What Shark Attack Inspired the Movie Jaws
The 1916 New Jersey shark attacks inspired the movie Jaws. Over 12 days, a great white shark killed four people and seriously injured another along the Jersey Shore, creating panic in coastal communities and capturing national attention.
Timeline of the 1916 Attacks
On July 1, 1916, Charles Vansant was killed off Beach Haven. Five days later, Charles Bruder died at Spring Lake. On July 12, Lester Stillwell and Stanley Fisher were attacked in Matawan Creek, an inland tributary, showing how far the shark traveled upriver.
Why the Attacks Became Famous
The attacks became famous because they shattered the belief that sharks were harmless to humans. Newspapers called it a "shark plague," and scientists debated the species involved. The events directly influenced Peter Benchley's novel and Steven Spielberg's film Jaws.
For more background on the 1916 events, see the historical account at this day in history.
