The Jaws film series is an American series of four thriller films released between 1975 and 1987, beginning with Jaws (1975), directed by American filmmaker Steven Spielberg.^[1] The original film, adapted from Peter Benchley's 1974 novel of the same name, was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures and experienced numerous production complications during development. Despite these issues, Jaws became a major critical and commercial success, earning $470 million in the box office worldwide against a production budget of only $9 million.^[2]

The film is widely credited with establishing the concept of the summer blockbuster and influencing the structure of future studio releases.^[3] Following the widespread success of the first film, Universal produced three sequels: Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983), and Jaws: The Revenge (1987), with each film being handled by separate directors. Upon release, each sequel was met with growing public scrutiny and varying degrees of financial success.^[4] Jaws 3-D attempted to capitalize on the renewed 3D film interest of the early 1980s, but was widely criticized for its visual effects and narrative, and its plot was retroactively disregarded in the subsequent installment, Jaws: The Revenge.^[5]

The original 1975 film is recognized as one of Universal's most successful and iconic productions, and continued development of the Jaws franchise would later extend into merchandising, novelizations, and theme park attractions.^[6] The series also generated numerous unofficial adaptations, inspiring a wave of similar "natural horror" films throughout the late 1970s and 1980s.^[7][8] Since the release of Jaws: The Revenge in 1987, no further direct installments have been produced; however, the Jaws franchise continues to constitute a significant component of Universal Pictures' intellectual property holdings, having been reissued through several home media formats.

In February 1974, American writer Peter Benchley's novel Jaws was by published by Doubleday, and quickly garnered widespread public interest, reaching The New York Times bestseller list by spring of the same year.^[9] Benchley's novel centered around a series of shark attacks on the fictional New England resort town of Amity Island, located on the south shore of Long Island. Literary critics praised the plot's skillful use of suspense,^[10] while also noting weaknesses in its character development and criticized occasionally pretentious prose.^[11] Despite its critical reception, the hardback remained on the bestseller list for 44 weeks and continued to sell millions of copies. Recognizing the book's cinematic potential and widespread popularity, producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown at Universal Pictures acquired the adaptation rights for $175,000 in 1973,^[12] a year prior to the novel's release. In that year, Brown had discovered Benchley's novel while reading through the literature section of the Cosmopolitan magazine.^[13] After reading the book overnight, producers had unanimously decided to move forward with an adaptation,^[14] declaring it to be "the most exiting thing they had ever encountered".^[15]

Benchley was initially tasked with drafting the screenplay,^[16][17] though his draft closely adhered to the source material and was ultimately revised several times. Subsequent rewrites largely simplified or excised subplots and character dynamics that were original to Benchley's version, with Universal employing screenwriter Carl Gottlieb to revise and condense the material.^[18] The final screenplay was eventually co-credited to both Benchley and Gottlieb,^[19] with Benchley continuing his involvement in the screenwriting process until the narrative was almost totally restructured in accordance to Spielberg's adaptation.^[20] Universal Pictures then experienced difficulties when considering a director for Jaws. Initially, experienced filmmaker John Sturges, known for The Great Escape (1963), was considered for the role. Sturges, who had been previously known for his direction in another maritime narrative, The Old Man and the Sea, ultimately declined the offer. Universal later approached Dick Richards, who had garnered attention in his directorial debut The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972), with the role.^[21] Richards was eventually dismissed from the project after repeatedly referring to the shark as a "whale", a habit which soon irritated the producers.^[22][23] Following Richards's departure, Steven Spielberg was offered the role of director. Spielberg was still an emerging director at the time, having achieved some success with the television film Duel (1971).^[24] Prior to Jaws, the 26-year-old had previously worked for Zanuck and Brown on his first theatrical film, The Sugarland Express, in 1974.

