Jaws is easily one of the most quotable movies in cinema as a whole, so today we're going to pick through some of its best lines and quotes.

Few Hollywood films have made as big a proverbial (and literal) splash as Jaws. It was the first movie to establish the Hollywood tentpole blockbuster formula that would continue to this very day, and many still consider it to be one of the best ever made.

Part of its greatness comes from the dialogue, and though most people remember it for the horror elements, it’s also worth paying tribute to some of the best and most memorable quotes from the movie.

Updated on December 26th, 2020 by Derek Draven: We've updated this article to include 5 more iconic quotes from this classic horror/adventure blockbuster movie. Jaws' legacy was built on its great script, and these quotes from its ensemble of unforgettable characters showcase why it was such a hit in theaters and continues to be considered an essential classic even today. 

15 "Not Like Going Down The Pond Chasing Blue Gills Or Tommy Cats. This Shark...Swallow You Whole!"

Of all of the characters that appear in the movie, Quint certainly has the most poignant sense of humor and the bluntest and direct way of speaking, as this quote amply demonstrates. He knows exactly what the town is up against, and it's far worse than they can imagine.

More than anyone else in the film (at least at first), Quint recognizes that it isn’t going to be easy to take down this monstrous shark, and while his words have his signature folksy tone, they are a foreshadowing of what is to come.

14 "There’s Too Many Captains On This Island. Ten Thousand Dollars For Me, By Myself."

Quint realizes that the fishermen on Amity Island have never gone up against the kind of game he has, nor have they experienced the horrors he would share later on in the film. Those who attempted to take on the shark would either fail or die a horrific death.

With this quote, Quint demonstrates some of his less-desirable characteristics. He doesn’t seem like the type of person to do anything simply out of altruism. Instead, he is motivated largely by money, and nothing is going to get in the way of the bottom line.

13 "Well, This Is Not A Boat Accident, And It Wasn't Any Propeller, And It Wasn't Any Coral Reef, And It Wasn't Any Jack The Ripper! It Was A Shark."

Hooper's autopsy on one of the victims came up with a very different conclusion than the official story which had been floating around. The lacerations and tissue damage were not the result of any natural phenomenon or a simple accident.

Annoyed, Hooper quickly became incredibly agitated when he realized that the bite marks were the sign of a great white shark. This changed everything for the small community of Amity Island, and it would involve a lot more than simply sending out fishermen to be served up as lunch.

12 "Now, Fellas. This Is Not The Time Or The Place To Perform Some Kind Of A Half-Assed Autopsy On A Fish!"

There’s not really a lot to admire about Mayor Vaughn. Of all of the people that appear in the movie, he seems the least interested in the actual welfare of the people that he is supposedly supposed to govern. Instead, he masks his own agenda with one self-deceiving justification after another.

As he protests the possibility of seeing a boy’s body sprawl out on the dock, it's hard not to wonder whether he actually cares about the boy at all, or whether he’s just trying to make sure that his reputation (and re-election strategy) remains intact. 

11 "I Can Do Anything. I'm The Chief Of Police."

Brody gave the audience a bit of comic relief with this scene involving him getting thoroughly drunk to drown the stresses he was under due to the shark attack. However, a visit with Hooper seemed to bolster his spirits long enough to get him back to work again.

After "one more drink," Brody suggests they head down to the dock and cut the shark open which may or may not contain the body of a victim. Ellen asks him if he can do that, prompting Brody to drunkenly reply with this hilarious quote. 

10 "I'm Familiar With The Fact That You Are Going To Ignore This Particular Problem Until It Swims Up And Bites You In The Ass!"

Even though he’s a scientist and thus much more likely to rely on science and logic, there are a number of times when Hooper lets his emotions get the better of him. It's understandable given the knowledge Hooper has about sharks and their killing potential as a species.

Here, Hooper goes off on Mayor Vaughn who seems far more interested in bringing a load of tourists to Amity Island than keeping them out of harm's way. One gets the sense Hooper has seen this kind of denial before.

9 "All This Machine Does Is Swim, And Eat, And Make Little Sharks."

When Hooper and Brody finally figured out what they were truly dealing with, it came down to convincing Mayor Vaughn to close the beaches and prevent a catastrophe. Unwilling to sacrifice the prime tourist season, Vaughn downplayed the problem to the sheer irritation of Hooper.

In an attempt to try and get him to understand the situation, he uttered this quote which described the great white shark's instinctual habits. When unleashed on a beach full of swimmers, it was like ringing the dinner bell.

8 "Here's To Swimmin' With Bowlegged Women!"

Before heading out to locate and kill the shark that was terrorizing the local populace, Quint decided to share some homemade Hooch with Brody along with a toast. He uttered this quote, which was a reference to a certain risqué song that sailor types would undoubtedly have picked up over the years.

It was an example of Quint's rugged, salt of the Earth demeanor, even if he was characteristically rough around the edges. He knew his game, even if he underestimated this particular opponent.

7 [Ellen] "What Am I Gonna' Tell The Kids?" [Brody] "Tell 'Em I'm Going Fishing."

One of the most enduring and moving relationships in the Jaws movies is that between Brody and his wife Ellen. This quote is a reminder that for Brody, there is more at stake than just defeating a man-eating monster that’s destroying the lives of Amity Island's townsfolk.

His pursuit of the shark is in many ways his attempt to protect his family, and his laconic remark to his wife that he’s going fishing is typical of his personality and how he handles things.

6 "Hey, Hooper! Maybe You're A Big Yahoo In The Lab, But Out Here You're Just Supercargo!"

Quint resented the highly educated young Hooper for living what he believed was a life on easy street. Indeed, Hooper was plenty rich from his career as an oceanographer, a fact that must have made the blue-collar working class Quint mighty mad. This went double whenever Hooper tried to tell him how to do his job.

Their educational differences nullified one another out on the water, however. Quint was a seasoned fisherman with decades of hands-on experience, while Hooper understood the biology and behavior patterns of sharks. Together, they made a great team. It's a shame neither of them realized it.

5 [Quint] "You Want A Drink? Drink To Your Leg?" [Hooper] "I'll Drink To Your Leg." [Quint] "Okay, So We Drink To Our Legs!"

After a long day of shark hunting that gave Hooper, Brody, and Quint some much-needed intel on their enemy, the trio decided to call it a night. They retreated into the ship to get drunk and share some funny stories about particular injuries suffered throughout the years on the water.

Hooper and Quint might have been heavily antagonistic towards one another, but a little alcohol allowed both to let their guards down. After sharing their leg injuries, the two decided to pour a drink in honor of their wounds while uttering this funny quote.

4 "You Know, A Thing About A Shark, He's Got...Lifeless Eyes. Black Eyes, Like A Doll's Eyes!"

When the banter and laughter had stopped, Quint shared a story with Hooper and Brody that changed the entire mood of the night. Quint was on the U.S.S. Indianapolis, a military vessel responsible for delivering parts of the Little Boy atomic bomb that would later be dropped on Hiroshima near the end of World War II.

He recounted how the ship was struck by torpedoes from a Japanese I-58 sub, causing it to sink in 12 minutes. While in the water, 890 crew members became potential targets for shark attacks on top of dehydration and exposure. Quint's description of a shark attack is enough to send chills down the spine.

"You know, thing about a shark, he's got...lifeless eyes. Black eyes, like a doll's eyes! When he comes at ya, don't seem to be livin'...Until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white, and then...Ohhh, then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'..."

3 "You’re Gonna' Need A Bigger Boat!"

This line has gone down as one of the most iconic in the history of movies, and it hasn't yielded its status throughout the decades. After slugging chum in an attempt to lure the Great White out to sea, Brody becomes irritated at the job which he no doubt finds disgusting.

After slinging a sly remark back at Hooper and Quint, Brody turns around and comes face-to-face with the killer shark for the first time. He instantly realizes that the trio has bit off more than they can chew, prompting this quote from a clearly agitated and intimidated Brody.

2 "Smile, You Son Of A...!"

Jaws simply wouldn't be Jaws without this explosive quote that had audiences cheering in theaters when it debuted back in 1975.  With little hope left in sight except a compressed air tank lodged in the shark's teeth, Chief Brody takes a shot that kills the shark and saves the day.

It's a testament to the strength of actor Roy Scheider’s tough-guy performance as Sheriff Brody in a role that has become synonymous with summer movie blockbusters. The formula would later pave the way for similar climatic feel-good movies like Star Wars, which would release just two years later.

1 [Brody] "I Used To Hate The Water." [Hooper] "I Can't Imagine Why!"

Most people watch Jaws for the sense of horror and tension it creates, but director Steven Spielberg also made sure to load it with tons of quippy dialogue. The friendship that forms between Brody and his fellow shark hunters - especially Hooper - is one built on mutual respect and good old fashioned male bonding.

This final quote is wonderfully sarcastic and helps cut all the tension that came before with an upbeat ending showing two fellows paddling their way back to civilization on a plank of wreckage. It's a different ending from the novel; one of many creative liberties Spielberg took with the source material.

NEXT: Jaws: 10 Most Iconic Moments, Ranked

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