Did You Know: The Iconic Jaws Movie Poster Is Not As It Seems!

Even if you have never seen the movie Jaws, odds are, you have seen its iconic poster. With an image of a great white shark at the center, and an unsuspecting swimmer at the top, it’s one of the most memorable ones around! Oh, wait a second… that is actually incorrect. Yes, this movie poster is unforgettable. But there’s not a single great white shark to be seen on the poster of Jaws.

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No, this isn’t some kind of bizarre Mandela Effect! If you take a look at the Jaws poster, it will look exactly like you’d expect. That said, the terrifying creature at the center is not actually a great white shark. Turns out, there was a different, similarly looking shark was chosen to entice moviegoers to give Jaws a chance.

“But if that isn’t a great white shark on the cover of the Jaws poster, what kind of shark is it?” What a great question! Well, turns out, it’s a short fin mako shark. But don’t let the name fool you — this creature is quite fearsome. In fact, they’re extremely fast and able to reach speeds of almost 60 miles per hour. Want to learn more about how this creature was chosen for the Jaws poster? Check out the video below!

When Roger Kastel visited the Natural History Museum for inspiration, he had no way of knowing he was about to make one of the most iconic film posters ever. But that is exactly what happened! It’s no wonder this particular shark is still being kept in the museum’s archives. Speaking of which, is anyone else just now finding out that museums sometimes contain drawers of preserved sharks? The more you know!

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here!