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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Jaws

Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel. It follows police chief Martin Brody, a marine biologist, and a shark hunter as they try to stop a great white shark terrorizing a beach town. The film is widely credited as an early summer blockbuster.

Plot

The film centers on police chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper, and shark hunter Quint as they try to stop a shark attacking beachgoers in Amity. The escalating attacks create a conflict between public safety and the town’s dependence on tourism.

Production and release

Jaws was directed by Steven Spielberg and released in the United States on June 20, 1975. It became one of the most influential commercial films of its era and is often described as the first summer blockbuster.

Basis and inspiration

The film is adapted from Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel Jaws. The novel was itself inspired in part by the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks, but the film’s story is fictional.

Franchise

The original Jaws film was followed by three sequels: Jaws 2, Jaws 3-D, and Jaws: The Revenge. The franchise began with the 1975 film and expanded into a larger media property.

Key facts

  • The story is set in the fictional resort town of Amity, where a great white shark attacks swimmers.
  • Steven Spielberg directed the film.
  • It was released in 1975 and became a major box-office hit.
  • It was based on Peter Benchley’s novel, not on a specific documented shark attack.
  • The franchise includes the original film and three sequels.
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Canadian context

Jaws has had long-standing popularity in Canada as a widely distributed Hollywood classic and a staple of English-language film studies and popular culture.

Frequently asked questions

What is Jaws about?
It is about a great white shark that terrorizes a beach town, and the effort by a police chief, marine biologist, and shark hunter to stop it.
Who directed Jaws?
Steven Spielberg directed Jaws.
How big was the shark in Jaws?
The film does not give a precise official size in the sources provided, but the shark is described as enormous and massive.
Is Jaws based on a true story?
No. The film is based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel, which was inspired in part by the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks.
What year was Jaws released?
Jaws was released in 1975.
How many Jaws movies are there?
There are four Jaws films in total: the original film plus three sequels.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaws_(film)
    Supports: Director, plot, release year, and main cast.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jaws-film-by-Spielberg
    Supports: Release date, director, summary, and the existence of three sequels.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073195/
    Supports: Plot summary, characters, and the film being based on Peter Benchley’s novel.
  4. British Film Institute — https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/98b20662-5754-5b8a-8e69-38fbec0d85c2/jaws
    Supports: Film description, director, and adaptation from Peter Benchley’s novel.
  5. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaws_(franchise)
    Supports: Franchise total of four films including three sequels.