Jaws
When a massive killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community off Long Island, it's up to the local police chief, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt the beast down.
Directed by Steven Spielberg · Adventure · Horror · Thriller · 124 min · 1975
Trailer
Director
Steven Spielberg
Studio
Zanuck/Brown Company{{cite web / url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetailsPrintView/55193 / title=Jaws (1975) / work=AFI Catalog of Feature Films / access-date=August 12, 2018 / archive-date=March 26, 2019 / archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326172025/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetailsPrintView/55193 / url-status=live / Universal Pictures
Release
20 Jun 1975
Runtime
124 min
Genres
Adventure, Horror, Thriller
Full Plot
It's a hot summer on Amity Island, a small community whose main business is its beaches. When new Sheriff Martin Brody discovers the remains of a shark attack victim, his first inclination is to close the beaches to swimmers. This doesn't sit well with Mayor Larry Vaughn and several of the local businessmen. Brody backs down to his regret as that weekend a young boy is killed by the predator. The dead boy's mother puts out a bounty on the shark and Amity is soon swamped with amateur hunters and fisherman hoping to cash in on the reward. A local fisherman with much experience hunting sharks, Quint, offers to hunt down the creature for a hefty fee. Soon Quint, Brody and Matt Hooper from the Oceanographic Institute are at sea hunting the Great White shark. As Brody succinctly surmises after their first encounter with the creature, they're going to need a bigger boat.
Cast & Characters
Roy Scheider
Robert Shaw
Richard Dreyfuss
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $7.0M, Jaws has grossed $470.7M worldwide — about 67.2x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Jaws is part of TMDb's "Jaws Collection."
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Steven Spielberg has directed 7 films in our catalog, including Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
The shooting location for the movie "Jaws" was primarily at sea, with some scenes filmed on land. Here are some specific details about the locations:
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
The Orca, Quint's boat, was a 42-foot model built in California.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Some scenes were shot at the MGM Studios water tank in Culver City, California.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Other scenes were shot near Santa Catalina Island, California.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Jaws holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (731,140 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 87/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 3, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (731,140 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 87/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jaws's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Jaws holds a 97% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Jaws's IMDb rating?+
Jaws has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 731,140 votes.
What is Jaws's Metacritic score?+
Jaws has a Metascore of 87/100 on Metacritic.
Is Jaws good? What are critics saying?+
Jaws holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (731,140 votes), 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 87/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Jaws?+
Jaws has a runtime of 124 min.
Who directed Jaws?+
Jaws was directed by Steven Spielberg.
Where can I watch Jaws?+
Jaws is available to stream, rent, or buy on YouTube TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Amazon Prime Video, Sky Go, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Sky Store, Rakuten TV, JioHotstar, VI movies and tv.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to the movie "Jaws" has been largely positive, with many praising its suspenseful storytelling, memorable characters, and iconic score. Some reviewers have noted that the film's slow build-up can be intimidating at first but ultimately pays off for its thrilling finale. The movie's influence is evident in its continued relevance after 40 years, with some viewers re-watching it as adults only to appreciate new details.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Jaws. A man eating shark is terrorising the holiday island of Amity. Police chief Martin Brody, shark hunter Quint and marine biologist Matt Hooper set sail in the hope of killing the great white monster. Jaws is responsible for many things, it's responsible for propelling direct…
John Chard · 10/10Is it safe to go back in the water? ... Steven Spielberg got ahold of the incredible Peter Benchley-penned novel about a giant, carnivorous Great White (dubbed "Jaws") who swims the ocean waters off a fictional resort town, preying on both the Island's locals and its visitors ali…
Much like the shark itself, the movie starts slowly, deep down in the depths before coming to the surface to explode in pure sensationalism. Jaws is one of those rare exceptions where high-brow art meets fun entertainment. At the time of its making, however, simply keeping its he…
P Rip · 10/10Solid shark-thriller that still holds up well with each subsequent viewings. Love the cast especially Robert Shaw and was entertained even during some of the slower moments. Not a favorite of mine or amongst Spielberg's resume, but a lot of fun. **4.25/5**
JPV852 · 8/10A very good, and evidently a very influential, film from 1975. That release year doesn't even sound correct, the film holds up extremely well in that regard - I knew already, but if I didn't and I had guessed the year I wouldn't have said anything earlier than 1990. This alone ra…
r96sk · 9/10I saw this recently on the big screen for the first time since I originally went as a child in 1975 and if anything, it has got better. John Williams' score and Robert Shaw's "Quint" combine to far outweigh the "rubber" shark scenes. Unlike "The Meg" this film conveys a real sens…
CinemaSerf · 8/10This is one of my favourite films ever and I've loved it since I was a child, everything from John Williams iconic shark theme to the chilling opening scene. Jaws is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece.
tmdb93836550 · 10/10Neat. It scared me a little bit but I held on tight. And the thing is it's a shark! Not a robot! **_735/1000._**
MTV · 9/10Jaws is more than just a shark movie, it’s a masterclass in suspense and storytelling. Steven Spielberg turns a simple premise into an unforgettable cinematic experience, using tension and suggestion rather than relying on constant visuals of the shark. **My favorite movie of all…
FilmeRioD · 10/10
From the trailer's comments
I just bought a 60 Inch TV a few days ago and while I was outside struggling to get it into my car someone walked by and said "we're gonna need a bigger boat" That was a sign that even though I have practically every release of this movie, I need to own it on Blu-Ray as well.
@BiscuitBasher89 · 48 likesThe definition of the material on Larry's 'Anchor' jacket... Wow!
@scriptulike · 13 likesJust watched JAWS on Netflix for about the 4th time. The movie is 40 years old, and the opening sequence and theme music still chills me to the bone. Outstanding in so many ways.
@patrickoneill8707 · 34 likesThat ending montage gave me chills
@daustin8888 · 13 likes"we're gonna need a bigger TV" for this masterpiece
@aqwcc4 · 10 likes"You're going to need a bigger TV."
@brainzheenan · 9 likesThe definitive summer blockbuster.
@philaman1972 · 9 likesStill epic and scary after all these years.
@UltimateThanos · 13 likes
