Years Later, Steven Spielberg Still Regrets One Harsh Reality About 'Jaws'

“Jaws” didn’t just redefine the summer movie—more than five decades later, Steven Spielberg still regrets one real-world consequence of its premise. The film’s portrayal of a massive great white as a vengeful monster changed audience behavior: even people with no prior fear of sharks, and who never lived near the ocean, began developing galeophobia. Phobia specialist Christopher Paul Jones says many sufferers cite “Jaws” as the trigger even without ever seeing a shark in real life. Jones adds that viewers “can’t see below water,” and the music amplifies fear. The article notes “Jaws” ranked on AFI lists and made Spielberg’s career.