3 Best Shark Documentaries of the ’90s [Watch FREE]
The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week is on the horizon, along with the summer season. But that’s not the only reason why I want to share the best shark documentaries I could find on YouTube. Here’s why.
Lately, I’ve been preparing to become a father. I’ve been digging through my old Informania books—the ones I devoured as a kid. Along with Goosebumps, these were my gateway drug into becoming a lifelong horror addict.
When I finally become a dad, I do wonder whether my future kids will love these books as much as I did… Whether they do or not, I know one thing—I’d love to share them.
From there, my thoughts took a detour into shark-infested waters. That got me curious about how shark documentaries in the ’90s looked and felt. And if you, like me, love a mix of retro vibes and spine-chilling fascination, then you’ll probably appreciate this list. So, without further ado, let’s dive deeper into the depths of forgotten infotainment. Here’s a list of the 9 best shark documentaries from the ‘90s, all available to watch for FREE. The list is ordered by release year.
The World of Sharks and Barracuda (1990)
The World of Sharks and Barracuda (1990) dives into the truth behind two feared ocean predators, exploring their behavior, myths, and dangers. The main focus of this film is dispelling the myths surrounding both shark and barracuda attacks.
One of the highlights was a behind-the-scenes look at how sharks are filmed for movies, including Jaws: The Revenge (Jaws 4). Things got unexpectedly tense during a demonstration — a close call that added some real-life suspense to the segment. The soundtrack had a distinctly cheesy ‘80s vibe, further adding to the documentary’s retro charm.
Predators of the Wild: Shark (1992)
Part of Time Warner’s Predators of the Wild series, the Sharks episode dives deep into the underwater world of some of the ocean’s most formidable hunters. Filmed on location with stunning close-up footage, the documentary showcases the powerful presence of great whites, makos, and hammerheads.
Predators of the Wild: Shark feels like a quintessential ’90s school documentary—one of those educational videos that might’ve been wheeled into your classroom on a TV cart. With an eerie synth soundtrack by Guy Michelmore (best known for composing the Eyewitness theme), this documentary transports you right back to the classroom.
Jaws in the Med (1995)
Jaws in the Med (1995) focuses on shark attacks in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting several documented incidents that sparked fear among local communities. This documentary was interesting as it showed that sharks were generally not considered to inhabit this region due to the language barrier with the English-speaking world at the time.
More so than the previous doc in this list, Jaws in the Med is fairly sinister in some parts, It details the contents found in shark stomachs (which have included people). If you’re not too squeamish and would like to watch a doc with a little more historical interest, this will be the best shark documentary on this list for you!
All the documentaries on this list aim to dispel the myths surrounding shark attacks. That can only be a good thing if you care about animals. Despite the main messaging of these docs, they also created eerie, tense atmospheres that will be appreciated by horror fans.
If you would like to watch more of these kinds of documentaries, I recommend checking out the Classic Shark Week channel on YouTube. This channel made the research for this post possible.
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