Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

Play trailer 1:35 Poster for Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story 2025 1h 28m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 25 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Interviews, outtakes and never-before-seen footage provide insight into the chaos and creativity behind the making of Steven Spielberg's legendary blockbuster "Jaws."
Watch on Disney+ Stream Now

Where to Watch

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

Critics Reviews

View More (25)
Helen O'Hara Empire Magazine There’s little here that’s new or shocking for hardcore fans, and nothing to rock even a small boat, but this is a pleasantly comprehensive and wide-ranging celebration of the shark-centric gamechanger Rated: 4/5 Jul 16, 2025 Full Review Bob Strauss San Francisco Chronicle Jaws @ 50” is mainly noteworthy as a comprehensive, if sometimes surface-skimming, compendium of everything there is to know about Peter Benchley’s bestselling source novel, the 1975 movie... and cultural impact and why it remains relevant today. Rated: 2.5/4 Jul 12, 2025 Full Review Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News Jaws @ 50's a cinematic underdog story unto itself, in which an upstart young filmmaker beat the odds, triumphed over adversity and went on to score one of the most stunning victories in cinematic history. Jul 10, 2025 Full Review James Croot The Post NZ What’s refreshing here is that this is not just a “celebration” or Spielberg hagiography. Aug 7, 2025 Full Review Hannah Brown Jerusalem Post Fans of the classic movie, which is celebrating 50 years since its release this summer, won’t want to miss this one. Aug 1, 2025 Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht No, it doesn’t depart too far from the conventional wisdom, and you’ll get to hear all the stories you’ve heard before, but it's still a must for any Jaws fan. Aug 1, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More (6)
Cameron H. This fantastic documentary explores the legacy and cultural impact of Steven Spielberg’s classic blockbuster, “Jaws.” It features interviews with filmmakers who were inspired by the film, as well as actors who were featured in the movie. I loved hearing Steven Spielberg share his personal experiences from working on the movie and all the troubles and challenges that came with it and how he overcame them to turn out one of the greatest movies of all-time. If you’re a “Jaws” fan, filmmaker, or any sort of pop culture enthusiast, “Jaws @ 50” is a must-watch documentary, especially as we’re celebrating the film’s 50th anniversary this year. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/31/25 Full Review Everett G I recommend this to any Jaws fan Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/21/25 Full Review Michael W This showbiz documentary was very good. The entire crew did a spectacular job on telling the story of how the classic horror movie Jaws was made, what happened on set, and the obstacles they faced while making it. It was truly amazing to see how Jaws was made and what they did to make it look real. If you haven't seen this documentary yet, check it out sometime. It's a definite must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/20/25 Full Review Andrew C A very appropriate documentary to honor the 50th anniversary of the original summer blockbuster. Great interviews, great footage. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/25 Full Review BRizz 2 Documentary Review: Jaws at 50 (2025) Streaming on: Disney+ I think I’ve officially found the best documentary of 2025 so far — Jaws at 50. This in-depth feature not only honors one of cinema’s greatest thrillers, but dives deep into Steven Spielberg’s early struggles, triumphs, and sheer determination to bring Jaws to life. What sets this documentary apart is how immersive it feels. It’s not just people sitting in chairs talking — though there are some excellent interviews — it’s packed with rare behind-the-scenes footage, photographs, and never-before-seen production content. You feel like you’re experiencing history, not just being told about it. It explores Spielberg’s personal journey, the technical challenges of building the shark, and how the lack of CGI forced them to be innovative in terrifyingly effective ways. Watching how they brought the shark to life — and how they made it believable without modern effects — is honestly inspiring. You gain a whole new appreciation for what they accomplished in 1975. The documentary also addresses the impact Jaws had on audiences, including the fear it instilled of the ocean and great white sharks — even though that wasn’t the film’s intention. But what Spielberg created was more than just a monster movie. It became a cinematic phenomenon, and Jaws at 50 shows you exactly how that legacy was built. And let’s be honest — we’re not talking about the sequels (which were mostly a mess). The original Jaws stands alone as a masterpiece. To this day, it still delivers. This documentary captures that magic. Final Thoughts: An absolute must-watch for fans of filmmaking, movie history, and Spielberg himself. It’s a love letter to the film that redefined blockbuster cinema and created an unforgettable fear of the water — and it does so beautifully, respectfully, and thoroughly. Rating: 10/10 The shark still bites. The story still grips. And this documentary proves why Jaws is still the king of the deep. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/15/25 Full Review Jason H It's decent, but I've heard all of these stories before. The "behind the scenes" footage was cool to see. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/13/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Movie Info

Synopsis Interviews, outtakes and never-before-seen footage provide insight into the chaos and creativity behind the making of Steven Spielberg's legendary blockbuster "Jaws."
Director
Laurent Bouzereau
Producer
Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Laurent Bouzereau, Markus Keith
Distributor
National Geographic
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 11, 2025
Runtime
1h 28m
Most Popular at Home Now