Amity Island (Martha's Vineyard, Mass.) Amity Island, the small beach town terrorized by the world's most famous shark, first came to life in the pages of Peter Benchley's 1974 novel, Jaws, which the film is based on. But good news, surfers — Amity Island doesn't really exist!

Is Jaws based on New Jersey?

As far as New Jersey connections to “Jaws” goes, the story of the state and the shark intertwining ends there. According to Benchley's book “Shark Trouble,” published in 2002, his idea for “Jaws” came from two things: sharks and shark attacks in Massachusetts and New York.

Is Jaws set on Cape Cod?

“Jaws”, Martha's Vineyard

Steven Spielberg's 1975 smash-hit “Jaws” is usually what comes to mind when thinking of movies filmed on the Cape and Islands. Based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, the movie was filmed on Martha's Vineyard but is set in the fictional New England town of Amity.

Was Jaws filmed on Catalina island?

Although most of the scene was filmed Edgartown South Beach, MA, the shark point of view shots of Chrissie swimming through the water were filmed off Santa Catalina Island as the water was much clearer for the shot, which is reminiscent of some of those featured in Creature From the Black Lagoon.

What island is the fictional beach in Jaws?

Amity Island is a fictional island located off the coast of New England, and is the main setting of the Jaws franchise. The island is known for its clean air, beautiful beaches, and many of its local fishermen. The island is also infamous for its series of horrifying and fatal shark attacks.

The Matawan Man-Eater | The Inspiration for Jaws

Was any part of Jaws filmed in Florida?

The thrilling opening scene in Jaws 2

Navarre Beach, located off Route 98, served as the setting for those particular scenes and most of the film's other exterior shots. The filmmakers chose the area between Destin and Fort Walton Beach simply because of the warm, pleasant climate and the depth of the water.

Is Jaws Beach worth visiting?

Only worth it if you're seeing the rest of the park. Water is gorgeous but it's not significantly better than other available beaches. Water was pretty but too shallow to swim, when we were there it was somewhat crowded for a very small beach.

Why is Catalina Island so famous?

Catalina Island has served as the location for the filming of over 500 motion pictures, documentaries, television programs and commercials over the past 90 years. Of those 500, approximately 300 were motion picture productions.

Is amity in Jaws a real place?

Summary. Amity Island in Jaws was inspired by real events, like the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916. Jaws was filmed in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, not the Long Island setting of the novel. Despite being a fictional island, Amity Island's location off the coast of Long Island is symbolic.

What real town was Jaws filmed at in?

Jaws was filmed on Martha's Vineyard, a picturesque island in Massachusetts, giving it the ideal setting of safety and beauty. Many iconic scenes, such as the beach attack and downtown Amity Island, were filmed in real locations that still exist today.

Is Jaws based in Martha's Vineyard?

Though the film takes place in the fictional town of Amity Island in New York, it was actually filmed throughout Martha's Vineyard, Mass. (Long Island was considered "too busy" — the filmmakers wanted an island that would feel eerily empty to filmgoers.)

Is the shark in Jaws real?

The shark in question was a mechanical prop shark used during the 1974 filming of the legendary Steven Spielberg movie Jaws. As depicted in the Broadway play The Shark Is Broken, the shark frequently broke down during the long days of filming on the open water.

Was Jaws filmed in Nantucket?

Martha's Vineyard was not the first choice to film Jaws. The location scout initially wanted to check out Nantucket, but a storm forced his ferry to detour to Martha's Vineyard.

What river was Jaws based on?

The rogue great white traveled 30 miles north of Spring Lake and into Matawan Creek. On July 12, Lester Stillwell, 11, was playing in the creek 16 miles inland when the shark attacked. A young man named Watson Stanley Fisher attempted to save the boy, but was fatally injured in the process. Joseph Dunn was luckier.

Why is Jaws shark named Bruce?

Homage to Spielberg's Lawyer: The decision to name the shark "Bruce" was a tongue-in-cheek homage to Steven Spielberg's lawyer, Bruce Ramer. Spielberg, known for injecting humor and personal touches into his work, playfully named the menacing antagonist after his legal counsel.

Was Jaws based off a true story?

It's simple. Peter Benchley, who penned the novel on which Jaws is based and co-wrote the screen treatment, says the book and film are works of fiction. Although Benchley was a resident of New Jersey, he has said he didn't take any inspiration from the New Jersey shark attacks of 1916.

Was Jaws filmed in the Bahamas?

The film also utilized various spots in the Bahamas, adding a tropical flair to the movie. Martha's Vineyard provided the authentic backdrop for the fictional town of Amity Island in the film Jaws.

Was Jaws filmed in Hawaii?

The filming location for Jaws was actually Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, with the town of fictional Amity represented by Edgartown on the eastern edge of the island.

What state is Jaws 2 set?

Most Of Jaws 2's Exteriors Were Filmed On Navarre Beach & Surrounding Florida Areas. While Jaws 2 is completely set on and around Amity Island, the production couldn't only use Martha's Vineyard as a filming location and had to also shoot many exterior scenes in Navarre Beach, Florida.

How is crime on Catalina Island?

Catalina Island is an escape from reality – almost.

For visitors used to the stress and strain of the mainland, Catalina Island is a wonderland. There are no stop lights, the traffic is a slowdown of golf carts and there's very little crime.

Who is buried on Catalina Island?

Avalon Cemetery is located up Avalon Canyon from town off of Country Club Drive. Several Catalina Island pioneers are buried in the cemetery, as are over 1,100 people. Notable interments include Doodles Weaver and “Chicken Johnny” Brinkley.

What celebrities lived on Catalina Island?

Charlie Chapman, Johnny Weissmuller and John Wayne were regular visitors, as were Humphrey Bogart, Errol Flynn and many more. Marilyn Monroe lived on the island for a time, back when she was Norma Jean Dougherty.

Why are the waves at Jaws so big?

Large north swells which produce big waves at Jaws typically occur during the winter months. The seafloor topography at Jaws is unique in that it amplifies the incoming swell energy to create well-formed waves which break to the right as well as to the left.

Why is Jaws Beach called Maui?

When the Maui surfers John Roberson, John Lemus, and John Potterick were surfing the break in 1975, they noticed a sudden change in the conditions to huge dangerous waves, and gave it a nickname after the film Jaws, comparing the unpredictability to a shark attack.

Where is the wave called Jaws?

Jaws, also known as Peahi, is Maui's most notorious surf spot and produces waves ranging between 30 and 80 feet. Here, conditions change quickly. Subtle changes in swell size and direction can drastically transform the place from a peaceful surf zone into a death-defying arena in a short period of time.