Fifty years ago, one of the most memorable and chilling pieces of cinema was released, forever changing the way humans viewed the ocean and its apex predator. “Jaws,” directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel, was not just a movie—it was a phenomenon. The simple, two-note motif of the theme song, composed by John Williams, became synonymous with dread, prompting a visceral reaction that still lingers in popular culture today. The movie’s success and its iconic score are so ingrained in the collective consciousness that they continue to evoke fear and fascination, even for those far removed from the coastal waters where the story takes place.
As “Jaws” celebrates its 50th anniversary this month, its impact remains undeniable. The film, which grossed over $470 million adjusted for inflation, tapped into a primal fear of the unknown and introduced millions to the terror of sharks in a way that no other media had before. But beyond its entertainment value, the legacy of “Jaws” has had significant consequences for both public perceptions of sharks and the real-world conservation issues they now face.
“Jaws,” set in the fictional town of Amity Island, follows the terrifying rampage of a great white shark that preys upon swimmers, boats, and residents. After a woman is killed by the shark, the town’s local authorities are left to grapple with the monster lurking beneath the surface, leading to clashes between the community’s desire to preserve its summer tourist economy and the escalating need to protect public safety. While the film introduced the idea of a shark as a remorseless killer, the real horror for viewers was the uncertainty of what lay beneath the water’s surface—an experience heightened by the film’s innovative, water-level shots.
For many, the first notes of the iconic “Jaws” theme, with their ominous and steadily building rhythm, immediately trigger feelings of dread, even if they are nowhere near the ocean. This two-note motif has become more than just the theme of a film; it’s an auditory symbol of the fear that sharks have come to represent. The anxiety the music induces is still so potent that even shark experts acknowledge how deeply ingrained this fear has become in the public psyche. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, notes that “Jaws” is almost synonymous with the American summer—right alongside traditions like the Fourth of July or apple pie.
When Spielberg’s film hit theaters on June 20, 1975, it did more than deliver thrills and spills. It introduced a cultural shift that changed how sharks were viewed by the public. Prior to “Jaws,” sharks were mostly seen as fascinating creatures, subject to fascination and fear on the periphery. But the film transformed sharks from a misunderstood predator into a villainous creature whose mere presence made the ocean unsafe. The great white shark, in particular, was villainized to such an extent that it became the new marine villain, overshadowing even creatures like whales, which were previously regarded as the most feared marine animals.
Lowe recalls growing up on Martha’s Vineyard, where parts of the movie were filmed, and how the ocean was once a place for wonder and curiosity. Before the release of “Jaws,” sharks were largely perceived as fascinating creatures that didn’t pose a direct threat. This was true even for many fishermen and whalers, whose families had passed down their own tales of encounters with whales, not sharks. As Lowe explains, the terror of whales, instilled by novels like “Moby Dick,” was once far greater in the collective consciousness of coastal residents. However, “Jaws” gave the ocean a new, ominous figure that overshadowed all other creatures.
The movie’s influence wasn’t confined to the United States. Internationally, the fear of sharks spread, shaping how people viewed the oceans and their inhabitants. “Jaws” successfully tapped into the primal fear of the unknown, and it made audiences imagine what dangers lurked beneath the waves. Ross Williams, founder of The Daily Jaws, an online community dedicated to the film, explains that by shooting the film from a water-level perspective, Spielberg made audiences feel as if they were swimming alongside the victims, watching the shark approach from beneath them.
Yet, as iconic as “Jaws” became, the public perception of sharks was not solely shaped by the film. The anti-shark narrative had been building for years, with earlier films, horror stories, and news reports exacerbating fears about the creatures. The media portrayal of sharks as mindless killers long before “Jaws” contributed to a widespread sense of terror, leading many to believe that any shark, regardless of its size, was capable of deadly intent. As James Wilkowski, director of the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station at Oregon State University, points out, “Jaws” made the shark a symbol of evil, transforming the predator into something far more terrifying than it ever was.
While the film helped perpetuate misconceptions, it also exaggerated the true nature of sharks. Experts have long emphasized that sharks are not inherently dangerous to humans. As Taylor Chapel, co-lead of Oregon State University’s Big Fish Lab, explains, the idea that sharks deliberately attack or consume people is a misconception. “We’re not on a shark’s menu,” Wilkowski adds. “They don’t want to eat us. If they did, we’d be easy pickings. It’d be a buffet.”
This misrepresentation continues to be one of the most enduring legacies of “Jaws.” The film portrayed the shark as a mindless, predatory monster, creating the notion that sharks were indiscriminate killers. However, scientists now know that sharks typically do not target humans, and most shark attacks are cases of mistaken identity, especially with large species like the great white. The belief that sharks seek out humans as prey is simply not true.
The exaggerated portrayal of sharks in “Jaws” had other real-world consequences as well. Following the release of the film, shark populations around the world began to decline sharply, largely due to overfishing and trophy hunting. The fear that sharks represented a constant threat to humans made it easier for people to justify the overexploitation of these apex predators. Shark fishing surged, and many species were pushed to the brink of extinction. As Lowe notes, the negative perception of sharks made it easier to ignore the growing threats they faced in the wild.
In recent years, however, the public’s perception of sharks has begun to shift. As shark conservation efforts have gained momentum and scientists have worked to debunk myths about these creatures, interest in sharks has gone from fear to fascination. Today, sharks are not only seen as fascinating creatures of the deep but also as crucial components of a healthy marine ecosystem. Experts like Wilkowski stress that sharks play an essential role in maintaining balance within the ocean’s food web by controlling populations of smaller prey. Their presence is a clear indicator of a healthy, functioning ecosystem.
Despite this progress, sharks still face significant threats from human activities. Climate change, habitat loss, and overfishing continue to put pressure on shark populations worldwide. According to the Shark Research Institute, humans kill up to 100 million sharks every year, primarily through bycatch and trophy hunting. As shark numbers continue to decline, the health of marine ecosystems is at risk, and the very creatures that “Jaws” helped vilify are now more endangered than ever.
While “Jaws” may have created an enduring legacy of fear surrounding sharks, it also prompted a deeper examination of humanity’s relationship with the ocean and its creatures. Despite the film’s negative portrayal of sharks, the fascination it sparked has led to renewed interest in their conservation. As Chris Lowe notes, the fascination with sharks has outpaced the fear, with many now seeking to protect these misunderstood animals rather than demonize them.
In conclusion, “Jaws” may have terrified audiences in 1975, but it also sparked a conversation that continues to this day. The film’s iconic theme song, the terrifying great white shark, and the myths surrounding these apex predators are still embedded in our collective consciousness. Yet, as we look back at the 50th anniversary of the film, it’s clear that the narrative surrounding sharks is beginning to shift from one of fear to one of respect and conservation. While “Jaws” may have villainized the shark, it also ignited a global movement to understand and protect these incredible creatures for generations to come.
The post The Lasting Fear and Fascination of ‘Jaws’: How the Iconic Theme Song and Movie Changed the Perception of Sharks first appeared on Trusted and Verified USA News.
The post The Lasting Fear and Fascination of ‘Jaws’: How the Iconic Theme Song and Movie Changed the Perception of Sharks first appeared on Voxtrend News.
