Spielberg later explained that he had two main reasons for holding back. First, he felt an overly shocking scene so early in the movie could overwhelm audiences. Second, he wanted to delay fully revealing the shark, building tension through suggestion rather than spectacle. That approach ultimately became one of the film’s greatest strengths.

A rare behind-the-scenes photograph released years later shows the mechanical shark close to the raft, offering a glimpse of what might have been and sparking renewed discussion among fans.Whether a more explicit scene would have improved Jaws remains debatable. By trusting restraint and imagination, Spielberg created one of cinema’s most unforgettable moments—proving that what isn’t shown can be far more terrifying than what is.