Readers Say
“Never went in the water again. It’s my favorite movie of all time,” one respondent said.
When “Jaws” premiered on June 20, 1975, it didn’t just break box office records – it changed the way generations of moviegoers thought about the ocean.
Now, as the iconic thriller marks its 50th anniversary, Boston.com readers are looking back at their first memories of seeing the film that made everyone afraid to go back in the water.
Some remember watching “Jaws” in packed theaters during its original run, the suspense building with each ominous note of John Williams’s iconic score.
“My friend worked at the cinema and when the part came showing the overturned rowboat with an eaten body (where everyone at the cinema jumps from their seat), my friend grabbed my shoulder from behind and I screamed like a man on fire. I almost had a heart attack,” reader Steve B. recalled.
Others remember stumbling upon it on cable or VHS as kids, hiding behind couch cushions or sneaking peeks through trembling fingers.
“I was 8 years old. My father rented the film from the video store and I remember we were watching it while we were having dinner. I wasn’t able to finish my dinner because I was so terrified,” one reader on Instagram wrote.
“In fact, I was so scared that I didn’t even want to go to the bathroom because I didn’t want to be near any place where there was water. Because of this film, I’m unable to swim in the sea at night and I’m afraid of the depths,” they added.
Whether they were adults, teenagers, or wide-eyed kids sneaking a peek after bedtime, readers say the film left a lasting impression — and for many, it sparked a lifelong fascination with sharks, Spielberg, and summer blockbusters.
As one fan on Instagram put it: “I saw it in the theater when I was 10 with a friend. Never went in the water again. It’s my favorite movie of all time. I watch it every summer.”
Below, readers share their favorite “Jaws” memories ahead of the film’s 50th anniversary on Friday.
What are your favorite memories of the film “Jaws”?
“I saw ‘Jaws’ during the first week it was out. The anticipation was huge. The theater was buzzing while we all anxiously waited for the film to begin. As I was sitting in my seat I noticed a woman two rows in front of me and to the left walk in with one of those huge buckets of popcorn.
The first time the shark appeared in the movie was a shocker for everyone. The woman with the popcorn jumped in her seat, screamed at the top of her lungs and proceeded to launch her entire bucket of popcorn all over those of us seated in a ten seat radius. I’ll never forget it.” – Mark S., Natick
“The film really messed up my skinny dipping dreams.” – Charles R., Cambridgeport
“Cinematic masterpiece and my personal favorite. The original summer blockbuster. Changed the way children in my age demographic viewed the ocean forever. Just such a remarkably well done film, and Scheider, Dreyfuss and Shaw all with amazing performances. Stands the test of time. Sure people will still be watching it 50 years from now.” – Justin P., Danvers
“I was 12 years old when I first saw ‘Jaws’ in 1975. It was the first movie that I had ever gone back to see multiple times in the theater. It had a familiarity as I had spent time on the Cape with my parents during the summers. That seemed to add to the scariness. I distinctly remember the collective screaming and jumping out of seats when the head floated out from the underwater boat as Richard Dreyfuss’s character searched that area.
When I went to see the movie the second time I cockily thought, well, I know what’s coming, I won’t jump this time! Did I jump, of course I did! Also, many of us kids from Medway High School went to see the movie multiple times, trying to catch a glimpse of our school principal who had been vacationing in the area during filming and was allegedly an extra in the film (I never did spot him). Good times!” – Laura, Andover
“I first saw the film in 1985 at age 10 when it was broadcast as the ABC Sunday Night Movie. At the time, my brother and I had twin-sized water beds. After watching the movie, I slept on the hall floor outside my bedroom that night.” – Matthew, Irmo, South Carolina (formerly of Worcester)
“Still in the top five favorite films of all time in my honest opinion. First saw it in 9th grade when it first came out. My older sister took me. Lincoln Plaza, Worcester. How it was filmed on open water was mesmerizing – especially the scene when they’re talking about Indianapolis. The scene when it zooms in under the bridge, looking out to see immediately after Brody’s son’s rescue – what a transition! And not seeing the shark until long after we were already scared of it made it all the more suspenseful. And the musical theme – perfect!
On all fronts, one of the most creative instances of storytelling from a simple, short plotline. Don’t know how older folks took it, but to a 9th grader, it couldn’t have been more riveting.” – Ed T., Worcester
“I was 10 years old when ‘Jaws’ was released. My parents would not let me go see it as they thought it would be too scary. I had to wait a year when ‘Jaws’ was re-released for the summer of 1976 to finally watch it at the theater. What was memorable was that my next door neighbor (who was older than me) went to see ‘Jaws’ 26 times at the theater during that summer of 1975. He talked all summer about how awesome the movie was, he memorized all the lines and was able to identify editing errors throughout the movie. I couldn’t wait to see the movie and when I finally did, I saw Quint wearing several different boat shoes and sneakers all in the same take.” – Al P., New York City (formerly of Westwood)
“My cousins live on the Vineyard, and were extras in the beach scene as little kids (along with hundreds of others). My sister and I, college-aged, visited the Vineyard during filming and were hitchhiking around the island. We saw the tipped-over sailboat off East Chop, and passed a road sign put up by the studio. The guy driving us said ‘Amity City Limits! Holy (expletive)!’ All true stories, and good memories.” – Jennifer, Peabody
“I met Bruce the mechanical shark. He was on display at the Sands Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ in the early 1980’s. My favorite character in the movie (Hooper) was played by Richard Dreyfuss. And I actually liked when Quint got eaten by the shark.” – Beverly B., Reheboth
“I first saw it in my cousin’s living room in Mashpee. We went for a dusk swim afterwards. ‘Jaws’ started my love of sharks and one of my bucket list items is to do a shark dive, either in a cage or free dive.” – A reader on Instagram
“I saw it at 16-years-old at the Burlington Mall with my two best friends. I decided marine biology would not be my college major, just regular biology.” – A reader on Instagram
“I went waterskiing the next day – in Vineyard Sound, no less. I was treading water and all I could hear was that theme music…Great incentive not to wipe out.” – A reader on Instagram
“Grew up on Plum Island, didn’t swim much that summer…😂 They really captured that period of time. Brody and his wife, island life, small town politics.” – A reader on Instagram
“A timeless classic that still thrills after 50 years. Such iconic scenes and unforgettable suspense!” – A reader on Instagram
“Saw this when I was a kid. I’m a millennial and still absolutely terrified of sharks 🦈!” – A reader on Instagram
“I had a summer job on Martha’s Vineyard while they were filming Jaws and I would go watch them for fun. Even though I watched them making the movie, it still scared the crap out of me when I saw it at the theater in Maine.” – A reader on Instagram
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