Where Was “Jaws” Filmed?

If you’ve ever wondered, “Where was ‘Jaws’ filmed?”, then you’ve come to the right place! Released in 1975, Steven Spielberg’s hit film had many beachgoers thinking twice before they went for a swim. Besides being a bone-chilling thriller, it is also a very important piece of filmmaking on both a technical and artistic level, going as far as to be preserved in the National Film Registry! 

So like many film buffs and aspiring filmmakers, you’re probably wondering, “Where was ‘Jaws’ filmed where they could capture all that iconic imagery?” You may already know that the film was shot entirely on Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts, but haven’t gotten down to the nitty-gritty with specifics.

There are a few spots we’re going to key in on today: the iconic beaches, the bridge scene, and Chief Brody’s house. You’ll get a feel for the variety of locations that were used, along with some fun facts. And we’re also going to share a couple of similar filming locations in Martha’s Vineyard that you can rent via Peerspace. So slather on your sunscreen and take a trip to the beach with us!

The beaches of “Jaws”

At the beginning of the film, there is a memorable scene that sets the tone and gives you a good look at just what kind of a thriller you’re in for. A young woman is going for a swim in the ocean, where she is unexpectedly dragged under by the titular shark. This scene that’s been etched into so many minds was filmed at Cow Beach in Edgartown. 

Like so many locations from the 1970s, this beach has undergone a lot of changes. In fact, it underwent a beautiful restoration and was awarded the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association’s “Best Restored Beach” award in 2013. It’s nice to know that this beach has undergone such a beautification. It’s also become a conservation area.

According to an article on Patch: “In addition to the much-needed storm damage protection and flood control that the regional nourishment project has provided to the state highway and badly eroding public and private barrier beaches, the Cow Bay Beach has become a destination for endangered nesting shorebirds”. Moviegoers who have wondered, “Where was “Jaws” filmed?” can relax – there haven’t been any shark attacks at Cow Beach!

The bridge scene

Among the most infamous shark attack scenes in the film took place when a shark ate a little boy in full view of beachgoers. This scene was another one shot near Cow Beach, at the American Legion Memorial Bridge. Now this bridge has adopted a new name: “The Jaws Bridge.” It’s where tourists go and love to jump off and go swimming in that beautiful Martha’s Vineyard water. 

Make sure you do it safely though. Here are some tips from This Week on Martha’s Vineyard: “Be careful not to go at low tide, as the water is not that deep beneath all points of the bridge, and your feet might even touch the sandy bottom. You may want to wait for high tide also as the fall may be a few feet shorter.”

Chief Brody’s house

When you’re asking, “Where was “Jaws” filmed?” you’re probably mostly thinking of the outdoor locations by the water. But the one house that really stuck out is Chief Brody’s cute seaside house, where he parked his sheriff’s pickup truck. It’s a truly exemplary image of your classic cape-style house with that special Martha’s Vineyard charm. Unfortunately, the house has since been renovated so you aren’t able to see the exact house, but the location remains just as gorgeous with that beach view. 

Looking for a similar house to shoot in on Martha’s Vineyard? The Chappy House, a contemporary retreat, is just down the street and available for rent on Peerspace. This is a combination of authentic Martha’s Vineyard and interesting eclecticism: “Custom Chappaquiddick contemporary, with separate guest house, nestled on three wooded acres. Located far enough from the main road to be quiet and relaxing but convenient to the Chappy Ferry and Chappaquiddick Community Center”. You can really get a good idea of what the fictional “Amity Island” looked like from this amazing home. You’re even close to the Chappy Ferry, where they filmed a scene between Chief Brody and Mayor Vaughn.

Clint’s shack

While we’re talking about Roy Schneider’s legendary performance as Chief Brody we’d be sorry if we didn’t also mention the wily character of Clint, played by Robert Shaw. The character’s set out after the killer shark on ‘The Orca’ from Clint’s shack, located in the Menemsha Port. 

According to HGTV: “It’s also the only building that production erected in Martha’s Vineyard for filming”. The shack didn’t remain after filming but Menemsha Port is still a wonderful place to visit and a quaint location for some seaside filming. Menemsha Port was also the scene for the seaside shots, but the majority of the Amity locations were in nearby Edgartown.

Ocean scenes

When you were watching some of the ocean scenes you were probably asking yourself, “Where was ‘Jaws’ filmed?” The majority of the scenes in the boat were also taken just off of Cape Cod between Oak Bluffs and East Chop. 

This was monumental filmmaking! From an article in the Entertainment Voice: “Usually oceanic cinematography was done in lakes, or on miniaturized sets. “Jaws” was the first major motion picture to be shot on the ocean”. This shoot was difficult and took many months, but the value of the effort shows in the quality of the film, as Jaws went on to be the highest-grossing film of its time!

Jaws benefitted enormously from being shot on location in such a unique and evocative location like Martha’s Vineyard. Thankfully you don’t have to be Steven Spielberg to shoot a film these days, and you’ve got tons of great locations that are just a couple clicks away on Peerspace. Thanks for reading and if you visit the beach this summer, make sure you look twice before jumping into the water!

Find unique filming locations on Peerspace