2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking 1975 blockbuster “Jaws,” sparking renewed enthusiasm for this timeless classic that has never truly vanished from public memory. The far-reaching effect and enduring influence of this film, often recognized as the pioneer and an unparalleled example of summer blockbusters, is evident in various aspects of modern culture. “Jaws” has significantly influenced filmmakers like Jordan Peele, propelled individuals into careers dedicated to shark conservation, and boosted the profile of Martha’s Vineyard, an island located just south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The storyline of “Jaws” unfolds on the fictitious island named Amity, but the genuine feel of the place comes alive through its real characters and inhabitants who reside in Martha’s Vineyard, some even being part of the movie production. This gives the impression that you are visiting a true-to-life “Amity”. Interestingly, many of the iconic locations where the film was shot remain unchanged from when it was filmed there, making it simple to explore the famous sites and immerse yourself in the world of “Jaws”.
Nearly every scene from the classic film “Jaws” was filmed on location around Martha’s Vineyard, with only a few exceptions to be discussed later. If you’re considering a trip to the area or simply curious about the actual spots used in the movie, here is a list of all the real-life locations featured in “Jaws”.
South Beach and Cow Beach
There’s no arguing about it: “Jaws” boasts one of the most iconic and chilling movie openings ever made. As the recognizable melodies of John Williams’ masterful theme play in our minds, we find ourselves transported to a tranquil beach setting. Teenagers are enjoying music, drinks, and flirting by the fire while the soothing sound of the waves fills the air. It masterfully draws us into a sense of peacefulness before the turmoil that follows.
The camera moves towards Tom (Jonathan Filley) and Chrissie (Susan Backlinie), who glance deeply at each other on the beach before deciding to go for a midnight swim together. A tipsy Tom tumbles down on the sand, while Chrissie enters the water, but danger lurks beneath its surface. In no time, Chrissie is violently dragged away by an unseen creature, leaving her in a gruesome, bloody demise.
The bonfire scene in the movie was shot at South Beach, close to Edgartown (it’s right at the beach entrance, making it hard to miss). However, if you wish to reenact Chrissie’s joyful run along the shoreline, you should make your way to Cow Beach, another location within Edgartown. It was here that they also filmed the sequences where Chrissie’s remains were discovered. Unfortunately, Cow Beach is private and inaccessible to visitors during the summer season. However, you can get quite close to it by visiting Bend-In-The-Road Beach nearby.
265 East Chop Drive, Vineyard Haven
Following the tumultuous initial sequence and the gruesome demise of Chrissie, we meet our main character, Police Chief Martin Brody, portrayed by Roy Scheider, along with his family. It’s later revealed that despite having a phobia of water, Brody resides in a stunning waterside home equipped with a private dock. This is the very setting where Michael, played by Chris Rebello, receives a stern reprimand from his worried parents for casually sitting in his new boat during the shark-induced panic.
Should you wish to catch a glimpse of the Brody house as it stood in 1975, prepare for a letdown; the location has undergone a full renovation on the same spot. You can locate it at 265 East Chop Drive, Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. Although the property presents quite differently today, you’ll still find the sloping roof of the garage where Brody parked his 1975 Chevy Blazer police truck back then. A visit here is worth your while, but remember that it’s private property, so kindly show respect and avoid prying.
Edgartown
Alongside generating a tangible feeling of fear through skillful use of sound and music, the film “Jaws” powerfully conveys a sense of location. The island of Amity seems authentic, with its portrayal becoming most vivid during the first 30 minutes or so of the movie. We witness Chief Brody departing from the Amity police station and strolling through town, passing picturesque white picket fences. There’s the Amity Gazette, where character Meadows (portrayed by “Jaws” co-writer Carl Gottlieb) devises eye-catching headlines for the newspaper. Upon arriving in town, Brody visits a local store to purchase supplies for signs indicating the beach is closed.
All these filming locations are situated in the heart of Edgartown, with each one being conveniently close to the others for a leisurely stroll. The spots chosen for Amity P.D. and the Amity Gazette can be found on South Water Street, while the hardware store is nestled at the intersection of South Water Street and Main Street. Interestingly, the hardware store has been transformed into a restaurant called The Port Hunter. The Edgartown Town Hall, located on Main Street, serves as the stand-in for Amity Town Hall, with both interior and exterior shots being captured here. At specific instances, you can step inside the Town Hall to witness the very room where they filmed Quint’s (Robert Shaw) memorable introduction scene.
