WTF Happened to Steven Spielberg’s Jaws?

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Hollywood has had its fair share of historically troubled productions. Whether it was casting changes, actor deaths, fired directors, in-production rewrites, constant delays, budget cuts or studio edits, these films had every intention to be a blockbuster, but were beset with unforeseen disasters. Sometimes huge hits, sometimes box office bombs. 

In this episode we explore the groundbreaking hit JAWS, a movie that kick-started not only director Steven Spielberg's career, but also what came to be known as the "summer blockbuster" as it drew in massive crowds to be shocked and wowed in the summer months like never before. Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss and based on the novel by Peter Benchley, JAWS was fraught with production woes from the beginning, not least of which was a testy mechanical shark named "Bruce" and the primadonna of all movies shot on the water; mother nature. Still, it ended up all being worth it, but it was no easy task to get there, begging the question; WTF happened to this movie?