Steven Spielberg Reveals 'Full-Blown Panic Attack' During Jaws Filming 50 Years Ago

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg is opening up about the immense mental and emotional toll he experienced while directing 'Jaws', as the iconic shark thriller movie celebrates its 50th anniversary. In the upcoming National Geographic documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story', the 78-year-old director candidly revisits the behind-the-scenes challenges that pushed him to the brink during the film’s production.

Filmed on Martha’s Vineyard over several gruelling months, 'Jaws' proved to be Spielberg’s most difficult undertaking at the time. He recalls being overwhelmed by the intense logistics and pressure of the shoot. Once filming wrapped in Massachusetts, Steven Spielberg experienced a severe panic attack, struggling to breathe and feeling physically shaken. He described the sensation as disorienting and terrifying, marked by a constant need to calm himself, yet feeling completely out of control.

Image Courtesy: Entertainment Weekly

Despite having a supportive crew, Steven Spielberg felt a deep sense of responsibility for everyone on set. That weight, coupled with persistent technical issues—most notably the malfunctioning mechanical shark—added immense stress to an already ambitious shoot. Although principal photography ended in Martha’s Vineyard, production continued for two more months in the MGM Studios water tank, extending the emotional strain even further.

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'Jaws' Success Came With a Heavy Price

The success of 'Jaws', which earned three Academy Awards and cemented Spielberg’s place in Hollywood, came with an emotional price. Steven Spielberg revealed that despite the accolades, he suffered from recurring nightmares and intense night sweats, long before terms like PTSD were commonly used to describe such symptoms.

Image Courtesy: People

Looking back, Steven Spielberg sees the making of 'Jaws' as both a formative and traumatic experience. He views it as a test of endurance and survival, not just creatively but personally. In hindsight, he hopes that every person who worked on the film carries pride in what they accomplished, wearing the memory of 'Jaws' like a badge of honour and recognising their role in shaping cinematic history.

'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story' premieres 10th July on National Geographic and begins streaming 11th July on Disney+ and Hulu.

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