Chappaquiddick Ferry
The most tension-filled encounter between Brody and Mayor Larry Vaughn occurs during a brief ferry ride. During this conversation, Vaughn subtly urges the medical examiner to modify Chrissie’s death report to make it appear as a boating accident, and encourages Brody not to stir up any fear with shark-related discussions. Although Brody isn’t easily intimidated by Vaughn, he recognizes the significance of maintaining good relations with local influential figures while ensuring beachgoers’ safety during Amity Island’s peak tourist season.
As a diehard “Jaws” fan, I can’t hide my excitement to share that you can experience the Chappy Ferry ride for real! Located at 53 Dock Street in Edgartown, this ferry journey takes you from Memorial Wharf in Edgartown to Chappaquiddick Point, a mere 527 feet away. Whether you choose to travel as a pedestrian or with your vehicle, the trip only lasts a swift 90 seconds. However, expect longer wait times, particularly during the peak of summer. From 6:30 in the morning until midnight, two ferries operate round-the-clock from late-May to mid-October!
Joseph Sylvia State Beach
While it appears that Brody is struggling to close the beaches against Mayor Vaughn’s opposition, the Police Chief spends a brief respite with his family near the shore. There, locals approach him about parking permits and other minor island affairs. However, not for long, as something urgent catches his attention. A few yards away from Brody, young Alex Kintner (played by Jeffrey Voorhees) pleads with his mother for additional playtime in the sea. She consents, only to be filled with remorse when the shark attacks once more and takes the life of young Alex Kintner.
One noteworthy scene in the movie “Jaws” is the iconic dolly zoom focusing on Chief Brody’s terror as he witnesses the shark attack. This shot has become so closely associated with this film that it’s often referred to as the “Jaws” shot, even though it was originally used by Alfred Hitchcock in “Vertigo.” For movie enthusiasts, experiencing the location where this famous shot took place is a dream come true. The spot in question is Joseph Sylvia State Beach, a picturesque coastline nestled between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. This beach is also close to a popular bridge that is a must-see for fans of “Jaws.
Edgartown Harbor
In a hurry, Brody recognizes he’s in over his head and requires assistance from outside sources to safeguard Amity’s residents. He calls upon Matt Hooper, a shark specialist donning double denim from the Oceanographic Institute (who coincidentally is one of only two main cast members from “Jaws” still alive today), hoping he can provide some wise counsel to the mayor and his associates. Upon arriving on a boat from the mainland, Hooper encounters turmoil in Amity: Local fishermen are venturing out in search of their own rewards, overcrowding the boats and arming themselves with dynamite.
In the filming of several crucial scenes, the Edgartown Harbor region was chosen as a location, with moments like Hooper’s dramatic entrance, the shocking display of a tiger shark on the dock, and the poignant scene where Mrs. Kintner (Lee Fierro) angrily slaps Brody for his perceived inability to safeguard her son, being among them. If you’re taking the ferry from Falmouth, it’s probable that you’ll arrive at Edgartown Harbor, but even if not, this area is definitely worth a visit – not just because of its connection to “Jaws”, but also due to the abundance of delightful seafood eateries nearby.
Gay Head Lighthouse
A new heated argument ensues between Brody and Larry Vaughn, triggered by the finding of Ben Gardner’s boat and the surprising fact that the shark tormenting Amity is not the one hanging on the dock. In this instance, Brody has Hooper supporting him, yet Vaughn appears more resolute than ever to maintain the beaches open. He disregards Hooper’s insufficient evidence—the scientist having lost a vital shark tooth that could have bolstered their argument—and berates the duo for lacking insight into the island’s workings. This drama unfolds at a stunning cliffside location, nestled near the charming Gay Head Lighthouse.
The lighthouse, which was translocated about 130 feet away from its initial position due to erosion in 2015, is located at the westernmost tip of Martha’s Vineyard, in the town of Aquinnah. A noteworthy detail in “Jaws” that might have been overlooked is the strategically placed “One Way” sign, visible when Vaughn decides to disregard the warnings and drive off. This sign subtly symbolizes Vaughn’s narrow-mindedness. Whether this sign still exists or not, post the relocation project, the lighthouse stands as majestically now as it did behind Mayor Vaughn in 1975.
