Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg has reflected on the making of his iconic thriller 'Jaws' and the disappointment of not receiving a Best Director Oscar nomination.

In the National Geographic documentary 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story', Spielberg, 78, admits that he was "surprised" by the snub, but has since learned to not believe the hype.

"When a film is on the cusp of being considered for awards, it's not so much what you want for yourself - it's what everyone else says is going to happen for you," Spielberg says in the documentary. "So I just understood, 'I guess I'm getting nominated'."

Despite missing out on a Best Director nod, 'Jaws' went on to win three Oscars in 1976, including Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score for John Williams' iconic music.

'Jaws' 50th Anniversary Documentary Premieres on National Geographic

The documentary, directed by Laurent Bouzereau and produced in partnership with Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries, features the only interview with Spielberg about the movie's milestone 50th anniversary.

Other famed directors who appear in the documentary to reflect on 'Jaws' legacy include James Cameron, J.J. Abrams, George Lucas, Jordan Peele, and Guillermo del Toro.

"Making 'Jaws @ 50' was totally a dream come true," Bouzereau tells PEOPLE. "He never gave up, and he honored his commitments. And I think that's a great message for young people today."

'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story' premieres on National Geographic on July 10 and will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu the following day.

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