Though not a massive blockbuster, 47 Meters Down ended up being a pretty entertaining thrill ride for fans of this particular type of horror movie. There’s something about a simple story of people in small spaces being manaced by sharks that makes for a really fun cinematic experience, and there are plenty of similarly chilling movies that also fit this specific bill.
Some of these movies touch on the killer predator aspect of the movie. Some use the concept of being trapped in an enclosed space with danger lurking all around, and some of these movies are just really good survival stories, but all of them should please fans of 47 Meters Down.
Jaws (1975)
Any movie that is going to feature killer sharks is inevitably going to be compared to Jaws. Since Steve Spielberg’s classic was released in 1975, few shark attack movies have been able to come close to matching its brilliance.
Like many other movies of this genre, 47 Meters Down owes so much to Jaws in how it made the water seem like such a terrifying place. Decades later, this masterpiece still holds up as a truly effective and entertaining shark thriller.
The Grey (2011)
47 Meters Down is a very effective mix of a survival story and a monster movie. It puts its characters out of their element and then threatens them with a looming threat. This set up is also used for The Grey, albeit with a very different environment and different monsters.
The Liam Neeson thriller finds a group of survivors from a plane crash stranded out in a frozen wasteland. As they desperately try to search for a means of rescue, they are hunted by a pack of wolves. It is a brutal, smart, and nail-biting ride.
Underwater (2020)
While being trapped 47 meters underwater seems nightmarish, Underwater goes much further in trapping its characters on the bottom of the ocean. Kristen Stewart leads this sci-fi horror movie about a group of people who must walk across the ocean floor when their underwater research facility is damaged.
Of course, if the incredible depths of the ocean weren’t enough, the characters soon discover that there are deadly and undiscovered beasts lurking out in the dark waters. Stewart makes for an excellent lead, and the movie delivers some great setpieces.
Frozen (2010)
Not to be confused with the beloved family-friendly Disney movie, this Frozen is neither animated nor something for children to enjoy. The movie follows a trio of skier friends who sneak onto a chairlift for a night ski, only for the chairlift to stop, stranding them high in the air as the temperature drops and hungry wolves circle below.
Like 47 Meters Down, Frozen begins as a fun adventure with friends and ends in horror. It makes great use of its limited location and also features some of the most gruesome depictions of frostbite audiences won’t soon forget.
Rogue (2007)
Rogue is a very underrated creature-feature that is the best use of a killer crocodile in any movie. Set in Australia, the movie follows a boat tour group exploring the outback. Their boat is attacked by a massive crocodile, and they are left stranded on a small island that is disappearing with the tide.
Though the crocodile CGI is not always great, the movie follows the style of Jaws and achieves a lot of tension with only hints of the killer monster lurking beneath the water.
Gravity (2013)
Though Gravity might not have the same element of horror as some of the other movies on this list, it is still an incredibly intense ride from beginning to end. Sandra Bullock stars as an inexperienced astronaut who is left stranded out in space after a shuttle disaster who must fight to find her way back home.
Both this movie and 47 Meters Down are effective at having their characters feel helpless and alone in this dangerous situation. They then need to find their own strength to get out of this mess. Gravity has no aliens or space sharks lurking, yet it is still a very effective survival story.
The Shallows (2016)
In another shark survival story with a strong female lead, The Shallows stars Blake Lively in an excellent action hero role. She plays a young woman who goes surfing at a secluded beach where she is attacked by a massive shark and left stranded on a rock 200 yards from the shore.
This is another example of a movie doing a lot with a limited location. As the water rises and the shark circles, Lively and this giant beast engage in a pretty thrilling battle of wills.
Open Water (2003)
Though a very low-budget shark attack movie, Open Water manages to deliver some pretty great thrills. It is very similar in its set up to 47 Meters Down, as it follows a couple vacationing in the Caribbean who go on a scuba-diving expedition only to accidentally get left behind.
With no land in sight, the couple is left floating in the open ocean as sharks begin to close in around them. Though it doesn’t feature as much shark action as other movies like this, it is a harrowing experience.
Crawl (2019)
Another recent creature-feature that is quite impressive is the alligator horror movie Crawl. Set during a hurricane in Florida, a young woman goes to check on her father and finds him trapped beneath the house in the crawl space. As the space floods, a group of alligators find their way into the house and begin hunting.
The movie has the same claustrophobic feel as 47 Meters Down and is able to do a lot with a very simple story. The movie is an intense and brutal adventure that ends up being a whole lot of fun.
The Descent (2005)
The Descent is likely the scariest movie on this list and stands as an all-around expertly-made movie. It follows a group of female friends who go on a getaway where they explore a gave system. However, when they find themselves lost deep within the cave, they encounter the monstrous creatures living in the darkness.
This is yet another movie that is so effective at using the claustrophobic setting to put the audience on edge. It also has some of the best jump-scares of any horror movie and is just a great harrowing journey with interesting characters.
