Overview

• Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story premieres July 10 on National Geographic and streams July 11 on Disney+ and Hulu, featuring Spielberg’s first interview on the film’s milestone anniversary.
• Three full-scale animatronic sharks plagued production with mechanical failures, forcing Spielberg to rely on suspenseful camera work and John Williams’ score to convey terror.
• Upon its June 1975 release, Jaws became the first summer blockbuster, grossing over $100 million domestically and reshaping Hollywood’s marketing and budget expectations.
• The film’s depiction of a man-eating great white sparked widespread fear that drove shark culls and policies contributing to a more than 70 percent decline in open-ocean shark populations.
• Marine researchers have since debunked the 'man-eater' myth, revealing sharks’ critical ecosystem roles and spurring renewed global efforts to protect vulnerable species.