An East Coast resort, Amity Island, is plagued by attacks on swimmers by a 28-foot great white shark. The mayor would like to keep the whole thing quiet, the brutal attacks cannot be ignored. Police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and grizzly old shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) go after the monstrous creature, winding up in a desperate fight for their lives.