‘I was surprised’: Steven Spielberg admits he was genuinely shocked when ‘Jaws’ didn’t land him an Oscar nomination

Steven Spielberg opens up about his feelings regarding Jaws‘ Oscar snub in a new documentary that looks back at the classic film’s 50-year history. The documentary, titled Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, features Spielberg’s only interview about the movie’s milestone anniversary.

According to People, the legendary director, now 78, talks about the high expectations surrounding the film during awards season. He recalls how the buzz around the movie led him to believe he would receive recognition from the Academy Awards.

“When I wasn’t, I was surprised. And I was disappointed,” Spielberg admits in the documentary, explaining that he got caught up in the predictions and hype. “Because I was believing the noise, and you have to not believe that stuff,” he adds.

Jaws still received recognition at the 1976 Academy Awards

Despite missing out on a Best Director nomination for Spielberg, Jaws did not go unnoticed at the Oscars. The film received four nominations and won three of them. John Williams took home the award for Best Original Score, while the movie also won for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. The only category it lost was Best Picture.

The 48th Academy Awards ceremony was dominated by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which won the major awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Miloš Forman. Looking back, Spielberg shows good sportsmanship, saying he would have also chosen One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest for Best Picture over Jaws.

The new documentary, directed by Laurent Bouzereau, features interviews with other prominent directors, including James Cameron, J.J. Abrams, George Lucas, Jordan Peele, and Guillermo del Toro. They all share their thoughts on Jaws‘ lasting impact on cinema. Bouzereau, who describes himself as a longtime Jaws fan since its release on June 20, 1975, calls making the documentary “totally a dream come true.”

Spielberg went on to achieve significant success in his career after Jaws, becoming one of the most respected directors in Hollywood. He later won two Academy Awards for Best Director: one for Schindler’s List in 1993 and another for Saving Private Ryan in 1998. The documentary Jaws @ 50 will premiere on National Geographic on July 10, with streaming available on Disney Plus and Hulu the following day.