Here's a breakdown:
* Inspiration: The film is inspired by Peter Benchley's 1974 novel "Jaws," which in turn drew inspiration from a series of great white shark attacks that occurred in New Jersey in 1916.
* Fictionalization: While the novel and film capture the fear and panic surrounding shark attacks, they greatly exaggerate the size and ferocity of the shark, as well as the number and frequency of attacks.
* Real "Jaws": The real "Jaws" was a great white shark that was estimated to be around 25 feet long. While it was responsible for some attacks, it wasn't the monstrous, man-eating machine depicted in the film.
So, while Jaws is a thrilling and suspenseful movie, it's important to remember that it's a work of fiction, albeit one that draws on real events.