Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.: A Self-Portrait

Released in 1975, Jaws was directed by Steven Spielberg and adapted from Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel. It was famously produced during a troubled shoot off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, where frequent mechanical failures of the three full-scale shark models forced Spielberg to rely on suspense-building techniques, such as the now-iconic John Williams score and the minimal onscreen visibility of the predator.

The film’s design and marketing approach effectively birthed the concept of the modern summer blockbuster. By shifting the promotional focus to wide, national television advertising and a saturation release strategy, the studio successfully transformed a cautionary tale about a small-town beach community into a cultural phenomenon that fundamentally altered the economic model of Hollywood filmmaking.