The documentary “Jaws: The Inside Story,” which premieres on Disney+ on July 11 and on National Geographic on July 14, showcases never-before-seen archive footage with director Steven Spielberg sharing how he thought “Jaws” would end his career.
The filmmaker discloses he suffered from post-traumatic stress for years following the movie’s completion, often retreating to the production boat, Orca, to cry.
“What surprised me the most was the level of intimacy Steven has with this story and how he was traumatized by the challenges faced during the making of the film,” said director Laurent Bouzereau in an interview. “The human perspective is always moving, relatable, and cathartic. What I present in my film is a story of perseverance and transcending expectations.”
Bouzereau noted that over the past 50 years, much has been said about “Jaws,” but the level of detail and unseen footage makes the documentary unique. It includes testimonies from some of Hollywood’s biggest filmmakers and stars, such as George Lucas, James Cameron, J.J. Abrams, Guillermo del Toro, Jordan Peele, and Emily Blunt.
“Everyone was influenced by ‘Jaws’ in different ways,” said Bouzereau. He himself emigrated from France to the United States to pursue his dream of making movies where this iconic film took place, a film he watched as a child.
The documentary also explores the significant impact the story had on how people perceive sharks. Based on the book by Peter Benchley, published in February 1974, the film sparked unprecedented interest in the ocean’s great predator.
“It’s a good story about how people react to threats they can’t control,” said Wendy Benchley, widow of the author. “People had never focused on sharks before this. When Peter published the book, it touched on not only fear but also fascination, and it boosted shark science.”
The documentary features images and stories of Luso-American Joe Manuel Alves, who designed the original mechanical shark and faced dramatic challenges to make it work. As the son of Portuguese immigrants, Alves published the book “Designing Jaws” and stated in a previous interview that he continues to receive fan mail weekly.
The troubles with the film’s giant animatronic shark were not the only issues during production. “Jaws” far exceeded its shooting schedule and budget, with doubts about its completion. The crew, actors, and Spielberg were isolated on the famous Martha’s Vineyard island, off the Massachusetts coast, for over five months, instead of the original one month and 25 days plan.
“He felt very guilty about being so delayed, and people resented not being able to go home,” emphasized Laurent Bouzereau. The documentary highlights that Spielberg views the essence of the film as returning home, a theme identified as recurring in his films.
Despite the astronomical success following its release on June 20, 1975, Spielberg remained haunted. Long cinema lines and merchandise frenzy were accompanied by an unexpected effect: adventurers began hunting sharks for trophies, imitating one of the film’s heroes.
“Although Steven made a monster movie, it was a metaphor,” said Bouzereau. “But people took it literally, leading to a shark massacre, something I was unaware of.”
The director wanted to address this in the documentary and raise awareness about conservation efforts, a specialty of Wendy Benchley, who works with WildAid. “Everyone takes different things from the film and the book, but we know it created fascination and more research into sharks,” she said. “It’s incredibly devastating to think that 100 million sharks are killed each year for fin soup and meat consumption.”
Benchley hopes the documentary will renew interest in shark protection and highlight the importance of saving them to maintain ocean ecosystems and balance. This powerful story continues to be passed down through generations, having changed cinema history.
Bouzereau noted the same. “The film hasn’t aged,” he said, highlighting its landmark status in cinema, pop culture, and politics, remaining relevant 50 years later.
