Jaws (1975) Horror Movie Poster

Jaws (1975)

MovieCreature FeatureThriller

Released: June 20, 1975

Runtime: 124 min

PG

United States

English

Two notes. That is all it takes. Jaws turned a simple beach town and a great white shark into one of the most terrifying films ever made, and it made a whole generation afraid to go into the water. Directed by Steven Spielberg, who was just 26 when he was hired, and based on Peter Benchley's novel, it became the first true summer blockbuster, earning around 495 million dollars worldwide on a budget of about 9 million. John Williams's score won the Oscar, and the film's wide release and TV marketing changed how Hollywood sells movies. Its mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, kept breaking down, so Spielberg had to hide it, and that is what makes the film so scary. Fans still talk about Quint's USS Indianapolis speech, the "bigger boat" line, and how the shark finally dies.

9.0/10

Horror Jungle Rating

IMDb

8.1/10

IMDb Rating

97%

Rotten Tomatoes

Watch Trailer Where to Watch

QUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT

Creepiness & Uncanny

6/10

Monster / Killer Threat

9/10

Atmosphere & Dread

9/10

Re-watch Value

10/10

Gore & Violence

6/10

Jump Scares

8/10

Psychological Terror

6/10

Overall Scare Factor

8/10

Tension & Suspense

10/10

Official Trailer

Where to watch

Updated November 12, 2026

Fandango at Home

Fandango at HomeUS

Rent/Buy

Paramount+

Paramount+AU

Available

JioHotstar

JioHotstarIN

Available

Apple TV

Apple TVAU · CA · IN · UK · US

Rent/Buy

NetflixUS

Available

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime VideoAU · CA · US

Rent/Buy

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime VideoIN

Rent

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime VideoUK

Available

SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?

Worth Watching?One of the greatest films ever made, and the original summer blockbuster.

Yes

Watch Alone?Scary but fun, and safe to watch alone.

Yes

Watch in the Dark?The night attacks and the underwater shots are best in the dark.

Yes

Good for Date Night?Thrilling, funny and a true classic.

Yes

Watch With Parents?Great for family movie night with older kids.

Yes

Beginner Friendly?Rated PG, a perfect first horror film.

Yes

Family Friendly?Rated PG, but the attacks, including on a child, may scare young children.

Maybe

Slow Burn?The shark is rarely seen early on, but the tension never drops.

Maybe

Headphones Recommended?John Williams's two-note theme is legendary.

Yes

18+

Age RecommendationContains strong horror content, violence, and disturbing themes.

13+

Spoiler Free Review

On Amity Island, a holiday town that lives off summer tourists, a young woman is killed on a late-night swim. Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), afraid of the water himself, wants the beaches closed. The mayor refuses, because the town needs the Fourth of July crowds. Then the shark strikes again.

The first half is a perfect thriller about a town in denial. The second half takes Brody, the young shark expert Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and the grizzled fisherman Quint (Robert Shaw) out to sea on a tiny boat to hunt the beast. The three actors are brilliant together, funny and moving.

Spielberg keeps the shark hidden for most of the film, showing only yellow barrels, a fin or the camera's view from below. John Williams's two-note theme does the rest. Robert Shaw's speech about the USS Indianapolis is one of the greatest monologues in cinema.

A few shots of the mechanical shark look fake today. But Jaws is a nearly perfect film, thrilling, scary, funny and human, and it is still the gold standard for creature features.

What Works

John Williams's iconic two-note theme.

Keeping the shark hidden builds incredible suspense.

Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw have perfect chemistry.

Quint's USS Indianapolis speech is legendary.

A smart story about a town that puts money before lives.

What Doesn't Work

The mechanical shark looks fake in a few close-ups.

The pace slows a little in the middle section.

FINAL VERDICT:

Jaws is a masterpiece, one of the greatest thrillers and creature features ever made. Watch it on a summer night, and think twice before your next swim.

Be Careful, Spoilers Ahead

Plot Summary (Spoilers)

On Amity Island, a New England holiday resort, a young woman named Chrissie Watkins goes for a late-night swim and is killed by a shark. Police Chief Martin Brody, new to the island, wants to close the beaches. Mayor Larry Vaughn refuses, afraid of losing summer business, and the medical examiner changes the cause of death to a boating accident.

Soon after, a young boy, Alex Kintner, is killed by the shark in front of a crowded beach. His mother offers a bounty, and fishermen flood the island. A tiger shark is caught, and the town celebrates. But marine biologist Matt Hooper is not convinced. He and Brody find fisherman Ben Gardner's wrecked boat, with his body inside, and a huge shark tooth.

The mayor still refuses to close the beaches for the Fourth of July. The shark attacks again in the estuary, killing a man and almost killing Brody's son. The mayor finally agrees to hire Quint, a tough, eccentric shark hunter.

