When the Academy Museum first opened in September 2021, one of its most popular (and largest) artifacts was the sole surviving full scale model of the shark from Steven Spielberg‘s “Jaws,” lovingly restored by special effects master Greg Nicotero. Four years later, the museum is coming full circle with “Jaws: The Exhibition,” a massive undertaking that opens to the public on September 14 and provides an unprecedented opportunity for a deep dive into every aspect of the creation, reception, and legacy of Spielberg’s masterpiece.
“Our goal in the exhibition space is to parallel the sense of joy, revelation, and discovery that is spurred by the cinema space,” senior exhibitions curator Jenny He told IndieWire. “Whether you’ve seen ‘Jaws’ more times than you can count, or if you’ve never watched the film, this exhibition aims to recollect the movie experience. Visitors can find their favorite ‘Jaws’ moments or discover this classic film for the first time.” The exhibition marks the first time the museum’s largest space has ever been devoted to a single movie, though it’s indicative of the film’s expansiveness and importance that He still felt the biggest challenge was figuring out what was essential and what could be omitted.
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“Since exhibitions are a form of spatial storytelling, the challenge in any exhibition is space limitations,” He said, “but it is even more pronounced with ‘Jaws.’ Every frame of this near-perfect film can be analyzed and explored.” The intention behind the exhibit is to take viewers through “Jaws” scene-by-scene through original production artworks and objects, interactive moments, and immersive re-creations, all utilizing many works that have never been made available for public viewing.
Among these are original concept illustrations by production designer Joe Alves, the Panavision underwater camera used for the film, behind-the-scenes photographs captured by boom operator Frank Meadows, and Quint’s sport-fishing fighting chair from the Orca boat. Most importantly, the museum had access to Spielberg’s personal collection, which “led to insightful confirmations of his imprint on every aspect of the film’s production,” according to He. Spielberg’s sketches and notes will be on display alongside objects sourced from private collectors, many of which give a sense of the marketing blitz that accompanied “Jaws” upon its release and afterwards.
“We will have on view a large display of vintage merchandise, which assistant curator Emily Rauber Rodriguez has meticulously sourced from two in-depth collections of ‘Jaws’ memorabilia,” He said, noting that other artifacts required a bit of detective work. “Through a persistent search, curatorial assistant Alexandra James Salichs has located film editor Verna Fields’s Academy Award for ‘Jaws,’ which had several owners after Fields’s passing.”
One of the most innovative aspects of “Jaws: The Exhibition” is its immersive quality, as the Academy Museum has found ways of placing visitors in the shoes of the film’s characters and filmmakers. “Visitors can create their own dolly zoom shot, a cinematography technique conceived by director Alfred Hitchcock and executed by second-unit cameraman Irmin Roberts for Vertigo (1958),” He said. “Steven Spielberg and director of photography Bill Butler adapted the dolly zoom for ‘Jaws’ to perfectly telegraph police chief Martin Brody’s dread.”
Another activation enables visitors to play composer John Williams’s famous two-note theme that signals the shark’s approach. “We will also have a scale replica of the mechanical shark, built by KNB EFX co-founders Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger,” He said. “Visitors can become a part of the ‘Jaws’ special effects team and move the shark themselves!” In another instance, the museum spotlights a story about an unplanned sinking of the Orca, when a production boat that was pulling the onscreen boat went too fast and yanked out the Orca’s planking.
As He explains, “Steven Spielberg recalled, ‘I have this image to this day of [production sound mixer] John [Carter] sinking holding his recorder. Months later, he was holding an Oscar in those hands!’ This story will be told via a re-creation of the Orca out on an ‘open sea’ immersive environment.” Another famous tale from “Jaws” relating to a reshoot in Verna Fields’ pool that yielded the film’s biggest jump scare is related to exhibit visitors in a “pool” environment, with the idea being, as He puts it, to “make the production history tangible.”
Film excerpts from “Jaws” will be shown throughout the exhibition, in creative viewing spaces are motivated by the film’s production design. “Visitors can step inside a cabana to watch a beach scene. and sit inside the Orca’s cabin for Quint’s USS Indianapolis monologue,” He said, noting that curating the exhibition has deepened her admiration for a movie, and a filmmaker, she already loved.
“I’ve always been an incredible fan of ‘Jaws’ and the work of Steven Spielberg,” He said. “As the first modern summer blockbuster, ‘Jaws’ changed not only the film industry’s release strategies, it also altered the expectations of audiences. The summer became the time to see the films that everyone is going to be talking about, capturing the attention of film enthusiasts and casual moviegoers alike. 50 years later, this template remains in place.”
Given the movie’s 50th anniversary this year, honoring it at the Academy Museum was a no-brainer for He and her colleagues. “Its significance has stood the test of time,” He said. “I’ve attended numerous ‘Jaws’ screenings over the years, including several anniversary screenings this year. The theaters were always packed and sold out.” Now, He hopes the museum’s exhibition will encourage both a deeper and broader understanding of a movie that nearly everyone who loves movies adores. “We’re excited to present ‘Jaws’ like never before.”
“Jaws: The Exhibition” runs at the Academy Museum from September 14, 2025 to July 26, 2026.
