Jaws

What’s it about?

When a massive killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach town near Long Island, a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old sailor must band together to hunt the beast down.

The facts 

• Directed by Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, Shindler’s List)
• English language
• Runtime: 122 minutes
• Won three Academy Awards for Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Music
• Soundtrack composed and conducted by John Williams

Why did it get this rating? 

This film game was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence

The film contains frequent and sometimes graphic violence. Tension is heightened through suspenseful music and jump scares, which may frighten some viewers.

Some of the strongest moments of violence include:

• A character’s hand, with a missing finger, turns up on the beach, with a little bit of blood shown, implying they were killed at sea
• A character’s severed head appears in a sunken boat, with one of his eye sockets empty. Another man is bitten in half by a shark, with chunks of human flesh seen in the shark’s teeth
• Some rather gruesome pictures are shown depicting victims with chunks of flesh missing

Offensive language

The film involves the use of offensive language, with words like “sh*t,” “son of a b*tch,” “bastard,” and “ass.”

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Brain development – how it works, why it matters