Brody, Hooper and Quint set out on Quint's boat, the Orca. When the shark appears, Brody tells Quint, "You're gonna need a bigger boat." That night, Quint tells the story of surviving the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in World War II, when hundreds of sailors were eaten by sharks.

The shark damages the boat. Hooper goes down in a shark cage to inject it with poison, but the shark destroys the cage, and Hooper hides on the seabed. The shark leaps onto the sinking boat and eats Quint. Brody, trapped on the sinking boat, shoves a scuba tank into the shark's mouth and shoots it with a rifle. The tank explodes, killing the shark. Hooper surfaces, and the two men paddle back to shore.

Ending Explained

How does the shark die? Brody wedges a compressed air tank in the shark's mouth and shoots it with a rifle. The tank explodes, and the shark is blown apart.

Does Hooper die? No. In the novel he dies, but in the film he escapes the shark cage and hides on the seabed, then surfaces after the shark is killed.

Why does Quint die? The shark leaps onto the sinking Orca and drags him into its jaws. Quint, who survived the USS Indianapolis, finally meets the fate he always feared.

What is the USS Indianapolis speech about? A real event. In 1945, the warship USS Indianapolis was sunk by a submarine, and many of the sailors in the water were killed by sharks. Quint's story explains his hatred of sharks.

Why don't we see the shark much? The mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, kept breaking down. Spielberg had to suggest it with barrels, fins and music, which made the film far scarier.

Hidden Meaning & Symbolism

Greed versus safety: The mayor puts tourist money ahead of people's lives.
Facing fear: Brody, afraid of water, must go to sea to save his town.
Three kinds of men: The policeman, the scientist and the hunter each face the shark differently.
The unseen threat: What we cannot see is far scarier than what we can.

Scariest Moments

1

Chrissie's Swim: A woman is pulled back and forth in the dark water by something unseen.

2

Alex Kintner: The boy on the raft is attacked in front of the whole beach.

3

Ben Gardner's Head: A severed head bursts out of the wrecked boat's hull.

4

The Bigger Boat: The shark rises behind Brody as he scoops chum.

5

Quint's Death: The shark slides onto the boat and devours Quint.

Parents Guide / Trigger Warnings

Jump Scares

Moderate

Several famous jump scares.

Substance Abuse

Moderate

Heavy drinking and smoking.

Animal Death

Moderate

Sharks are caught and killed.

Child Death / Peril

Moderate

A young boy is killed, and Brody's son is nearly attacked.

Graphic Gore

Moderate

Blood in the water, a severed leg and head, and a man being eaten.

Nudity

Mild

A brief, heavily shadowed side view of a woman's breast as she swims.

Sexual Content

Very Mild

Couples kiss and talk in bed.

Flashing Lights

None

No notable flashing lights.

Suicide / Self Harm

None

No suicide or self-harm.

Trigger Warning Notes:

Contains fatal shark attacks, including on a child, a severed leg and head, and a man eaten alive.

Trivia

The three mechanical sharks, all nicknamed Bruce, broke down so often that Spielberg had to suggest the shark instead of showing it.
Filming on Martha's Vineyard ran to 159 days, far over the planned 55.
John Williams won the Oscar for Best Original Score, and his theme is one of the most famous in film.
Spielberg paid 3,000 dollars of his own money to reshoot Ben Gardner's head scene in a swimming pool for "one more scream".
It is often called the first summer blockbuster, opening wide with heavy TV advertising.
It was added to the US National Film Registry in 2001.

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is Jaws based on a true story?

It is based on Peter Benchley's 1974 novel. The novel was partly inspired by real shark attacks, and Quint's USS Indianapolis story is based on a real event.

How does the shark die in Jaws?

Brody shoots a scuba tank lodged in its mouth, and the explosion blows the shark apart.

Does Quint die in Jaws?

Yes. The shark leaps onto the sinking boat and eats him.

Does Hooper die in Jaws?

No. Unlike in the novel, Hooper survives by hiding on the seabed.

Why is the shark called Bruce?

The crew nicknamed the mechanical shark Bruce, reportedly after Spielberg's lawyer.

Where was Jaws filmed?

Mainly on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Is Jaws scary for kids?

It is rated PG and Common Sense Media says 12+. The shark attacks, including on a child, can frighten younger kids.

How many Jaws movies are there?

Four: Jaws (1975), Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983) and Jaws: The Revenge (1987). Spielberg made only the first.

Did Jaws win any Oscars?

Yes, including Best Original Score for John Williams.

Where can I watch Jaws?

It streams on Netflix in the US, Amazon Prime Video in the UK, Paramount+ in Australia and JioHotstar in India.

Movie Information

Original Title

Jaws

Release Date

June 20, 1975

Runtime

124 min

Country

United States

Language

English

Status

Released

Director

Steven Spielberg

Writer

Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb

Main Cast

Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton

Production Company

Zanuck/Brown Company

IMDb Page