The stories about the making of Jaws are arguably almost as iconic as the movie itself. The production of the movie that is called the “first summer blockbuster” was an absolute nightmare to film by all accounts. However, it seems that director Steven Spielberg actually had literal nightmares after making the film due to what was, for him, a truly traumatic experience.
In the new NatGeo documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, available July 10 with a Hulu or Disney+ subscription, Steven Spielberg talks about the experience of directing the eponymous flick, a movie that went significantly over budget and over schedule. The director had an incredibly difficult time getting everything to work during the shoot at Martha’s Vineyard, but it was only after filming wrapped that Spielberg really began to have a hard time. He said…
When the film wrapped Martha’s Vineyard, I had a full-blown panic attack. I couldn’t breathe, I thought I was having a heart attack. I couldn’t get a full breath of air. I kept going to the bathroom and splashing water on my face. I was shaking.
frequently broken mechanical shark. As crazy as production was, it’s wild to think that it wasn’t until after the shoot that he apparently really had difficulties.
highest-grossing movie ever made at that point, and a massive cultural moment. However, it seems that the film’s success did not entirely vindicate Steven Spielberg in his own mind. He says he would continue to have actual nightmares for years afterward, as if he were still directing the movie. He said…
I had a real tough time when I finished the movie, and the success was fantastic, but it didn’t stop the nightmares. It didn’t stop me waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, where the sheets would be soaking wet. We didn’t have the words ‘PTSD’ in those days, and I had consistent nightmares about directing Jaws for years afterwards. I was still on the movie, and the film was never-ending.
Of course, Steven Spielberg’s filmography speaks for itself, and he would go on to direct some of the most popular and most successful movies ever made. Jaws truly launched his career, but he certainly worked hard, and suffered significantly to get there. I’m not sure if Spielberg is among te the 50th anniversary of the release of his shark-centric thriller film. However, as a fan, I truly believe Spielberg should be proud of what he and his cohorts accomplished all those years ago.
Fans can check out Jaws for themselves by streaming it with a Peacock subscription.