In 1975, Jaws took the world by storm and reshaped the film industry forever. After 50 years, it’s time to celebrate the movie’s legacy and its sizable cultural impact.
Film enthusiasts worldwide have various plans to celebrate Jaws in 2025, including exhibitions and special collections for the aquatic movie. One of the events will occur in the place where it all started — Martha’s Vineyard.
The scenic island south of Cape Cod was the primary filming location for Steven Spielberg, Roy Scheider and the rest of the crew.
Vineyard Gazette Media Group publisher Monica Brady-Terov said Martha’s Vineyard and Jaws have shared a relationship for decades.
“The Martha’s Vineyard community made Jaws what it is. They were extras, they built sets, they drove boats, they painted signs, they catered — a lot of people on the Island participated.”
On Memorial Day weekend, Martha’s Vineyard Museum will recreate the town of Amity through a comprehensive exhibition. From movie props to artwork and oral histories, Jaws fans can immerse themselves in their favorite thriller.
The East Coast’s celebration will feature interactive activities like shark science through the Atlantic White Shark Conservatory. Martha’s Vineyard will also have special tours of the filming locations used in 1975.
While the film is synonymous with Cape Cod and New England, the 50th anniversary celebration will extend to the West Coast.
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (AMMP) in Los Angeles will also have an exhibition for the movie’s milestone.
Starting September 14, the museum will hold its first exposition dedicated to a single film. Jaws fans will have until July 26, 2026, to enjoy everything included in the Academy.
The AMMP will source memorabilia from Spielberg, NBCUniversal Archives and other collections with historical items. If you want a comprehensive retelling of the movie, this location lets you interact with every scene.
Jaws fans who can’t make it to the exhibitions can still participate in the 50th anniversary through the National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA).
The manufacturer will add to its existing collection with action figures modeled after Sam Quint and Matt Hooper. Collectors will also get scuba tanks, shark darts and other artifacts associated with the movie.
Fifty years is a long time in Hollywood, so Jaws is getting a significant celebration. The movie heavily influenced movies worldwide and people’s experiences at the beach.
Despite experts saying swimming is the fourth-most popular sport in America, Spielberg’s 1975 was so hit scared people away from the beach. Even with the story being promoted as a work of fiction, many of the film’s viewers refused to step foot onto the white-sand shores again for years to come.
Eventually, the anti-beach sentiments wore off, but appreciation for Jaws and the public's hesitant fascination with sharks has remained. Critics have lately discussed recasting the movie for a potential reboot.
Outside the Jaws universe, the movie’s impact is visible across the industry.
Before 1975, the biggest films of the year typically entered theaters in the fall or winter. However, Spielberg and Universal Pictures changed Hollywood by releasing the movie on the first day of summer.
Movie theaters struggled to get good business during the season, but Jaws was a massive hit. Critics called the film a summer blockbuster, which now applies annually to the biggest films of June, July and August.
Jaws also profoundly impacted the industry by inspiring future films and directors. For example, the movie influenced Alien just four years after the famous shark movie by introducing an intimidating non-human monster.
Another Jaws influence was Jordan Peele’s Nope from 2022. Peele cited Jaws as one of the inspirations for his movie, and it’s evident throughout the entire film. From the predator-hunting ensemble to the monster’s death, Nope was a love letter to Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster.