The Meg: latest film in over 40 years of 'Jawsploitation' movies

Unlike the creatures themselves, films about sharks are far from endangered, writes I.Q. Hunter, De Montfort University.

This week, cinemagoers will get the chance to see the latest fish-as-foe movie, The Meg, starring Jason Statham. The film has been much anticipated for its cockney-versus-shark action and high camp potential – but shark thrillers have been bursting onto the big screen for more than four decades. So why is it that shark movies have proved so popular?