American Legion Memorial Bridge and Sengekontacket Pond
Despite Brody and Hooper’s attempts to alert the town about the ongoing shark danger, the beaches remain open during the 4th of July weekend, attracting a massive influx of tourists. There’s a growing apprehension among locals that another attack might occur, but people seem unwilling to heed the warning. Interestingly, beachgoers tend to stick to the shore and avoid swimming, showing a hint of caution. Mayor Vaughn, however, is determined not to let such an incident happen on his watch, and he persuades a family to swim in the ocean. This action encourages others to follow suit, increasing the number of people entering the water. Seeing his son, Michael, and his friends venturing into the sea, Brody, concerned, suggests they use the boat on the pond instead, despite Michael’s comment that it’s for older ladies.
In the vicinity of Joseph Sylvia State Beach, where Alex Kintner was tragically attacked by a shark, two scenes unfold: one at the beach and another at Sengekontacket Pond, mistakenly considered safe. A young girl spots the shark heading towards the pond, prompting Brody to sprint along the rocks towards the American Legion Memorial Bridge. He then leaps from the bridge’s side onto the sand, rushing to where his son is playing. This bridge, depicted in the movie, has gained such notoriety that it’s referred to as the “Jaws” bridge on Google Maps. Tourists often jump off this famous bridge into the water below, despite warnings against it.
Menemsha Harbor
After the horrific incident near the pond, the entire town of Amity is thrown into chaos, and Mayor Vaughn finally agrees to act decisively, giving me, Brody, authorization to recruit local fisherman Quint to eliminate the menace in our waters. Quint left quite an impact during the town meeting addressing the beach closure dilemma. Now, it’s up to me and Hooper to pay him a visit at his humble waterside shack to iron out the details of his employment contract. If you’re trying to find Quint’s shack on Martha’s Vineyard, be prepared for a lengthy search as it was constructed exclusively for the movie.
You’ll be thrilled to know that you can actually visit the location where they constructed the set for the classic movie “Jaws.” If you recognize the area, much of it will still look very similar to how it appeared in the film. The shack from the movie was built in Menemsha Harbor, a charming spot with a nearby fish market. To get the full “Jaws” experience, make sure to stop by a restaurant called The Galley, as the shack was situated next to it. According to Crispin Haskins, author of “Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries,” you can even take photos of the shack from the movie if you sit on the deck at The Galley while enjoying your fish sandwich or lobster roll.
Cape Poge on Chappaquiddick Island
In the latter part of “Jaws,” the action shifts from land to sea, but we catch a glimpse of the land at the very end. Interestingly, almost every scene on Quint’s boat (the Orca) was filmed out on the ocean, which wasn’t exactly a comfortable experience for the cast and crew. To clarify, most of the ocean scenes were captured off the coast of East Chop, located between Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven. The destruction of the Orca and the explosion of Bruce the shark were filmed in Katama Bay.
After Quint’s unfortunate demise and the elimination of the shark, Hooper and Brody seize some of the yellow barrels they had previously used to signal the shark, transforming them into floatation aids to row their way back to land. As the movie concludes, we observe an empty coastline, barely discerning Brody and Hooper successfully reaching dry ground. This particular scene was shot on Cape Poge, located on Chappaquiddick Island off Martha’s Vineyard’s eastern tip, with Cape Poge Lighthouse standing in the distance.
Other filming locations
The majority of the movie “Jaws” was shot around Martha’s Vineyard, but there are a few exceptions to this. One such exception is the memorable scene where Brody and Hooper come across Ben Gardner’s boat wreckage, and Hooper dives in to inspect it. If you’ve ever wondered about the unusually tranquil waters depicted in this scene, your doubts were justified because these specific shots were actually filmed in a swimming pool owned by “Jaws” editor Verna Fields in Encino, California. To give the water a more ominous appearance, Spielberg added milk to it. Additionally, Spielberg utilized the Esther Williams Tanks at MGM Studios in Culver City, California to film scenes of Hooper inside the shark cage, with stuntman Dick Warlock (who is best recognized for playing Michael Myers in “Halloween II”) standing in for Richard Dreyfuss.
Ultimately, one of the most significant yet often overlooked aspects of “Jaws” is the use of genuine shark footage captured by the daring couple Ron and Valerie Taylor off the coast of South Australia. Not only did they put their lives on the line to secure some remarkable shark footage, but their efforts in shark conservation were crucial following their work on the film. In “Jaws,” their footage is skillfully combined with that of the animatronic shark (known for its unreliability, leading to the late reveal of the shark in the movie), and it’s the real shark footage that adds an extra layer of authenticity to the film.
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2025-06-14 17:31