Steven Spielberg relaxing in the mouth of Jaws, the 1975 film classic.
Jaws, released in the summer of 1975, which was the first film to earn over $100 million at the box office, is acknowledged as the first summer blockbuster — but don’t let director Steven Spielberg’s relaxed pose fool you. The production was beset with difficulties, many related to the animatronic shark (which Spielberg named “Bruce,” after his lawyer) and of course the weather and unavoidable issues involved with shooting so much at sea. The original shoot, which took place mainly on or near the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, was expected (or hoped) to last 55 days; in all, it went on for 159 days.