacks.
Directed by Alice Borrelli, Kim Lask, Sarah Barker, Joel Pincosy, Lee DoyleCast Eric Meyers, David A. Ebert, Dan Huber, Thomas Frick, Brian D. LongHuluMax -
03
Fin
documentary
A group of scientists, researchers and activists sail around the globe to unveil the truth behind the deaths of millions of sharks, exposing the criminal enterprise that is leading to the extinction of these misunderstood creatures.
Directed by Eli RothCast Eli RothMax -
04
Seaspiracy
documentary · adventure
Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species — and uncovers an alarming global conspiracy.
Directed by Ali TabriziCast Ali Tabrizi, Sylvia Earle, Richard O'Barry, Paul de Gelder, Lucy TabriziNetflix -
05
Fathom
documentary
Two biologists set out on an undertaking as colossal as their subjects—deciphering the complex communication of whales. Dr. Michelle Fournet and Dr. Ellen Garland journey to opposite hemispheres to uncover a culture eons older than our own.
Directed by Drew XanthopoulosCast Ellen Garland, Michelle FournetApple TV Plus -
06
Grabbers
action · adventure · comedy · horror · sci-fi · thriller
Something sinister has come to the shores of Erin Island, unbeknownst to the quaint population of this sleepy fishing village resting somewhere off Ireland’s coast. First, some fishermen go missing. Then there is the rash of whale carcasses suddenly washing up on the beach. When the murders start, it’s up to two mismatched cops – an irresponsible alcoholic and his new partner, a by-the-book woman from the mainland – to protect the townsfolk from the giant, bloodsucking, tentacled aliens that prey upon them. Their only weapon, they discover, is booze. If they want to survive the creatures’ onslaught, everyone will have to get very, very drunk!
Directed by Jon WrightCast Killian Coyle, Stuart Graham, Michael Hough, Richard Coyle, Ruth BradleyAMC+ -
07
Jaws: The Revenge
adventure · horror · thriller
After another deadly shark attack, Ellen Brody decides she has had enough of New England's Amity Island and moves to the Caribbean to join her son, Michael, and his family. But a great white shark has followed her there, hungry for more lives.
Directed by Joseph SargentCast Lorraine Gary, Lance Guest, Mario Van Peebles, Karen Young, Michael CaineNetflix -
08
The Shallows
drama · horror · thriller
While surfing on a secluded beach, Nancy finds herself in the feeding grounds of a great white shark. Though stranded only 200 yards from shore, survival proves to be the ultimate test of wills, requiring all of her ingenuity, resourcefulness, and fortitude.
Directed by Jaume Collet-SerraCast Blake Lively, Óscar Jaenada, Angelo Josue Lozano Corzo, Joseph Salas, Brett CullenNetflix -
09
Sharknado
action · adventure · comedy · horror · sci-fi · thriller
A freak hurricane hits Los Angeles, causing man-eating sharks to be scooped up in tornadoes and flooding the city with shark-infested seawater. Surfer and bar-owner Fin sets out with his friends Baz and Nova to rescue his estranged wife April and teenage daughter Claudia.
Directed by Anthony C. FerranteCast Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, John Heard, Cassandra Scerbo, Jaason SimmonsAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumFreevee -
10
Sea of Shadows
documentary · crime · history
The vaquita, the world’s smallest whale, is nearing extinction as its habitat is destroyed by Mexican cartels and the Chinese Mafia, who harvest the totoaba fish, the “cocaine of the sea.” Environmental activists, the Mexican navy, and undercover investigators are fighting back against this illegal multimillion-dollar business.
Directed by Richard Ladkani, Sean Bogle, Matthew PodolskyCast Carlos LoretDisney Plus -
11
Shark Whisperer
documentary
Marine conservationist and social media activist Ocean Ramsey fearlessly swims with sharks in this documentary about her risky mission to protect them.
Directed by Harrison Macks, James Reed, JP StilesCast Mike BoltonNetflix -
12
The Purge
horror · sci-fi · thriller
Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion.
Directed by James DeMonacoCast Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin HodgeAmazon Prime VideoPeacock Premium
Wrapping Up
Whether you want a true-life environmental wake-up call or a suspenseful story with teeth, these picks give you a wide range of options to explore next. From Blackfish and Seaspiracy to Rust and Bone, Fin, and Grabbers, each title offers a different angle on fear, empathy, and survival. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want another watch that leaves a stronger impression than a standard popcorn movie. The list is updated regularly, so you’ll always have a fresh place to start when you are in the mood for something tense, thoughtful, or unsettling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Blackfish?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.
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Last updated: September 4, 2026