Costumes and props from Jaws on display...

In 1975 Steven Spielberg's Jaws revolutionized cinema and forever changed the modern summer blockbuster at the box office and John Williams iconic "dun dun dun dun" soundtrack theme still makes swimming in the ocean a terrifying prospect. Based on Peter Blenchley's 1974 novel, the classic thriller sees a killer shark terrorizing the New England beach town of Amity Island and Roy Schieder's police chief 'Martin Brody' teams up with marine biologist 'Matt Hooper' (Richard Dreyfus) and grizzled ship captain, 'Quint' (Robert Shaw) to capture the monster. I love this incredibly rewatchable masterpiece and with that in mind I looked forward to seeing what screen-used treasures from the iconic feature film the Academy Museum's Jaws: The Exhibition had on display when I visited last October 13, 2025.

Original costume pieces from the Jaws movies

worn by Richard Dreyfus as Matt Hooper,

Roy Scheider as Chief Martin Brody

and Robert Shaw as Quint

The exhibit contained a trio costumes which featured original pieces from the first two Jaws movies provided by the collector Chris Kiska and the NBC Universal Archives & Collections.

The film itself had no credited costume designer, but Robert Ellsworth, Irwin Rose and Louise Clark worked as costumers, providing the cast wardrobe from existing, ready-to-wear pieces.

Richard Dreyfuss' Matt Hooper ensemble is a recreation featuring his original watch, Chief Brody's Jaws 2 outfit features Roy Schneider's original shirt and undershirt and Quint's costume comprised the original jacket and shirt worn by Robert Shaw.

Jaws: The Exhibition billboard

In addition to the costumes the exhibition also features a collection of props from the movie including the fighting chair and fishing rod, barrels and shark dart and diving cage. 

Screen-used props from Jaws

Outside the temporary exhibition you'll also find a permanent reminder of the movie, a restored full-scale 25-foot fiberglass model of the Great White shark, the fourth shark cast and last one surviving from the original shark mold for Jaws. 

Full-scale model shark "Bruce" cast from original Jaws mold

Joe Alves was Production Designer on the film and the shark was affectionately nicknamed "Bruce" by director Steven Spielberg. The three sharks used during production deteriorated and were destroyed after filming, with this fourth model cast for display at Universal Studios Hollywood for display after the film's cinematic release, where it became a popular photo attraction and icon until its removal in 1990.

These costumes, models and props were photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. This 50th-anniversary retrospective which features even more memorabilia from the movie runs until July 26, 2026, so there's still plenty of time to see for yourself in person.

Jaws movie poster

Oscar-nominated Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street movie costumes on display...

In 2007 Tim Burton adapted Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's stage musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, for the big screen. Johnny Depp played the titular 'Sweeney Todd', a barber falsely convicted and exiled to Australia by the corrupt 'Judge Turpin' (Alan Rickman), who coveted his wife 'Lucy', returns to London to exact his revenge. Reinstated in his old Fleet Street barber shop he is helped by the failing pie shop owner below him, 'Mrs. Nellie Lovett' (Helena Bonham Carter), who has an unrequited love for the barber. Sweeney Todd murders his customers and she processes the corpses into meat pies, causing her business to prosper. Their bloody good fortune ultimately ends in a grisly fate for the killer duo.

Sweeney Todd costume worn by Johnny Depp,

Mrs. Lovett costume worn by Helena Bonham Carter

and Judge Turpin costume worn by Alan Rickman

in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This trio of costumes designed by Colleen Atwood for this Gothic musical slasher movie were photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 13, 2025.

Sweeney Todd's coat is made from a modern laser-but leather and then aged, with a sheen to give an insect-like quality to convey how he'd been hardened by his past experiences.

Meanwhile for Mrs. Lovett's final dress the designer found a piece of original period fabric to reflect the character's rich taste and how her costumes evolved with her wealth as her pie business flourishes.

Despite his wealth, Judge Turpin's unkempt look was designed to covey his loose morals and decadent character, and his vest features embroidered monkeys to help convey his transgressive appetites for pleasure. 

These costume designs earned the regular Tim Burton and Johnny Depp collaborator an Academy Award nomination for the film, and you can see more of her work with these Alice in Wonderland movie costumes, these Alice Through the Looking Glass film costumes, these Dumbo movie costumes and these Into the Woods movie costumes to name a few.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street movie poster

Screen-worn Black Phone 2 movie costumes on display...

Today here's an early Halloween treat for supernatural horror fans with some screen-worn costumes from the recent Black Phone 2 movie on display. In this scary sequel Ethan Hawke's serial child killer, 'The Grabber', returns from the dead four years later to torment 'Finney Blake' (Mason Thames) who escaped and killed his abductor as a 13-year-old. Now his younger sister, 'Gwen' (Madeleine McGraw), is starting to have dreams of the ringing black phone and disturbing murders at Alpine Lake Camp, where 'Armando' (Demián Bichir) is supervisor.

The Grabber costume worn by Ethan Hawke,

Armando costume worn by Demián Bichir,

Finney Blake costume worn by Mason Thames and

Gwen Blake costume worn by Madeleine McGraw

in Black Phone 2

These movie costumes were photographed temporarily on display at Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood on October 28, 2025.

Amy Andrews is Costume Designer on this Blumhouse horror sequel directed by Scott Derrickson, and Ethan Hawke's original Grabber costume comes with VFX shoes.

For more costumes from this designer, make sure you also check out these Mercy Street TV costumes (credited as Amy Andrews Harrell) and horror fans can check out all these other screen-used costumes and props.

This costume exhibit reminded me of the early days of this blog all those years ago, when I tried my best to get the best photos of exhibits behind reflective cases. I have to say I much prefer seeing costumes and props from out behind the perspex.

Have a Happy Halloween!

Black Phone 2 movie billboard

Frank movie costume from Donnie Darko on display...

With Halloween just over a week away I couldn't help but share a look at another cool costume on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, James Duval's 'Frank' costume from the 2001 psychological sci-fi thriller, Donnie Darko. In the film Jake Gyllenhaal plays troubled teenager 'Donnie Darko' who narrowly escapes a freak accident and starts hallucinating a menacing man in a large bunny suit named Frank, that only he can see, who encourages him to commit crimes.

Frank costume worn by James Duval

in Donnie Darko

This screen-used costume from writer-director Richard Kelly's movie was photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 13, 2025.

This bunny costume is made from synthetic fur, rubber and paint and the suit was fabricated by Costume Designer April Ferry and Dale R. Brady and Rob Burman were responsible for the creepy mask.

Meanwhile fans of Jake Gyllenhaal and his films may also like to check out his Prince of Persia movie costumes on display.

Being only 5'4" myself, I'm not sure I'd want to be the only person to see a guy in a giant bunny suit that follows me everywhere I go.

Donnie Darko movie poster