Todd E. Braley’s documentary, Jaw Finatics, is the ultimate water cooler film. You know, those films that you and your friends talk about at work, home, and the movies. This year (2025) marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, and over that time, the film has amassed a massive fan base. Superfan Todd E. Braley has pulled together fans from around the world to talk Jaws, record it, and then piece together anecdotes, memories, and feelings of nostalgia from Spielberg’s classic.
Braley’s main source of testimonials comes from the Jaws Finatics online group. The film is divided into several chapters, starting with “When did you see Jaws for the first time?” Apparently, the majority of participants were my age when Jaws came out—mere kids. I remember sitting alone in the den while my extended family watched Jaws on cable. Moments of silence were interrupted by screams.
For those who actually saw the film, some stumbled into Jaws not knowing the level of suspense and mutilation that would fill their eyeballs that afternoon. Some can never step in the water to this day, while others were fans of the book and wanted to see if the young Spielberg could exceed the already great novel. Many also talked about the thrills they just experienced and wanted more.
Braley then explores the opposite ends of fandom with chapters: How did it feel?; Stuff, stuff, and more stuff; Life-changing experience; Too Many Times to Count. As you can see, he covers his fellow fans’ emotional connections with the movie. Fans have made Jaws Days an annual event for watching the film, while others rake in hundreds, if not thousands, of viewings, hoping to log more minutes watching than they’ve lived(just kidding).
“…Braley has pulled together fans from around the world to talk Jaws…”
Fans have collected buttons, posters, puppets, Viewmaster discs, VHS tapes, Blu-Ray discs, laser discs, and sculptures of all sizes. It’s incredible just how much merchandise was created for the film over the years, and all the fan art that goes with it. Jaws Finatics then leads up to the ultimate gathering, Jaws Fest—a fan-led convention held in locations across the U.S. Not mentioned in the film is the upcoming 50th anniversary event in Martha’s Vineyard, the film’s not-so-fictional location.
We all understand the power of fandom. A single IP can bring thousands of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures together over a common icon—here, it’s a shark. I’m not the biggest fan of Jaws, but when it came to Star Wars, Star Trek, and even Lost, it’s easy to understand the “finaticism.” Just go on YouTube, and you’re never at a loss to find fans of whatever IP you love.
Running at almost two-and-a-half hours, it’s too long for my taste. What I appreciate about Jaws Finatics is that Jaws fans made it for Jaws fans who were touched by the film in numerous ways, and how the film molded and shaped them to be who they are today. Also, Todd E. Braley is admittedly not a documentarian by trade, but for a rookie does a yeoman’s work to a decent doc…that run time needs work.
Jaws Finatics is a heartfelt tribute to the ripple effect of a film that scared us out of the water and into each other’s hearts. Todd E. Braley’s documentary captures the communal magic of Jaws fandom with an earnest charm that reminds us why we gather around stories in the first place. It’s not just about a shark—it’s about the bite-sized memories that keep us swimming in nostalgia.
Jaws Finatics is available to view on Amazon Prime.
"…a heartfelt tribute to the ripple effect of a film that scared us out of the water and into each other's hearts."
