50 Years Later Jaws Still Bites Even Deep in the Heart of Texas

Fifty years ago today, Jaws hit theaters and straight-up changed summer forever. Before then, the beach was fun. After? Not so much. And even though most of us Texans live nowhere near the ocean, Jaws had us looking sideways at Lake Fort Phantom like something was lurking under the surface.

I mean, we know better. But, do we really?

Drive-Ins, Lawn Chairs, and Shark Nightmares

Back in 1975, Texans packed into local drive-ins to get their first glimpse of that massive mechanical shark. People were chain-smoking Winstons, wearing cutoff jean shorts, and watching people get chomped from the back of pickup beds. If that doesn’t scream “Texas summer,” I don’t know what does.

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Oceans Didn't Matter

Just because most of Texas is landlocked doesn’t mean we didn’t panic. Suddenly, folks were giving side-eye to every dark corner of Lake Travis, Possum Kingdom, and even the neighborhood pool. Some kids wouldn’t even dip their toes in the bathtub without humming the infamous “Jaws” theme song.

Obviously, we don't have sharks in our lakes in Texas, but we do have some monster catfish. And after one of those bad boys swims close to you in the water, well, that's close enough. Am I right?

READ MORE: Best Swimming Holes In Texas

Soundtrack Still Slaps

John Williams' two-note Jaws theme? Iconic. Terrifying. And it works every single time. You could play that on a kazoo in a kiddie pool and still clear the water out. It’s been spoofed and sampled more times than a Buc-ee’s snack tray.

What If Jaws Was In Texas?

Let’s be honest. If Jaws had taken place in Texas, it would've been over in 10 minutes. Some guy in Galveston would've lassoed that shark, thrown it on a smoker, and served it at a tailgate. Shark brisket, anyone?

Texans are not afraid of much. I mean, have you seen what happens when a tornado strikes the Lone Star State? Everybody and their dog become storm chasers with cameras blazing!

Jaws Still Making Waves

Today, Jaws lives on in floating movie nights, backyard projectors, and streaming marathons, especially here in Texas, where we like our horror with a side of heat and humor. Whether you saw it in '75 or just last week, Jaws is the reason so many of us still flinch when something brushes our leg in the water.

Happy 50th, Jaws!