Acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg has opened up about his surprise and disappointment over not receiving a Best Director Oscar nomination for the iconic thriller Jaws, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

In the National Geographic documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, Spielberg, 78, admits that he was caught up in the hype surrounding the film's awards season prospects.

"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.' "

"So when I wasn't, I was surprised. And I was disappointed," he adds. "Because I was believing the noise, and you have to not believe that stuff."

Despite the snub, Jaws went on to win three Oscars in 1976, including Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score for John Williams' iconic music.

Spielberg, who has since become one of the most revered directors of all time, has won two Best Director Oscars for Schindler's List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998).

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

For more on the 50th anniversary of Jaws, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, June 20.