Last updated: August 8, 2026· By Seckin Peker

Halloween Costume Guide

Chief Martin Brody From Jaws Halloween Costume Guide

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
70sPolicescarysummer
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Quick Answer: The Chief Brody costume is a tan Amity Island police uniform, identified by the gold badge and aviator glasses.
  • Tan Khaki Short-Sleeve Work Shirt (essential)
  • Gold Police Officer Shield Badge (essential)
  • Gold Aviator Wire-Rim Eyeglasses (essential)
  • Tan Khaki Chino Pants
  • Navy Blue Bomber Jacket

Chief Martin Brody spends Jaws trying to get a beach closed while everyone around him insists the water is fine. The tan uniform is the base of the costume, but the gold badge and aviator glasses are what make it read as him instead of a generic 1970s cop. Roy Scheider starred in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film, widely credited with creating the modern summer blockbuster (Wikipedia), so this one lands with almost any crowd.

Items Total13 Items
DifficultyEasy
Vibe70s Island Police Chief
Cost$90-$210

Chief Brody Halloween Costume Items

Chief Brody from Jaws Halloween costume infographic showing tan police uniform, badge, and aviator glasses

Chief Brody Costume Items

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Chief Brody Jaws Amity Island
  • 1 Navy Blue Bomber JacketWorn over the uniform shirt during cooler scenes. Optional layer, useful if your event runs cold.
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  • 2 Amity Police Patch Embroidered EmblemSewn or ironed onto the sleeve. A small detail that adds a lot of specificity for very little effort.
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  • 3 Tan Khaki Short-Sleeve Work Shirt (essential)The core of the uniform and the item that sets the whole silhouette. Get the shade right, too yellow or too grey and it stops reading as a police uniform.
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  • 4 Tan Khaki Chino PantsMatch the shirt tone as closely as you can.
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  • 5 Light Grey Crewneck UndershirtBarely visible under the buttoned shirt. Any plain grey undershirt works.
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  • 6 Black Leather Police Belt with BuckleCheck your closet before buying anything specific.
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  • 7 Black Leather Gun HolsterWorn at the hip. Mostly a visual detail unless you’re pairing it with the prop revolver.
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  • 8 Gold Police Officer Shield Badge (essential)Pinned to the chest, this is the single fastest way to signal “police chief” instead of just “guy in a tan shirt.”
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  • 9 Amity Police ID Card Badge HolderA small prop detail, easy to skip if you’re keeping the costume simple.
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  • 10 Prop Revolver Toy GunOptional. Keep it visibly fake and check your venue’s prop weapon policy first.
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  • 11 Gold Aviator Wire-Rim Eyeglasses (essential)His most recognizable personal detail. Get the shape right, rounder or more modern frames don’t read the same from a distance.
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  • 12 Vintage Black Leather Strap Analog WatchAny simple leather-strap watch works if you already own one.
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  • 13 Vintage Style Tactical Walkie Talkie RadioA fun handheld prop for photos, not required to read as the character.
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Chief Brody from Jaws wearing the tan police uniform and aviator glasses

How to Style the Chief Brody Halloween Costume

The badge is what people register first, and pinning it slightly crooked or too low undercuts the whole “chief of police” read. The aviators matter more than most people expect too, take them off and the outfit slides toward “generic tan uniform” fast. Skip the bomber jacket at an indoor party, it’s really only there for the film’s cooler beach scenes.

Brody spends most of the film uneasy around water and increasingly frustrated that no one will take the threat seriously. He’s not an action hero by instinct, he’s a small-town chief who ends up doing something well outside his comfort zone because nobody else will.

Match the tan shade across shirt and pants

Buying the shirt and pants from different sources often means slightly mismatched tones under photo lighting. Order both from the same source if you can, or check them together in daylight before committing.

Keep any prop weapon visibly fake

A realistic-looking prop revolver can cause real problems at a crowded venue. If you bring one, make sure it reads clearly as a toy, and check the venue’s policy before bringing it at all.

Chief Brody Group Halloween Costume Ideas

Group Idea: The Orca Crew

Chief Brody, Quint & Matt Hooper

Excellent group concept for anyone willing to build three distinct looks. Brody’s uniform, Quint’s fisherman gear, and Hooper’s academic-turned-shark-hunter outfit are visually different enough that the trio reads clearly, and the film is well-known enough that most people place it.

Chief Brody Quint Matt Hooper

Duo Idea

Chief Brody & a Shark Fin

Strong low-effort option for two people. One full uniform, one person with a shark fin strapped to their back or a grey outfit, and the pairing reads instantly even to people who’ve only seen the poster.

Chief Brody The Shark

Group Idea: Small-Town Officials

Chief Brody & Other 70s Movie Cops

Might work, but it’s a loose theme rather than a specific reference. A group of different decade-appropriate police characters from separate films reads as “vintage cops” more than any single connected concept, unless everyone explains their character individually.

Chief Brody

Family Idea

The Brody Family

Might work, but it depends on how deep into the film the rest of your group wants to go. Brody’s wife and sons appear in the film but don’t have strong individual visual signatures, so this reads best to people who know the movie well.

Chief Brody Ellen Brody
Chief Brody from Jaws in a scene wearing the full police uniform

Chief Brody Halloween Costume DIY Tips

Building the Look

This is a cheap, thrift-friendly costume. The badge and aviators are the two items worth buying specifically.

  • Uniform shirt and pants: look for matching tan tones, thrift stores often carry work uniforms.
  • Badge: buy this one, it’s the fastest way to signal “police chief.”
  • Aviators: also worth buying, get the shape right.
  • Belt and holster: check your closet or a costume shop before buying anything specific.
  • Bomber jacket: optional, only needed for cooler venues.
  • Walkie talkie: fun for photos, skip it if you want a simpler build.

Playing Chief Brody at the Party

He’s out of his depth and knows it, but keeps showing up anyway. That’s the whole character.

  • Look mildly uneasy near any pool or body of water at the party, it’s a small, specific bit.
  • His go-to line works for almost any situation: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
  • Play tired and a little overwhelmed rather than heroic, that’s closer to the character.

Chief Brody Halloween Costume: FAQ

The tan police shirt and pants with the Amity patch are the base. Add the badge, holster, and belt, then layer the navy bomber jacket if it’s cold. The aviator glasses and walkie talkie are what round out the look.

Yes. Jaws is one of the most influential films ever made and is credited with creating the modern summer blockbuster. Chief Brody’s uniform is simple and recognizable, especially with the badge and aviators.

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” It’s one of the most quoted lines in film history, delivered almost as an aside right after he first sees the shark up close.

Roy Scheider, in Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film based on Peter Benchley’s novel (Wikipedia).

He’s the police chief of Amity Island and spends most of the film on land trying to get the beaches closed, not on the water. The uniform is part of what makes him stand out from the other characters, who are dressed for the ocean.

Optional. It’s a nice detail for a police chief costume, but the uniform, badge, and aviators already do most of the identifying work. Check your venue’s policy before bringing any prop weapon.

What does Chief Brody say the first time he sees the shark up close?

Who plays Chief Brody in Jaws?

Who directed Jaws?