20 Things You Somehow Missed In Jaws

Even though Jaws is mostly based on the novel, it took inspiration from historical events. Almost fifty years before the release of the film, there was a series of shark attacks along of the coast of Jersey Shore, between the 1st and the 12th of July 1916. The event has now often been described as the real life Jaws. The first victim was a 25-year-old swimmer whose severed body was discovered by a life guard. The incident of a shark attack was unheard on in the area and was considered to be a one off. But in such a short period of time, four more people on the coast also became victim of a shark attack.

Not only did the 1975 movie make several references to the original historical incident but the order of deaths by Bruce imitates the ones of New Jersey – a swimmer in the surf, a dog, a boy, and the leg of a man in a tidal slough. Moreover, Jaws takes place around the 4th of July holiday season much like the events of Jersey Beach, 1916.