Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975) is a classic horror movie beloved by people around the world, but it’s never been celebrated quite like this. This fall, Los Angeles’ Academy Museum of Motion Pictures presents Jaws: The Exhibition, the museum’s first-ever large-scale exhibition dedicated solely to a single film. Celebrate the iconic movie’s 50th anniversary with a fantastic deep-dive into Jaws‘ production history featuring dozens of artifacts from the set. The exhibition will open on September 14, 2025, and run through July 26, 2026.
Jaws: The Exhibition takes visitors through the Oscar-winning film scene-by-scene with the use of 200+ original objects and artifacts including a costume worn by Roy Scheider as Brody, behind-the-scenes insights and trivia, and engaging interactive elements. From the shark’s original schematics to the creation of John Williams’ unmistakable score, the exhibition will delve into all your favorite parts of the Jaws universe.
Don’t forget to look for “Bruce the Shark,” the film‘s only surviving full-scale model of the mechanical shark. It’s been suspended in the Academy Museum’s 4th floor exhibition space since 2021.
Finally, you’ll learn about how Jaws influenced motion picture history, especially through the use of strategic editing and sound to create suspense.
The first “summer blockbuster”
The 1975 film Jaws is based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel of the same name. At the behest of producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown, Benchley himself wrote the script for the film, and the then-relatively unknown director Steven Spielberg brought it to life. Jaws stars Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider, and Robert Shaw.
The film debuted on June 20, 1975 in a wide release that drew massive summer crowds across the country, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time at $476M on a $9M budget. Jaws is still lauded as one of the greatest films in history and had major influences over the “summer blockbuster” phenomenon and the elevation of “creature horror” as a subgenre.
What else can you see at the Academy Museum?
L.A.’s illustrious Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is dedicated to the art of cinema. Visitors can explore an eclectic lineup of temporary and permanent installations, ranging from the history of the Academy Awards to special effects and animation in film. The upcoming Jaws exhibition will come on the heels of two other new exhibitions that are worth putting on your radar…
- Opening March 23, 2025 – Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho – Learn about the famous Korean director’s creative process, from OKJA to Parasite.
- Opening May 23, 2025 – Barbie to Anna Karenina: The Cinematic Worlds of Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer – Get a closer look at one of the most accomplished and unique production teams working today.
Want more museum news? Make sure you read our dedicated article about L.A.’s best museum exhibitions. We update it twice a month with the latest installations you can’t miss.
Jaws: The Exhibition
Don’t miss out on the largest-ever mounted exhibition for Jaws (1975). Here’s a quick rundown of the details:
📍 Where: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
🗓️ When: Sept. 14, 2025 – July 26, 2026
🌐 Learn more: Jaws: The Exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures