Is Jaws Based on a True Story? Ending Explained, and More
by Janani | Updated Apr 19, 2023
Jaws
The 1975 thriller movie Jaws was helmed by Steven Spielberg and adapted from Peter Benchley's 1974 novel. The plot revolves around Roy Scheider's character, police chief Martin Brody, who enlists the help of a marine biologist played by Richard Dreyfuss and a professional shark hunter portrayed by Robert Shaw to capture a great white shark that's been attacking beachgoers at a resort town during the summer. The film also features Murray Hamilton as the mayor and Lorraine Gary as Brody's wife. The screenplay was originally written by Benchley, with actor-writer Carl Gottlieb contributing rewrites during filming.
Is Jaws Based on a True Story?
Jaws is not based on a true story but rather on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name. Benchley, who had a lifelong fascination with sharks, was inspired to write the book after reading about fisherman Frank Mundus catching a 4,500-pound great white shark off Long Island in 1964. In the book's introduction, Benchley recalls tucking the newspaper article about the incident into his wallet and forgetting about it until he later wondered what would happen if such a monster were to invade a resort community and refuse to leave. Robert Shaw's character, Quint, was modeled after Mundus, who was a shark hunter but later in life became a shark conservationist.
Is Jaws a True Story?
Peter Benchley, the author of Jaws, did not confirm that the 1916 shark attacks were the main inspiration for the novel, although he did reference them in the book. It's worth noting that Jaws is not a true story, but rather a work of fiction. Nevertheless, some reputable news sources have claimed that the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks were the primary inspiration behind the movie.
Jaws Ending Explained
In the movie Jaws, the shark manages to break free from the harpoon ropes and jumps onto the boat, eventually devouring Quint. With the boat sinking, Brody stuffs a scuba tank into the shark's mouth and climbs up to the crow's nest. He uses Quint's rifle to shoot the tank, which causes the shark to explode, effectively killing it.
The ending of the Jaws movie is vastly different from that of the book. Surprisingly, in the book, the shark simply drowns after Quint harpoons it, but not before Quint himself is drowned. This outcome, where the shark sinks to the ocean's floor from exhaustion, appeared lackluster to director Steven Spielberg. In contrast, the movie ends with a bang (#sorrynotsorry), as the two protagonists paddle back home fearlessly after Brody kills the shark with an explosive scuba tank.
Jaws Plot
In the small beach town of Amity Island, a young woman named Chrissie Watkins goes skinny dipping during a beachside party and is attacked by a shark. Despite the medical examiner concluding that it was a shark attack, the mayor of the town decides to keep the beaches open to avoid ruining the town's summer economy. However, when another person is killed by a shark, the police chief finally decides to close the beaches.
A bounty is placed on the shark and Quint, a local professional shark fisherman, offers his services to catch it. While searching for the shark, Brody and Hooper doubt that the tiger shark caught by local fishermen is responsible for the attacks. They find a great white shark's tooth in a half-sunken vessel and try to convince the mayor to close the beaches, but he refuses.
On the Fourth of July weekend, the real shark enters a nearby lagoon and kills a boater, causing Brody's oldest son to go into shock. Brody finally convinces the mayor to hire Quint. Despite the tension between Quint and Hooper, they set out on Quint's boat, the Orca, to hunt the shark. They manage to harpoon the shark, but it pulls the flotation barrel underwater and disappears.
At nightfall, Quint and Hooper exchange stories about their scars, and Quint reveals that he survived the attack on the USS Indianapolis. The shark suddenly appears and attacks the boat, disabling the power. The men work through the night to repair the engine. In the morning, Quint harpoons the shark again, but the shark drags the boat backward, flooding the engine compartment.
Quint heads towards shore to draw the shark into shallower waters, but he overtaxes the damaged engine, and it fails. As the Orca sinks, Hooper enters the water in a shark-proof cage to lethally inject the shark. However, the shark attacks the cage, causing Hooper to drop the spear. While the shark thrashes in the cage, Hooper manages to escape to the seabed.
The shark breaks free and devours Quint, leaving Brody trapped on the sinking vessel. Brody shoves a pressurized scuba tank into the shark's mouth and shoots it with Quint's rifle, killing the shark with the resulting explosion. Hooper resurfaces and paddles back to Amity Island with Brody. The movie's ending differs from the book's, where the shark drowns after Quint harpoons it (but not before Quint drowns himself).
Jaws Trailer
Is Jaws Based on a True Story - FAQs
Jaws is a 1975 American thriller film.
Steven Spielberg directed Jaws.
Sidney Sheinberg played the role of Ellen Brody.
Susan Backlinie was cast as Chrissie.
Murray Hamilton played the role of Mayor Larry Vaughn.