A terrible attack on bathers is a sign that the beach in the small town of Amity, in New England, has become a refectory for a giant white shark. Police chief Martin Brody wants to close the beaches, but Mayor Larry Vaughn does not allow it, for fear that revenue from tourist revenues will leave the city without resources. Scientist Matt Hooper and fisherman Quint offer to help Brody capture and kill the beast, but the mission will be more complicated than they imagined.