I'm a big fan of Lego, and simultaneously a very big fan of Steven Spielberg's Jaws, so when the company announced an Ideas set last year that could be displayed as a diorama featuring the Orca boat with minifigures of Martin Brody, Matt Hooper, and Sam Quint in their final fight against "Bruce" the shark, I knew I had to have it.
But like with any big purchase (and this does have a price tag of $149.99), I waited for a good opportunity to actually pick it up. That opportunity came this year, which lined up perfectly with the film's 50th anniversary.
Another factor I wanted to keep in mind with this set is making sure I had a good amount of time to dedicate to it. Considering it comes with 1,497 pieces, it's a build that took a while to complete. But I couldn't have been happier with the end result. This Lego set was well worth picking up as a Jaws fan, but if you're still on the fence given the price tag, it's worth knowing what the build is actually like.
Alongside price and time spent, there are other factors to consider before investing in stuff like this, including how well it displays. This set is on the longer side, taking up a majority of a shelf on my bookshelf. I've broken down more details about this set below, so you can determine if it's something that can find a happy place in your home.
You're gonna need a bigger shelf
Before we get into the details of the set itself, it's worth acknowledging where it came from. This Lego set is part of the Ideas line, which features sets thought up by fans. According to Lego, "When their initial proposals receive enough public support on the Lego Ideas website, fans’ designs are picked out by our designers to be made into actual, real-life Lego sets!"
This set was conceived by Jonny Campbell, who paused "the movie at various stages in order to get as many angles of the boat and as much detail as possible" while designing the Jaws set, according to Lego. Campbell's thought process is covered in the opening pages of the instruction manual, which shows off his original design as well. It's nice to read before embarking on the build itself.
This set is recommended for ages 18 and up, and I think that's a fair recommendation. Not only is it a fair challenge to put together, but it features a lot of small details (particularly when constructing the Orca) and the end result feels very delicate. It's helpful to have an older individual working on it (or helping, if you have a shark-obsessed kid who is desperate to put this one together).
As mentioned before, the Jaws Lego set comes with 1,497 pieces, which arrive packaged in 13 bags, each of which you construct one after the other. I love this separation with a Lego set, because I've found if you need to pause partway through, it's easy enough to pick up where you left off. You also don't lose track of any pieces as they're all kept together in their respective bags, which is a huge bonus.
As you start building, the Orca is your first priority, and it's a very detailed build. What I really loved about it, though, was how many smaller items were included in the cabin. The team did an incredible job of adding in several different accessories to breathe life into this set, including a newspaper, coffee mug, and map.
After the boat, you'll then move onto building the shark. What's nice is you have two options for displaying the shark as well: you can either opt to display it separately on its own base, or pose it coming out of the water and attacking the Orca. I went with the latter, as I was excited to have the full diorama on my shelf.
If you've decided to go with the diorama setup, you'll start building out the base for the model next. I love the little wave details in this, as it looks like the Orca is crashing through the water in its escape from the shark. It truly makes for an excellent display piece once it's finished, complete with the minifigures of Brody, Hooper, and Quint alongside a plaque that says “You’re gonna need a bigger boat”.
Again, keep in mind it all feels quite delicate as you move it around. In my case, moving it from my dining room table to the bookshelf was done slowly and carefully so it all made it over there safely. It's also a pretty big set once fully built, coming to 14 inches (35 cm) high, 23 inches (59 cm) long, and 7.5 inches (20 cm) wide, per Lego's store page. Safe to say, you're gonna need a big shelf.
Is the Jaws Lego set worth the price?
In my opinion, I think dropping the $150 on this set is absolutely worth it if you're a fan of the film. The process of piecing it together was very satisfying, and it's something I feel very proud to have completed. However, it's worth keeping in mind that, as a display piece, it needs to be put in a safe spot. If you have kids and don't want models to be damaged, I suggest keeping it out of arm's reach. But if they do end up curious, what better way to introduce them to Steven Spielberg's blockbuster classic?
Where to buy the Jaws Lego set
If this set has caught your eye, the good news is you can buy it online right now at Lego and Amazon.
