How the Jaws poster came to be….

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As a cinephile looking back, let me share some insights about Roger Kastel – a name you might not immediately recognize but one that carries significant weight in the world of movie posters. You’ve likely seen his masterpiece, the Jaws poster, which undeniably ranks as one of the most iconic pieces ever created for cinema history.

Sadly, Roger passed away on November 8th, 2023, at the age of 92. Yet, his artistic legacy endures, continuing to send shivers down our spines with each glimpse of that unforgettable shark image. His work remains a testament to the power of visual storytelling and the indelible mark it leaves on our collective cinematic memory. Rest in peace, Roger Kastel, your art will live on forever.

He shared that the image was initially a preliminary, rather crude drawing. The publisher responded enthusiastically, saying, “Fantastic! Let’s make the shark more lifelike and larger. Make him significantly larger!

In 1974, the initial painting by Paul Bacon was featured on the book cover. Later, Kastel made changes to this image, significantly increasing the number of teeth on the shark. This creative idea came from a visit Kastel made to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he captured photos of the shark on display.

In the museum, he inquired from an employee, “Is there a shark exhibition inside?” To which the employee replied, “Yes, we do have one, but currently they are being refurbished and cleaned.

As a movie reviewer, I found myself captivated by a scene where sharks were artistically displayed. Armed with my camera, I knew I wanted to capture the perfect shot. Among them was a majestic great white, seemingly being dusted on an easel. This scene served as my muse, and it’s what I chose to immortalize in my film.

In the photo shoot for the poster, he requested the model to stay a little longer and mimic the front crawl stroke, while seated on a stool. He also replaced the bathing suit of the swimmer from the hardcover edition, which led to the book being prohibited in numerous cities.

It’s believed that the image could have made Kastel a significant fortune, but there are whispers that Oscar Dystel, head of Bantam Books, gave it away to Universal Studios without charge, potentially missing out on millions. Soon after, the image gained iconic status and was frequently parodied by cartoonists to symbolize USSR-USA relations, presidential elections (between Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan), inflation, and the energy crisis.

We love the Jaws poster (and the film too) and is one of many posters we have on our office walls

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2025-09-02 02:23