The Shallows

Year: 2016

Runtime: 86 min

Language: English

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Budget: $17M

DramaThrillerHorror

Seeking solace after a personal tragedy, medical student Nancy Adams travels to a remote beach. While swimming, she is attacked by a large great white shark, leaving her injured and isolated on a rock just offshore. With the shark circling and rescue far away, Nancy must use her wits and courage to overcome incredible danger and fight for her survival.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Shallows yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Shallows (2016)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Shallows (2016). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:21

Main Characters – The Shallows (2016)

Meet the key characters of The Shallows (2016), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:21

Major Themes – The Shallows (2016)

Explore the central themes of The Shallows (2016), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:21

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Single Survivor Movies like The Shallows

Stories where a single person must outwit a relentless, overwhelming threat.If you liked the high-stakes tension and fierce will to survive in The Shallows, explore these other movies where a lone protagonist battles against overwhelming odds in a hostile environment. Discover similar survival thrillers and intense dramas about sheer human resilience.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with an ordinary person thrust into an extreme situation with a singular, clear goal: endure and escape. The plot is streamlined and focused, stripping away subplots to concentrate on the immediate, life-or-death struggle, testing the character's ingenuity and courage.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread are united by their core premise of isolating a protagonist against a powerful antagonist or force. They share a tense, claustrophobic mood, a steady or fast-paced rhythm of escalating threats, and a heavy emotional weight centered on the primal fear of being hunted.

Movies About Healing Through Survival like The Shallows

Emotional journeys where overcoming a physical ordeal leads to profound healing.Fans of The Shallows who appreciated Nancy's journey of overcoming grief through her fight with the shark will find similar themes here. Explore movies like The Shallows where a harrowing survival story leads to emotional catharsis and personal triumph over trauma.

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Narrative Summary

These films often begin with a character carrying unprocessed grief, fear, or trauma. An external, extreme conflict forces them to actively engage with their pain, using the skills and resilience required for survival as a metaphor for internal healing. The narrative arc moves from vulnerability through fierce struggle to a earned, hopeful resolution.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their powerful blend of high-intensity physical survival and deep emotional weight. They share a structure where the external plot directly catalyzes internal growth, resulting in a tone that balances tension with a ultimately hopeful, cathartic ending feel.

Unlock the Full Story of The Shallows

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Shallows in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Shallows is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Shallows Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Shallows, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Shallows Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Shallows with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Shallows Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Shallows that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

More About The Shallows

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Shallows: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

Similar Movies to The Shallows

Discover movies like The Shallows that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.