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Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ‘Jaws’ With 15 Shark Snapshots

The classic thriller might discourage you from getting in the water, so check out these sensational shark images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest instead

Photographs selected by Allison Scates

A close up of a shark with it's mouth open
The title Jaws doesn’t quite give justice to the sharp teeth that are the real terrifying characteristic of these marine animals. Galice Hoarau, Florida, 2019

Fifty years ago this summer, Hollywood premiered the thrilling film Jaws, a project of up-and-coming director Steven Spielberg. Based on a novel about a great white shark terrorizing a peaceful coastal community, the movie went on to win three Oscars, including one for John Williams’ dramatic musical score. The ominous, now classic two-note sequence is among American culture’s most recognizable tunes. The late critic Roger Ebert called the film “one of the most effective thrillers ever made.”

Three sequels followed; however, the original film remains the gold standard for many modern-day suspense movies. In celebration of half a century of fear instilled into society’s collective consciousness, here’s a look at some hopefully less threatening sharks.

2 sharks swim in circle
Sharks circle smaller fish, likely in search of a meal, in the clear blue waters. Annie Guttridge, Bahamas, 2016
A Shark comes at man in cage
With its mouth wide open, a toothy shark heads right for a diver who is luckily protected inside of a cage. Susan Mullen, Mexico, 2017
black and white photo of 2 scuba divers following a shark
A black-tip reef shark, which may or may not be aware of its two traveling companions, patrols the shallow waters of a tropical lagoon in search for food. Laura Jourdan, French Polynesia, 2019
A close up of a shark with it's mouth open
An aquarium visitor seemingly marvels at a whale shark, offering a close-up look from inside its roomy tank.

  David No, Georgia, 2017
A shark swims near striped fish
Sharks infiltrate a school of striped fish at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, a protected park since 2014. Matthew Potenski, Fiji, 2020
Young black-tip reef sharks swim in the shallow waters of a lagoon.
Young black-tip reef sharks swim in the shallow waters of a lagoon. Mok Wai Hoe, French Polynesia, 2019
A small shark swims near the surface of ocean
One of the fastest shark groups, mako sharks are known to travel at speeds as high as 45 miles per hour. That’s faster than some micro-cars. Nikolaos Katsimpras, South Africa, 2010
A shark jumping out the water
Although the quartet of Jaws films might cause one to believe otherwise, experts say the chance of being bitten by a shark is one in 3.7 million. Martin Prochazka, South Africa, 2010
A close up of a small shark
Sharks have a translucent nictitating membrane, similar to an eyelid, but they do not blink in the same way humans do. Matthew Potenski, Rhode Island, 2010
Aerial of 2 large sharks swimming
These apex predators gliding by, accompanied by their symbiotic friends, the remora, are always a beautiful sight to behold.

  Max Blakesberg, Florida, 2022
A black and white shot of a whale shark
A woman swims near a whale shark, the largest living fish species.

  Deron Verbeck, Hawaii, 2009
A hammerhead shark swims near little fish
A hammerhead shark swims among the fish in the Galápagos Islands, where conservation measures allow for massive populations of marine life to persist. Tom Shlesinger, Ecuador, 2021
a black and white photo of a sawfish
A sawfish at the Dallas World Aquarium shows off its chainsaw-like characteristics. Cindy Rio, Texas, 2023

Tracy Scott Forson is a senior editor at Smithsonian magazine.

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