History Film / Jaws

* '''EverythingsEvenWorseWithSharks'''

* MonsterVision

* AdaptationDistillation: Very much so. The novel was criticized for its unsympathetic characters, while the film is known for its depth of them. It also streamlined the plot, but remained fairly faithful (for example, in the movie, the Orca goes out and stays out until the end, while in the book, they make several trips out, returning at the end of each day - each !film encounter with the shark roughly corresponds to a single !book encounter, with the Orca returning to port after losing track of the shark). Like ''TheGodfather'' before it, it was a rare example of a film being superior to the book.

When a giant shark starts killing swimmers at the resort town of Amity, the town mayor tries to keep it quiet rather than risk frightening tourists away. The police chief, Brody, investigates anyway, eventually gaining the support of two other men; Quint, a professional shark hunter, and Hooper, a marine biologist.

''Jaws'' was the {{f|ollowTheLeader}}irst SummerBlockbuster, soon to be [[TropeCodifier codified]] by ''StarWars Episode IV: ANewHope''. Along with ''{{Godzilla}}'' and ''{{King Kong}}'', it was also the inspiration for Giant Animal rampage {{movies}}, and a launchpad for its director, StevenSpielberg.

''Jaws'' was the [[FollowTheLeader first]] SummerBlockbuster, soon to be [[TropeCodifier codified]] by ''StarWars Episode IV: ANewHope''. Along with ''{{Godzilla}}'' and ''{{King Kong}}'', it was also the inspiration for Giant Animal rampage {{movies}}, and a launchpad for its director, StevenSpielberg.

** It's also worth noting the contrast between Quint's deaths: The movie truly lives up to its [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel sheer climactic and terrifying intensity]] when Quint is ''eaten alive'' by the shark on the boat, screaming in terror as Brody helplessly watches. In the novel, he gets tangled and pulled down by one of the weighted barrels and unceremoniously drowns.

* {{Defictionalization}}: In 2010 when the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheik experienced killer shark attacks it pretty much used the plot of Jaws as its guide, including denying the problem, resisting closing the beaches, reluctantly closing them after a near shore attack, killing the wrong shark and declaring it the right one despite clear evidence to the contrary, re-opening the beaches with a fanfare declaring them safe, then having more attacks take place. After that the shark simply left of its own accord, perhaps it was GenreSavvy enough to know what came next in film.

** ''2'' also takes place at the beginning of the summer season, while ''3'' coincides with preparations to open a water park.

** Though they still did it anyway; we learn that Martin spent his last few years stuck in bed, horribly paranoid that all the sharks of the world were coming for him, before finally being frightened to death by his delusions.

* {{Heroic Dolphin}}s: In ''"Jaws 3-D,"'' Cindy and Sandy rescue Kay and Mike from a shark after attempting to keep them out of the Galleon.

* ChekhovsLecture: Dr. Elkins' info dump on sharks' abily to detect sound in ''2'' comes in handy for the climax.

!!This film provides examples of:

* SuperPersistentPredator: The shark in ''Jaws'' spends the entire ending hunting our heroic crew. In ''Jaws: The Revenge'' the shark somehow follows Ellen from New England to the Bahamas - [[BeyondTheImpossible in a matter of days.]]

* StrawmanHasAPoint: The mayor isn't ''completely'' wrong that news of a shark could ruin the town - all "summer tourist" towns are extremely dependent on seasonal income. He's extremely wrong, however, in the degree to which he ignores the evidence. Also, his refusal to cut open the shark, possibly spilling the remains of it's latest victim (a young child), is completely right. Why they couldn't both agree to wait until everyone left and cut it open late at night (what Brody and Hooper do ''anyway'') is anyone's guess.

* AluminumChristmasTrees: And literal on that first part! Quint crushing his beer can doesn't look too impressive now that they're made of aluminum, and even a kid can do it. But at the time, they were made of tin, and it really was quite a show of sign to crush one.

* VertigoEffect: Chief Brody reaction to seeing the Kintner boy being attacked by the shark.

* GreatWhiteHunter: Quint

* DolphinsDolphinsEverywhere: Seaworld in the third film has dolphins in it.

* [[FleetingDemographicRule No One Has a Memory Over Two Years Old]: In-universe example. In the first sequel, Chief Brody is convinced a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances at sea are the work of another shark. Despite the events of four years before, and Brody presenting the selectmen with ''photographic evidence'' of the shark, they and the mayor fire him for his "paranoia" (and for panicking beachgoers by firing his weapon at a school of bluefish). And like true [[DyingLikeAnimals Bats]], they keep the beaches open once again.

** RobertShaw himself- an accomplished writer- made major contributions to the script for that scene. He believed there should be some explanation for his character's antipathy towards sharks.

* PickOnSomeoneYourOwnSpecies

* IAmNotShazam: "Jaws" is not the name of the shark. It had no name, except maybe [[FanNickname Bruce]].

* {{Leitmotif}}: The Shark Theme... ''Dun dun, dun dun''...

* [[{{NOHAMOTYO}} No One Has a Memory Over Two Years Old]]: In the first sequel, Chief Brody is convinced a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances at sea are the work of another shark. Despite the events of four years before, and Brody presenting the selectmen with ''photographic evidence'' of the shark, they and the mayor fire him for his "paranoia" (and for panicking beachgoers by firing his weapon at a school of bluefish). And like true [[DyingLikeAnimals Bats]], they keep the beaches open once again.

*** He also kills the shark though, living up to his reputation, so YourMileageMayVary.

* TheJorEl: Brody insisted on closing the beaches, but the town council refused to take his advice.

* GenreLaunch: Ditto FollowTheLeader.

* SuperPersistentPredator: The shark in ''Jaws'' spends the entire ending hunting our heroic crew. In ''Jaws: The Revenge'' the shark somehow follows Ellen from New England to the Bahamas.

* [[{{Ptitleksd3bfc6}} Horror Doesn't Settle For Simple Tuesday]]: ''Jaws'' is set around the Fourth of July, while ''The Revenge'' features Christmas.