Joe Alves (born 21 May 1936, San Leandro, California) is an American film production designer, perhaps best known for his work on three of the Jaws films. He directed Jaws 3-D.

Alves has designed three features for Steven Spielberg, firstly for The Sugarland Express. He designed the three mechanical sharks for the movie Jaws (1975) with mechanical effects man Bob Mattey supervising their physical construction in Sun Valley CA. After the sharks were completed, they were trucked to the shooting location, but unfortunately they had not been tested in water causing a series of delays that have become quite legendary over time.

He was nominated for the Academy Award and won the BAFTA for Best Art Direction for his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Alves worked on Jaws 2 (1978) in the capacity of both production designer and as second unit director. After John D. Hancock, the initial director of Jaws 2, was sacked, it was suggested that Alves co-direct it with Verna Fields (who edited the original Jaws). Jeannot Szwarc was hired, however, to complete the film.

The model of New York he created for John Carpenter's Escape from New York (1981) has been described as "memorably derelict", and he was visual consultant on Carpenter's Starman (1984).

Personal Details

• Born: 1936-05-21 in San Leandro, California, USA
• Known For: Art

Joe Alves Movies List

Looking for Joe Alves movies? Here are some of their most popular films and where they rank in their career:

• Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story (2025)
• The Making of 'Jaws' (1995)
• The Shark Is Still Working (2009)
• Jaws, a Monstrous Success (2024)
• The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (2001)
• 3D: A Brief History (2004)
• Sharksploitation (2024)
• Purgatory: Entering John Carpenter's 'Escape From New York' (2018)
• Not Your Average Joe
• Viaggio nel cinema in 3D: Una storia vintage (2016)

Explore the complete Joe Alves movies list and find where to stream them on Watchlist Wizard.