Overview

• Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster left a legacy of fear that led to government-sanctioned shark culling, beach net programs and recreational hunts.
• Over the past five decades, researchers, filmmakers and conservationists have worked to replace the narrative of sharks as villains with messages about their ecological importance.
• Shark tourism now brings in about $314 million per year and supports over 10,000 jobs across Australia, the Bahamas, Fiji and South Africa.
• “Jaws” pioneered the summer blockbuster release model and reshaped audience engagement by turning films into event-style experiences that fueled media literacy.
• Marking its 50th anniversary, new documentaries, screenings and shark festivals are reframing the film’s legacy toward protection efforts and deeper film analysis.