Steven Spielberg reflects on Jaws at 50: I thought my career was over'

"My hubris was that we could take a Hollywood crew, go out 12 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, and shoot an entire movie with a mechanical shark. I thought that was going to go swimmingly, Spielberg told an audience of journalists at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles this week, where an exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of Jaws is opening on Sunday."

"I thought my career was virtually over halfway through production on Jaws, because everybody was saying to me, You are never going to get hired again, Spielberg recalled. Jaws, the Academy Museum's first exhibit focused on a single film since the museum opened in 2021, traces the film's colorful struggles, including the many mechanical failures of the titular prop shark, along with the artistic collaborations that led to its ultimate success."

Steven Spielberg shot Jaws on Martha's Vineyard and attempted extensive filming at sea using a mechanical shark, believing the method would work. Persistent mechanical failures, adverse weather, strong currents, and local regattas caused repeated delays, budget overruns, and widespread seasickness among the crew. Midway through production Spielberg feared his career was over because of the setbacks. Film editor Verna Fields won an Oscar for suspense editing and composer John Williams won for the iconic theme. Domestic box office reached $260.7 million, transforming the film into a blockbuster and launching Spielberg’s career. The Academy Museum opened a 50th-anniversary exhibit documenting the production.

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