Jaws Anniversary: The Untold Stories Behind The Blockbuster

On June 20 every year, we celebrate the anniversary of director Steven Spielberg's legendary adaptation of Peter Benchley's Jaws, which hit theaters back in 1975. While the movie focused on the harrowing mission of Amity police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and World War II vet with a shark vendetta, Quint (Robert Shaw), to hunt down and stop a terrifying great white shark, it did something much bigger. It left audiences petrified, kept them out of the water that summer, and introduced the world to the concept of the blockbuster film. It wasn’t just a movie—it was an experience.

Here's the thing about Jaws: on the surface, it seems like your typical horror flick. But beneath the churning waves, it’s a character-driven masterpiece. The real brilliance lies in the dynamic between these three men, who couldn’t be more different yet somehow find common ground to face this monstrous threat. And let’s be honest, things don’t end so happily for them. For Spielberg, one of the highlights of making the film was working with these incredible actors, especially during a pivotal scene where all three of them are on Quint’s boat, the Orca, sharing drinks and bonding. It’s in this moment that Quint shares his harrowing story from World War II aboard the USS Indianapolis. After secretly delivering the Hiroshima atomic bomb, the ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine. As the crew jumped into the water, their secret mission delayed any rescue for four days. Hundreds of men were attacked and eaten by sharks. Miraculously, Quint survived, and his chilling account is one of the film’s most unforgettable moments.

Shooting the Iconic Indianapolis Speech

“We tried shooting it twice,” Spielberg revealed to Entertainment Weekly. “The first time, Robert Shaw came to me and said, ‘Steven, these characters have all been drinking, and I think I could give a better performance if I actually had a few drinks before delivering the speech.’ I gave him permission, thinking it might work. But let’s just say, Robert took it a little too far. Two crew members had to carry him onto the Orca and help him into his chair. We never made it through the scene that day.”

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Things didn’t end there. Around 2:00 a.m., Spielberg got a call from Shaw, who was genuinely apologetic and admitted he couldn’t remember what happened. He pleaded for another chance, and Spielberg, seeing the actor’s dedication, gave him the opportunity. “I said, ‘Sure, as soon as you’re ready, we’ll reshoot it.’ The next morning, he showed up at 7:30 a.m., fresh and ready to go. It was like watching Laurence Olivier on stage. We filmed it in probably four takes, and everyone on set knew they were witnessing something special. Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss were just as captivated as the rest of us.”

Before and After Jaws: The Cast's Journey

To honor the incredible performances of Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, and, of course, Bruce the mechanical shark (with a special shoutout to the rest of the cast), let’s take a look at their lives and careers before and after this groundbreaking film. These actors brought their unique talents to the screen, and their work in Jaws continues to inspire generations of filmmakers and fans alike.

Keep scrolling for more fascinating stories and insights!