Jaws: parents' guide
Best for ages 13 and up. Rated PG.
A classic, nail-biting thriller that makes a great shared watch for young teens who can handle real fear and some gore. A great white shark terrorizes a beach town, and its attacks include a young boy killed in a burst of blood in front of a crowd, a severed leg, a dead man's head in a wrecked boat, and a man crushed in the shark's jaws. Expect a shadowy nude skinny-dipper, one s-word, heavy drinking on the boat, and a quick glimpse of teens apparently smoking marijuana at a beach party. Its 1975 PG predates PG-13 and it is gorier than a modern PG, so we suggest 13.
What's in it
Violence
StrongGory shark attacks: a boy dragged under in a gush of blood, a severed leg sinking, and a man crushed in the shark's jaws as he spits blood. A woman's mangled remains, wound photos, a gutted shark and a trampling crowd also appear.
Language
ModerateOne s-word, plus son of a bitch, bastard, ass, damn and hell, more than a dozen uses of God's or Jesus' name, and an obscene hand gesture.
Sex and nudity
MildA young woman undresses to skinny-dip at night and is seen nude in shadow, briefly from the side. A married couple talks about getting drunk and fooling around, and an old fisherman recites bawdy rhymes.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
StrongTeens at the opening beach party are briefly seen smoking what appears to be marijuana, and a drunk young man passes out on the sand. Adults smoke and drink often, and the three shark hunters get drunk together on the boat.
Scary or intense scenes
StrongSustained suspense built on the famous two-note music, underwater views of dangling legs, sudden attacks, a dog that vanishes in the surf, a dead fisherman's head popping out of a sunken boat, and a long final hunt at sea.
Sensitive topics
- Death of a child
- Animal death
Worth talking about
The mayor keeps the beaches open to protect the town's summer business even after people die. When should leaders put safety ahead of money, and how can people push back?
On our lists
Similar picks around 13+
Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, movieguide.org, decentfilms.com, filmsite.org. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.