50 years of Jaws - 29th September 2025

50 years ago, 'Jaws' first appeared in cinemas. Half a century on, an exhibition is celebrating the well-known movie.

The film's based on Peter Benchley's book and follows three people who are hunting a great white shark. The enormous creature often attacks swimmers.

The interactive exhibition guides visitors through the movie. People can take part in some of its famous scenes.

The film was directed by 27 year old Steven Spielberg. Jaws was only his second film. It was completed too slowly and cost too much. Spielberg worried it would end his career.

"I thought my career was virtually over halfway through production on Jaws. Because everybody's - was saying to me, 'You are never going to get hired again! This film is, is, is way over budget and way over schedule.'"

In the end, Jaws was so successful that it became the first blockbuster movie. It actually made more than $100 million from ticket sales in the US. And the total's now increased to over $477 million across the world.

Many of the objects on display have come from the movie's fans. In fact, over 200 items come from the original film.

"And we have over 200 original objects related to the production of Jaws. It really was a cinematic treasure hunt to find original objects used - not only original objects used on Jaws, but also concept illustrations and production notes. Anything that would put the story of Jaws together for our visitors in a tangible, physical way."

The main attraction is Bruce, the only model of the shark which remains. For 50 years, Bruce has made people too scared to enter the water.