The shark that ate Hollywood: Spielberg revisits Jaws in new 50th anniversary doc

There’s a moment, just under an hour into Jaws, when Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) backs into the cabin of the Orca, eyes wide in shock, and mutters the now-immortal line: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” 

The ad lib, which referenced an inside joke among the production crew that their support boat was too small for equipment, is now one of the most iconic movie quotes of all time. 

Released on June 20, 1975, Jaws turns 50 this summer – and like its great white antagonist, it has lost none of its bite. Jaws revolutionised Hollywood filmmaking, launched Steven Spielberg into the stratosphere, and redefined what a summer blockbuster could be. 

Now, as National Geographic airs Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, the only authourised documentary of its kind, we’re invited to take a fresh look at the salt-sprayed beast that terrified generations, and quietly reshaped our relationship with sea and cinema forever.

From beach read to box office blockbuster

The story of Jaws begins not with Spielberg, but with author Peter Benchley. His 1974 novel, a taut, morally murky tale of small-town politics, class warfare, and a man-eating shark, was an instant bestseller. Producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown, seeing cinematic potential in its pulpy premise, bought the rights before the book even hit shelves.

Screenwriter Carl Gottlieb was brought in to adapt Benchley’s novel, softening some of its darker edges (like an extramarital affair subplot) while sharpening its suspense. What emerged was a lean, emotionally resonant story about fear, community, and obsession.

Enter 26-year-old Steven Spielberg, fresh off the modest success of The Sugarland Express, and eager to prove himself. Little did he know that the waters ahead would be anything but calm…

A production teetering on disaster

Filming Jaws was, by all accounts, a nightmare. The decision to shoot on the open ocean, rather than a tank or soundstage, led to endless delays, equipment failures, and the sort of chaos that makes studio accountants sweat through their tailored suits.

The mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce (after Spielberg’s lawyer), routinely malfunctioned. Saltwater shorted out its hydraulics. It sank. It looked, at times, like a floating parade balloon. Forced to improvise, Spielberg leaned into suspense over spectacle. The shark wasn’t seen clearly until the final third of the film, a decision born of necessity that became a masterclass in restraint. In the absence of a reliable monster, Spielberg turned to suggestion: a dorsal fin slicing through surf, a yellow barrel bobbing ominously, a child’s inflatable raft washed ashore in silence.

John Williams’ iconic score, just two notes, simple and primal, did the rest. It told audiences what they couldn’t see, triggering a Pavlovian dread that endures to this day.

The making of a modern masterpiece

The tension wasn’t all mechanical. Spielberg, still untested, feared the project would end his career before it began. According to the Jaws @ 50 documentary, he later admitted to suffering post-production anxiety so intense it bordered on trauma. But when the dust (or spray) settled, he had not only survived the ordeal, he had transformed it into something extraordinary.

Spielberg’s touch is visible throughout: the low angles from the waterline, the whip pans and zooms, the keen ear for dialogue and character.  

Critics, crowds, and a shark-sized shift in Hollywood

When Jaws opened, it swept through the box office. Buoyed by a then-novel marketing blitz (TV spots, wide release, merchandising), it raked in $7 million over its opening weekend. By the end of summer, the film had grossed over $100 million, a staggering feat in 1975,  dethroning The Godfather as the highest-grossing film of all time (until Star Wars took the crown two years later).

Audiences were both thrilled and terrified. Beaches across America saw a dip in attendance. Shark attack paranoia surged.

The movie courted controversy in the UK, where it received an ‘A’ certificate upon its initial cinema release, meaning it was suitable for adults and children. Some critics felt its horror elements were too strong for a young audience.

In 2012, the British Board of Film Classification raised its rating to 12A for a theatrical re-release, acknowledging that its suspense and shark attack scenes might be too intense for children.

Jaws @ 50: A legacy reconsidered

Premiering July 11 on National Geographic and Disney+, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story dives deeper than previous retrospectives. Directed by Laurent Bouzereau, the 90-minute special features new interviews with Spielberg, screenwriter Carl Gottlieb, composer John Williams, and surviving cast and crew.

It also includes insights from modern filmmakers such as Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro, and J.J. Abrams, all of whom count Jaws among their creative touchstones.

The documentary doesn’t sugercoat the shark. Spielberg reflects on the chaos of the shoot, his fears of failure, and the unexpected burden of success. Benchley’s family, including widow Wendy Benchley and their children, offer personal reflections on the novel’s creation and its impact on the public perception of sharks.

Marine experts weigh in on the so-called ‘Jaws effect’ – the rise in shark fear following the film’s release – and how it has since given way to a deeper public fascination and support for ocean conservation.

Five decades later, Jaws remains essential viewing. It set the blueprint for the modern blockbuster: a simple, high-stakes premise, memorable characters, and relentless pacing. But it also transcended formula, fusing artistry with accessibility in a way few films have matched.

Its influence stretches far beyond the beach. You can see echoes of Jaws in Alien, Jurassic Park, The Blair Witch Project, Get Out, and any number of thrillers that choose suggestion over gore, character over carnage. It’s in the DNA of every summer tentpole release.

And yet, for all its technical achievement and cultural reach, Jaws endures because it’s a great story, told with conviction. It’s about fear, yes, but also courage. It’s about the unknown, but also the bonds we form when we face it.

Fifty years later, the waters are still dangerous. And still worth swimming in.

 Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres July 11 at 8:00PM on National Geographic and streams the same day on Disney+.