In the mid-1970s, the phrase “The shark is not working” echoed across Martha’s Vineyard, where Steven Spielberg was filming the adaptation of Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel, Jaws. Tasked with directing what would soon be known as Hollywood’s first blockbuster, Spielberg faced numerous challenges that threatened the production. Now, 50 years later, the Jaws 50th anniversary exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles opens on September 14, commemorating both the film’s troubled beginnings and its lasting legacy.
The process of filming was riddled with setbacks including sea sickness, technical difficulties with the mechanical shark, and delays that put the project at risk. Yet, despite the turmoil, Jaws transformed from a production nightmare into a cinematic milestone that revolutionized Hollywood filmmaking, a journey thoroughly documented in this exhibit.
Experience the Making of a Cinematic Classic
Visitors to the Academy Museum’s exhibition are immersed in the filmmaking journey of Jaws, guided by key plot points and production stages. The experience begins in a dimly lit entry room, where an ocean-like ripple effect sets the mood and the iconic opening title card is projected. As visitors move through the gallery, they witness pivotal scenes such as the discovery of Chrissie Watkins’ body, the deadly attack on Alex Kintner, and the introduction of the shark hunter, Quint.
The exhibit is richly detailed, featuring a blend of artifact recreations and interactive elements. Guests can sit around the Orca’s dining table and listen to the chilling USS Indianapolis speech delivered by Quint, or gaze upon the unsettling prop head of Ben Gardner, which recreates one of the film’s most startling moments. The head is displayed within a replica of Verna Fields’ pool, the original shooting location for that scene. Interactive stations allow visitors to play John Williams’s iconic two-note theme and manipulate a scale version of the mechanical shark, which is fully operational for this exhibit.
As the storyline moves from the shore to open water, the design of the exhibition reflects this transition with walls that simulate waist-deep water, further drawing visitors into the film’s oceanic hunt.
The Exhibition’s Historical and Cultural Context
Jaws holds a significant place not only in the history of Hollywood but also within the Academy Museum. Since its opening in 2021, the museum has prominently displayed Bruce the Shark, named after Spielberg’s lawyer during production, suspended above the fourth-floor escalators. This iconic figure remains a welcoming presence for guests entering the new exhibition, symbolizing the movie’s lasting influence.
Jenny He, senior exhibitions curator at the Academy Museum, explained that the exhibit’s development took many years to realize, stating that honoring Jaws in its 50th year was a fitting tribute to what many consider the origin of the Hollywood blockbuster. She noted how many of the film’s props survived because, after filming, production sold these items to local residents in Martha’s Vineyard, where they remained preserved.
“In curating exhibitions on films, sometimes an object is so unique, right? Let’s think about the spaceships from ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’: You’re not really going to be using that again,”
Jenny He said.
“But a fighting chair, or a buoy, or an anchor — all these objects could be reused, and that’s what they did. After production ended, they sold off all of these objects, production did, to Martha’s Vineyard locals. So a lot of it stayed on the Vineyard, and fans over the years made pilgrimages to the island and really picked it clean of anything that appeared on ‘Jaws.’”
Steven Spielberg Reflects on the Difficult Production
Steven Spielberg himself shared candid thoughts about the production difficulties. During the exhibition’s press day, he admitted to doubts about his career survival, recalling the immense pressure and criticism he faced due to the film’s budget and schedule overruns.
“I thought my career was virtually over halfway through production on ‘Jaws,’”
Spielberg said.
“Everybody was saying, ‘You are never going to get hired again. This film is way over budget and way over schedule, and you are a real liability as a director, and you are not going to get hired again.’ So I thought that I better give this my all because I’m not working in the industry again after they see this movie.”
He added about the eventual success, “Fortunately, fortune smiled on us.” His reflection highlights how the project, despite its obstacles, ultimately became a turning point for both his career and the film industry.
The Lasting Influence of ‘Jaws’ on Hollywood Filmmaking
More than five decades after its release, Jaws continues to be a vital reference point in Hollywood’s approach to blockbuster movies. Unlike many modern productions that rush into filming with incomplete scripts and rely heavily on post-production effects, the making of Jaws reveals the value of perseverance, practical effects, and storytelling craft in delivering a memorable cinematic experience.
The exhibition not only honors the film’s legacy but also serves as a reminder of the risks and breakthroughs that characterize filmmaking at its highest level. For fans and industry professionals alike, this journey through Jaws’ origins enriches the understanding of how a troubled production can become a watershed moment in entertainment history.
As the Academy Museum’s Jaws 50th anniversary exhibition opens, it invites visitors to reflect on the risks, failures, and ultimate triumphs that define the blockbuster legacy and inspire future generations of filmmakers and audiences worldwide.
