"Jaws" is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley. In the film, a man-eating great white shark attacks beachgoers at a small summer resort town known as Amity Island, New York.

As the role of Hooper, Steven Spielberg initially wanted Jon Voight. Spielberg's friend, George Lucas, had suggested Richard Dreyfuss, whom he had directed in "American Graffiti". The actor initially passed, but changed his decision after he attended a pre-release screening of "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz", which he had just completed. Disappointed in his performance and fearing that no one would want to hire him once "Kravitz" was released, he immediately called Spielberg and accepted the role in Jaws. Because the film the director envisioned was so dissimilar to Benchley's novel, Spielberg asked Dreyfuss not to read it. As a result of the casting, Hooper was rewritten to suit Dreyfuss.

"Jaws" won several awards for its music and editing. It was the highest-grossing film until the release of "Star Wars" in 1977. Both films were pivotal in establishing the modern Hollywood business model, which pursues high box-office returns from action and adventure films with simple premises, released during the summer in thousands of theaters and advertised heavily.

Jon Voight is an Oscar winner for the film "Coming Home" and is the father of Actress Angelina Jolie.

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