Universal Pictures was initially approved a production budget estimated between $3.5 million and $4 million.^[25] Spielberg was officially signed to direct Jaws in June 1973, but began feeling hesitant about continuing with the project prior to production,^[26] though Universal had previously invoked a contractual clause to prevent his departure.^[27] Having recently directed Duel, Spielberg was concerned he would be typecasted as a director of "truck and shark movies."^[28][29] Spielberg attempted to withdraw from the project to direct Lucky Lady (1975) for 20th Century Fox, but was persuaded to stay by producer David Brown, who assured him of greater creative freedom in future projects.^[30]

Principal photography was initially scheduled for 55 days beginning on began on May 2, 1974, but ultimately extended to over 159 days due to numerous production complications,^[31] particularly with the frequently malfunctioning mechanical shark named "Bruce."^[32] The production team had previously conceptualized how to portray the shark prior to Spielberg's hiring, and discussions of using a real shark were ultimately negated due to logistical, financial, and safety concerns. After agreeing to use a lifelike mechanical model shark that would capture the effect of a realistic shark without relying on digital footage or visual effects, Spielberg and the Universal team hired a special effects team, coordinated by Robert A. Mattey, to build three separate animatronic sharks.^[33] Physical construction of the animatronics occurred in Sun Valley, California, along with production designer Joe Alves. The main mechanical shark, "Bruce", nicknamed after Spielberg's lawyer, was designed to be around 25 feet long and complete with moving parts such as the mouth, eyes, and tail at a production cost of around $150,000 each. Once completed, they were transported to the filming location, and though the sharks were tested in freshwater conditions initially, they had not been tested in salt water before filming.^[34]

While in production, filming the shark in shallow waters and open ocean scenes proved to be far more complex than already anticipated.^[35] Universal had originally planned to finish the project by the end of June.^[36] An impending expiration of the studios' contract with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which was scheduled to end in early July, had Universal seek to complete the project before a possible strike would disrupt production schedule.^[36] Therefore, a rigid filming regiment was imposed by the studio to ensure a timely finish, although significant delays still occurred, largely from mechanical difficulties with the shark.^[37] The budget for the film rose over $12 million—three times the original allocation and roughly four times the typical production cost of a film in 1975.^[2]

In the summer of 1973, art director, Joe Alves, along with Steven Spielberg, began studying a wide range of sea-based films upon learning that the adaptation of Jaws would move forward with production. Through their research, the two agreed that traditional ocean scenes often appeared noticeably staged.^[37] After attended a special effects school that same year, assistant director Andrew Stone formed a similar conclusion that studio-filmed ocean scenes were unconvincing, so Spielberg insisted on filming in the open ocean.^[38] Studio executives initially wanted Spielberg film in a water tank or a controlled backlot setting to avoid costly delays, but Spielberg strongly opposed the idea, and convinced Zanuck and Brown that filming scenes in a tank "wouldn’t fool anybody."^[39]

That same summer, Alves toured New England.^[37] Upon visiting coastal Long Island, Peter Benchley advised Alves to tour the island of Nantucket, where Benchley owned a summer home.^[40] After departing Woods Hole to Nantucket, a winter storm forced the ferry to return to Cape Cod, where Alves exchanged his ticket to visit Martha’s Vineyard.^[40] After several other proposed locations in the region were rejected, the production team eventually settled on Martha's Vineyard as an appropriate setting for Jaws. Producers were specifically drawn to Edgartown,^[41] with Carl Gottlieb writing: "Edgartown's prim white houses and old-fashioned atmosphere seemed just right for a place that could be threatened by a shark scare."^[38][42] Edgartown was used as the main backdrop for the fictional town of Amity Island, while the smaller fishing village of Menemsha, located within the town of Chilmark, served as the visual backdrop for scenes involving local fishermen Quint and his vessel, the Orca.^[43]

Jon Voight was among the first actors considered by producers for the role of Chief of Police Martin Brody.^[45] Voight, who had recently been recognized for his role in Midnight Cowboy (1969), was among several other actors discussed in the casting process, along with Robert Duvall and Charlton Heston.^[46] Heston expressed interest in the role, however, producers Zanuck and Brown decided against casting him.^[46] Duvall met with Steven Spielberg in late 1973, but expressed more interest in playing Quint than the role Brody, and so he was not pursued any further.^[47] Spielberg met Roy Scheider at a party in Los Angeles in 1974. Upon hearing the plot of Jaws, Scheider immediately expressed interest in playing the lead role of Brody.^[47]

