Overview

• The 50th anniversary has included theatrical screenings, a collector’s edition 4K home release and the July 10 premiere of Laurent Bouzereau’s National Geographic documentary, which streams on Disney+ and Hulu from July 11.
• Spielberg’s 1975 thriller instilled widespread fear that led to shark culls, baited drumlines and protective nets despite scarce evidence of genuine public safety benefits.
• Contemporary research featured in the anniversary programming underscores that shark attacks remain vanishingly rare and highlights discoveries in tooth regeneration, biofluorescence and long-distance migrations.
• Shark populations have fallen more than 70 percent since the 1970s, yet federal and state protections have supported a notable rebound of white sharks along U.S. coastlines.
• Conservationists warn that expanding marine protected areas, enforcing sustainable catch limits and ending shark finning are essential to protect species still imperiled by overfishing and habitat loss.