Steven Spielberg’s shark thriller Jaws was released in 1975.
The film adapts Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel about a great white shark that terrorizes the fictional resort community of Amity Island. Spielberg directed the production when he was still in his twenties, and the difficult mechanical shark effects caused major delays during filming.
Jaws became a landmark commercial success and is often described as the first summer blockbuster. Its wide release, extensive advertising campaign, memorable poster, and suspenseful marketing helped establish a release model that studios still use for major event films.
The film stars Roy Scheider as police chief Martin Brody, Robert Shaw as shark hunter Quint, and Richard Dreyfuss as marine biologist Matt Hooper. John Williams composed its famous two-note shark motif. Jaws won three Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Picture, although Spielberg himself was not nominated for directing.