Shark Week Expert Weighs In On Jaws As ‘One Of The Best Movies Ever Made,’ But ‘Pretty Bad PR’ For Sharks

by

For over three decades, Discovery’s Shark Week has been airing a week filled with shark-centric television shows every summer. However, the 2025 schedule is particularly remarkable in terms of sharks because it coincides with the 50th anniversary of “Jaws”. The film was screened just about a month before Shark Week veteran Paul de Gelder presented his special “How to Survive a Shark Attack”. During Discovery’s press day, I took the chance to ask Paul for his thoughts on the iconic movie, which may not have accurately depicted the behavior of great white sharks.

In the context of Shark Week, it is hard to find a more fitting star for “How to Survive a Shark Attack” than Paul de Gelder. This is because he truly lived through a shark attack and lost a hand and a leg after being bitten by a bull shark. However, instead of letting his experience hinder him, he utilized his insights in this specific Discovery special. During my interview with de Gelder for Shark Week 2025, which premiered following Tom Bergeron’s Dancing with Sharks (which received mixed reviews from viewers), he shared his thoughts on how the movie Jaws has influenced public opinions about sharks:

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but express my deep appreciation for the timeless classic “Jaws.” In my opinion, it stands among the greatest films ever crafted. However, my apprehension isn’t centered on the movie itself or any other shark-themed productions. Rather, it lies with individuals who struggle to discern fact from fiction.

Given that Jaws was released in 1975, long before the advent of the internet and mobile devices, our primary source of information was limited to local newspapers and broadcast news. Contrastingly, we now have unprecedented access to a vast repository of global knowledge at our fingertips through just a few keystrokes.

This brings me to my concern: it is crucial that we prioritize educating and empowering people to navigate the digital world responsibly and critically, as misinformation can be detrimental in today’s interconnected society.

It appears Paul de Gelder would concur with TopMob considering “Jaws” as one of the top horror films ever made! He noted that the global context was significantly distinct in 1975, and even the director Steven Spielberg expressed remorse over how “Jaws” resulted in the widespread slaughter of actual sharks (which are far more beneficial than the film’s great white). Today, as an attack survivor, he emphasized the importance of distinguishing between reality and fiction when dealing with these animals.

Paul de Gelder doesn’t imply that most “Jaws” fans fail to distinguish reality from fiction, as resources are abundant in 2025 compared to 1975. However, he did acknowledge that sharks unintentionally damage their image in one particular way. He continued:

We no longer rely solely on one type of information source, which I believe makes everyone a bit wiser. People understand that Jaws was fiction. We aim to debunk the misconceptions perpetuated by media outlets today, such as the fear-mongering headlines about sharks lurking off the coast ready to prey on your children. Unfortunately, sharks aren’t helping their public image either. They make poor PR clients because, just when you advocate for them and explain how crucial they are to our ecosystem, they go ahead and bite someone, setting us back to where we started.

As someone who eagerly tunes in for Shark Week each year and is deeply fond of the movie Jaws to the extent of watching it during a car ride to an ocean beach getaway, I find Paul de Gelder’s perspective on sharks as a challenging PR case intriguing. Although incidents of shark attacks on humans are uncommon, they generate significant media attention when they do occur. The film Jaws popularized the notion of a vicious shark embarking on a deadly rampage.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the transformative journey of de Gelder, turning a traumatic encounter with a bull shark into advocacy for shark protection and conservation during Shark Week. This inspires me to remind everyone that while Jaws may be one of the greatest movies ever made, it’s essential to remember its fictional nature. In reality, shark attacks are rare occurrences, making it all the more important for us to appreciate the cinematic masterpiece without causing unnecessary fear or harm to these fascinating creatures.

As a passionate cinephile who adores all things marine life, especially sharks, I wanted to share some exciting news with fellow enthusiasts! If you happened to miss Paul de Gelder’s captivating documentary, “How to Survive a Shark Attack,” when it originally aired on Discovery, don’t fret! You can now stream it and other 2025 Shark Week installments with a Max subscription.

This year’s Shark Week has been particularly special for de Gelder fans, as he graced our screens in several unique programs. Besides “How to Survive a Shark Attack,” you might have also missed “Air Jaws: The Hunt for Colossus,” “Black Mako of the Abyss,” and the highly anticipated “Bull Shark Showdown” scheduled for July 25.

Mark your calendars, as Shark Week will conclude this year on July 26. Don’t let these incredible shows swim away without you! Jump in and enjoy the ride!

Read More

2025-07-23 05:38