Netflix’s New Shark Movie is Lowest-Scoring Release of 2026

By Griff Griffin

Contributing Pop Culture Writer

ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPrefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

There probably won't be many movies as bad as “Thrash” on Netflix in 2026.

The Netflix original survival-thriller, which depicts a deadly hurricane causing havoc in a small town and unleashing waves of hungry sharks on its populace, is triggering widespread disapproval among critics.

Released April 10, 2026, the Tommy Wirkola-directed movie has been described as “cursed,” “pointless,” and “devoid of tension or investment.”

A woman holding a baby as sharks prowl in the water

...

That's despite a top cast featuring "Bridgerton" star Phoebe Dynevor, alongside “A Quiet Place” actor Djimon Hounsou, Whitney Peak and Alyla Browne.

Awarding it one star, The Guardian writes: "Phoebe Dyvenor and Djimon Hounsou are left adrift in a suspense-free dud that has cycled through two distributors and three titles."
Roger Ebert writes: "Stunningly, Thrash is boring, only finding a couple of interesting visuals to alleviate the ludicrous nature of it all."
InSession writes: "It shouldn’t be that hard to get the base elements of a shark film correct, but the film is all the wrong kinds of stupid."

‘Thrash’ Reviews

"Thrash" currently has just 40% on Rotten Tomatoes after 25 reviews, with the sentiment overwhelmingly negative. The popcornmeter, meanwhile, is barely any better at 43% after more than 50 reviews.

Where professional critics are panning the film, the majority of regular viewers are equally negative towards it. Many are comparing it to similarly scorned creature features such as “Crawl,” “Bait,” “Under Paris,” and “Sharknado.”

It's no surprise for anyone familiar with the director, who's known for prioritizing bombast and flair. He's previously helmed “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters,” "Dead Snow," and “What Happened to Monday.”

Sharks have provided ample cinematic material in recent years, resulting in guilty pleasure popcorn fare such as “The Meg,” and “The Shallows.” However, "Thrash" ranks nowhere near them.

Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI GuidelinesPrefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.