Peter Benchley Denied 1916 Jersey Attacks Inspired 'Jaws' as 2-Ton Shark Sparked the 1974 Novel
Updated
Updated · Mentalfloss · Jul 25
Peter Benchley Denied 1916 Jersey Attacks Inspired 'Jaws' as 2-Ton Shark Sparked the 1974 Novel
3 articles · Updated · Mentalfloss · Jul 25
Summary
A 2001 New York Times correction said Peter Benchley rejected the long-held claim that New Jersey’s 1916 shark attacks directly inspired his 1974 novel 'Jaws'.
A 1964 report about fisherman Frank Mundus catching a 2-ton great white off Montauk instead helped ignite Benchley’s idea of a giant shark capable of terrorizing the public.
The 1916 attacks still closely paralleled the book: four people were killed and a fifth injured over 12 days along a 70-mile stretch of the Jersey shore.
Benchley later cited that episode as proof the novel’s premise was plausible, even as 'Jaws' drew criticism for deepening fear of sharks before also spurring wider shark research.