Spielberg vs. Sharks: How ‘Jaws’ Nearly Sunk Its Budget
Another day, another supposed cinematic triumph nearly capsized by mechanical mayhem and booze-soaked stars. Half a century on, the legend of Jaws endures—but the making of the 1975 blockbuster was less hero’s journey and more lifeguard-less swim in shark-infested waters. When Steven Spielberg—then a nervous 27-year-old first-time director—set out to film off Martha’s Vineyard, he ended up battling more than just fictional great whites.
From day one, the budget was swimming in danger. Originally slated at around $3.5 million, it ballooned to nearly $9 million by wrap, making Universal execs break into cold sweats. Why? Because the three mechanical sharks, affectionately nicknamed “Bruce” (after Spielberg’s hotshot attorney), simply refused to cooperate. According to People magazine, these 7,000-pound steel-and-rubber monstrosities either stalled, floated belly-up or disintegrated in the corrosive saltwater. Failure after failure forced Spielberg to get creative: most of the shark POV shots were crafted with clever angles, ominous music cues and John Williams’s spine-tingling score rather than a full-bodied mechanical beast.
Meanwhile, on-camera chaos had its own star actor troubles. Veteran thespian Robert Shaw—cast as grizzled shark hunter Quint—regularly showed up on set with a flask in hand, per New York Post’s deep dive into the archives. His improv-laden monologues became legendary, but they also stretched schedules and frayed tempers. Roy Scheider battled chronic seasickness, often doubled over on the deck, forcing early wrap calls and re-shoots. Richard Dreyfuss tried to keep the vibe light by passing around rum bottles between takes, but that only fueled waves of delays.
Spielberg’s inexperience compounded every glitch. With fixed shooting days turning into 159 dragged-out excursions, the crew endured hurricane threats, mechanical breakdowns and animal cruelty accusations—though Spielberg himself had lobbied for strict no-harm protocols. The director’s “shoot less, imply more” tactic evolved into necessity: tease the shark’s fin, splash a few bloody props in the water, cue that Williams theme—and voilà, terror delivered without an actual fish attack.
By the time that first on-screen jaws snapped, Universal executives were praying for a hit. Spoiler alert: it became the highest-grossing film of its era, raking in over $470 million worldwide. Still, behind that iconic poster and legendary “You’re gonna need a bigger boat” line lay months of mechanical breakdowns, budget overruns and hungover heroes.
So there you have it—Jaws’s behind-the-scenes saga: half mad science, half boat-bound bar crawl, all blockbuster. Nothing shocking here, folks. Let’s all act surprised. And that’s today’s dose of reality—you’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
