prompter: Is Jaws a true story?

assistant: No, at least not in the words of Peter Benchley, the author of Jaws, even though he was undoubtedly aware of the 1916 assaults (they are mentioned in his novel). Although Jaws is not based on a true occurrence, reputable news sources frequently point to the 1916 shark attacks in New Jersey as the film's primary source of inspiration.

prompter: Are there any cool movies about sharks that are real stories? Not documentaries.

assistant: I can recommend several shark-related movies based on real stories:
Open Water (2003):
Based on the story of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who traveled with a scuba-diving group to the Great Barrier Reef in 1998 and wound up stranded when the group’s ship left them behind after taking an inaccurate headcount. 
The Reef (2010):
Based on the story of Ray Boundy, who survived an incident where his boat was capsized and a tiger shark killed two of his crew mates.
Soul Surfer (2011):
Based on the story of Bethany Hamilton, a young girl from Hawaii who lost her arm after being bitten by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing and then courageously made her return to the sport.
Kon Tiki (2013):
Based on the adventure of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who in 1947 wanted to prove that it was possible for people from South America to sail to Polynesia 1,500 years ago.

assistant: Yes, there are several movies about sharks that are based on true stories. For example, The Shallows (2016) is based on the story of surfer Bethany Hamilton, who was attacked by a tiger shark in 2003 and went on to become a professional surfer. The Cove (2009) is a documentary about the annual killing of dolphins in Japan. Open Water (2003) is based on the true story of a couple who went on a scuba diving trip and were left stranded in the ocean. Jaws (1975) is not based on a true story, but is inspired by the 1916 shark attacks in New Jersey. Finally, Deep Blue Sea (1999) is a science fiction horror film loosely based on the real-life shark attacks at Amity Island in 1975.

assistant: Nope

prompter: My buddy Josh was bitten by a fish, so I believe it could happen for real! Wadd'ya think

assistant: The film "Jaws" is a work of fiction and should not be taken as an accurate representation of the likelihood of a shark attack. In reality, the chances of being bitten by a shark are extremely low. According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 57 confirmed unprovoked shark attacks on humans worldwide in 2021, of which only 10 were fatal. While any shark attack is a serious matter, the number of attacks is relatively small when compared to the number of people who swim, surf, and dive in the ocean each year.

It's worth noting that the risk of a shark attack varies depending on the location and time of year, as well as the activity of the person. Some areas are known to have more shark activity than others, and certain activities such as spearfishing or chumming can increase the risk of an encounter. However, with proper precautions, such as avoiding areas where sharks are known to feed, staying in groups, and following local beach safety guidelines, the risk of a shark attack can be minimized.

assistant: While the plot of Jaws may be exaggerated, shark attacks do happen in real life. As reported by the ISAF, in 2022 there were 57 unprovoked shark bites, mostly in the United States and Australia. There were five fatal attacks, down from nine in 2021 and ten the year before.

prompter: Is it true that more people die because coconuts fall on their heads than by shark attacks? I heard that in a YouTube video.

assistant: Well, Jaws is a movie, but the film was based off the real story of a shark called the Jersey Devil that terrorized the east coast in the Jersey surf. You'll note that even to this day that there are rumors of 'shark attacks' in waters near Jersey.

prompter: What is the true story of the Jersey Devil, and how does it relate to the movie Jaws? How similar is the movie to the real life events, are there any particularly notable discrepancies?