The Best Shark Documentaries

Prime Video, Apple TV+, YouTube

Filmmaker Rob Stewart's groundbreaking documentary follows his efforts to expose the illegal shark fin trade and its devastating impact on global shark populations. A landmark film that changed public perception of sharks.

Apple TV+, YouTube

Stewart's posthumously released follow-up investigates the illegal shark fin trade in North America and the cosmetics industry's hidden use of shark liver oil (squalene). Essential viewing on shark conservation.

Disney+

The life story of Australian marine biologist and filmmaker Valerie Taylor — the pioneer who helped film Jaws and spent decades documenting sharks. A portrait of a scientist who transformed from hunter to conservationist.

Discovery+, Apple TV+

The BBC's landmark natural history series features extraordinary shark sequences including silvertip sharks hunting in the open ocean and unique footage of tasselled wobbegongs in Indonesian coral reefs. Narrated by David Attenborough.

Netflix

Netflix's flagship natural history series produced with WWF. The 'Coastal Seas' episode features extensive shark sequences, including whale sharks aggregating off the Yucatán Peninsula. Narrated by David Attenborough.

Discovery+

Chris Fallows and Jeff Kurr return to Seal Island, South Africa to capture great white breaching behavior — the spectacular aerial attacks on Cape fur seals. Part of the long-running Air Jaws franchise on Discovery.

Discovery+

Following a series of attacks off the California coast, researchers investigate a large great white believed to be responsible for multiple incidents. Uses OCEARCH satellite tagging data to track individual sharks.

Disney+

Scientists use tagging technology to investigate a surprising concentration of large sharks — including hammerheads and tigers — in the waters of the Bermuda Triangle, challenging long-held assumptions about the area.

Apple TV+

OCEARCH's global shark tagging expeditions, following the team as they board large sharks in open water to attach satellite tags and collect biological samples. Features great whites, tiger sharks, and bull sharks.

Prime Video, YouTube

A cinematic deep-ocean documentary from the BBC Natural History Unit. Features extraordinary footage of great white sharks hunting near the surface, as well as the rarely filmed lives of deepwater species.

Apple TV+

Disneynature's stunning ocean documentary, filmed across all major oceans, features remarkable sequences of hammerhead schools, whale sharks, and great whites. Winner of the César Award for Best Documentary.

Disney+

Actor Chris Hemsworth dives alongside scientists in Australia to understand shark behavior, the effectiveness of shark deterrents, and the ecological role of apex predators in Australian coastal waters.