The shark in Jaws was estimated at about 25 feet long, which is much larger than an average great white shark. Sources also note the mechanical shark, Bruce, weighed around 3 tons.

Size in context

  • Film shark: about 25 feet long.
  • Mechanical model: about 3 tons.
  • Average great whites are usually much smaller, often around 16 to 20 feet at the high end.

Why it felt so huge

The movie made the shark seem even bigger through suspense, music, and limited on-screen sightings, which amplified its menace. TL;DR: Jaws was portrayed as a roughly 25-foot shark, far bigger than most real great whites.