Various actors were initially considered for the role of local shark hunter Quint. Spielberg wanted to bring in a high-profile actor for the role, so he initially considered Lee Marvin, though he declined the offer.^[48] Following Marvin's refusal, Spielberg considered other actors, including Sterling Hayden, who had been known for his roles in The Killing (1956) and Dr. Strangelove (1964).^[49] After Hayden announced he was unavailable, producers Dick Zanuck and David Brown later suggested English actor Robert Shaw for the role, after previously collaborating together in The Sting (1973). Spielberg later agreed after viewing Shaw's performances in A Man for All Seasons (1966) and From Russia with Love.^[50] Universal Pictures was initially hesitant on casting Lorraine Gary due to her limited acting experience, but she was ultimately casted for the role of Ellen, Chief Brody's wife, after a personal recommendation from Spielberg.^[51] Richard Dreyfuss, had previously worked with Spielberg on The Sugarland Express, was eventually casted for the role of oceanographer Matt Hooper.^[52] Murray Hamilton was offered the role of mayor Larry Vaughn, and after reading the script, was eager to accept the part.^[53]

Much of the production difficulties stemmed from the mechanical shark's malfunctions. The production team filmed live footage of actual great white sharks off the coast of Australia, which was later integrated with scenes featuring the 25-foot mechanical sharks constructed for the film.^[54] To form the illusion of a much larger shark, real footage of a 15-foot great white was captured as it circled a scaled-down shark cage containing a 4-foot-11-inch actor.^[55] The "shark sled" referred to a mechanized animatronic model of the shark, attached to a hydraulic armature that traversed a submerged track system installed on the ocean floor, allowing for controlled linear movement during underwater sequences. The crew moved the rig to multiple filming sites off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard to accommodate the filming of various sequences. Saltwater corroded both the internal and external components of the mechanical shark and infiltrated its pneumatic hoses, causing frequent malfunctions. The animatronic models themselves, which cost approximately $500,000 to manufacture, contributed to the films overextended budget, which had already reached $7 million at the time.^[56]

During production, the script for Jaws was reportedly undergoing significant rewrites. The initial draft was considered to be excessively dark, so Spielberg brought it to screenwriter Carl Gottlieb to adjust the tone. However, there was not enough time to finalize the script before filming began.^[57] In addition to the script challenges, the production of Jaws faced considerable complications with the cast.^[58] According to Gottlieb, actor Robert Shaw had a reputation for arriving on set intoxicated, which sometimes resulted in delays and disruptions during filming.^[32] Additionally, the actor’s relationship with Richard Dreyfuss appeared strained at times, and rumors surfaced of an apparent feud between the two actors.^[59][60] However, Dreyfuss would later elaborate: "that was not a feud... We never had any bad feeling between us, ever."^[61]

Universal Pictures allocated an unprecedented $1.8 million to market Jaws, with $700,000 dedicated solely to national television advertising.^[62] To maintain a consistent identity between the film and its source novel, Richard Zanuck and David Brown decided that all advertising and promotional materials would feature the Bantam-designed logo depicting a shark ascending toward a female swimmer. The movie poster is often regarded as one of the most iconic images in film history.^[63]

Between June 18 and the film's release on June 20, approximately two dozen 30-second ads aired nightly during prime-time slots. However, as early as October 1974, Richard Zanuck and David Brown, alongside author Peter Benchley, initiated earlier promotional activities for Jaws by appearing on various television and radio talk shows.^[64] Jaws premiered on June 20, 1975, across 464 theaters in the United States and Canada.^[65] Jaws grossed over $7 million in its first weekend and maintained the top box office position for five consecutive weeks, setting a new box office opening weekend record in the United States.^[66] The film's distribution expanded to 675 theaters by July 25 and to over 950 theaters by August 15, soon becoming first film to gross over $100 million domestically, reaching that milestone in 59 days. Additionally, it was the first film to open in more than 400 theaters simultaneously, which was unprecedented for a major studio film and helped define its "wide release" strategy.^[67]

• Gottlieb, Carl (May 27, 2016). "Jaws - Script to Screen" (Interview). Interviewed by Matt Ryan. University of California Television.