10 Awesome Fan Theories That Improve Already Great Films

3. Amity Island Has A Long Standing Shark Problem - Jaws

The Theory: As a four-film series Jaws has it all; a constantly terrorised family, an ever more deadly killer who develops the ability to roar and an obligatory 3D entry. Before the increasingly ridiculous sequels it was much more grounded; a shark terrorises a seaside community and three men go to hunt it down. You could make it a little more sinister, however, with this little theory; the shark attacks have been going on for a long time, with the authorities covering it up. How It Improves The Film: Conventionally the crux of this theory is that it's a mighty fine coincidence for the attacks to start happening at the same time a new police chief arrives on Amity Island. To us that's all a little bit conspiracy theorist, but it does add some great narrative beats. In the first half of the movie the mayor's desire to keep the beach open is a major plot point, with the tourism angle overshadowing the safety issue. It's not a stretch that his sheer nonchalantness to a shark attack is because he's either fully aware of, or simply unwilling to address the problem. There's even some dialogue that hints at a cover-up; when Brody is told to chalk up the film's opening attack to a boat accident, he's told "it's happened before". Could that be an in to something bigger?