MOVIE NEWS – 50 years ago today, the world’s “first summer blockbuster” was released, and the movie industry hasn’t been the same since. Steven Spielberg’s Jaws redefined what a film could be by making everyone afraid to go in the water, be it a small pond or a gigantic ocean. To this day, the movie still holds a special place in the hearts of fans, as is evident by the many people taking to social media to celebrate its golden jubilee.
“To say Jaws was a success is an understatement. Costing $9m, it grossed $470m – more than triple The Godfather‘s record. It was the highest grossing film of all time, and the first to make $100m domestically.”
“Fifty years ago, a horror movie’s monstrous success changed the course of cinema forever,” wrote writer/director Joe Russo, who added, “Yes, Jaws is a horror movie.” While that’s been debated for years, Russo has a point: Jaws is pure horror. From the iconic opening where a swimmer is attacked by a great white, to the severed head Hooper finds underwater, John Williams’s haunting score, and everything from Quint’s legendary USS Indianapolis speech to his grisly end—Spielberg’s film is all about fear. That’s why people are still afraid to swim! Thriller or not, it’s horror through and through.
Jaws Deserved More Oscar Love
Speaking of Quint, fan Robert Anthony posted on X that “Robert Shaw not being nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Jaws is still, to this day, one of the greatest tragedies in cinematic history!” And it’s true—the Indianapolis monologue alone should’ve earned him a nomination. Sure, the film won three Oscars (sound, editing, score), but the lack of acting nods is a crime. On the subject of music, @StarWarsExplained noted that without Spielberg, we might never have gotten John Williams’s epic Star Wars score two years later.
Another fun fact shared by @RealEmirHan: Roy Scheider’s iconic line, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” was totally improvised, inspired by the actual realization on set that the boat was too small for the mechanical shark. True story. Other trivia included Bruce the shark rarely working as planned. Even 50 years on, Jaws continues to terrify and entertain the world. It’s one of those movies you can watch over and over and never get tired of. It deserved every bit of praise it got, and then some—so happy birthday to a true classic, now streaming on Peacock. Share your favorite Jaws memories in the comments!
Source: MovieWeb
Leave a Reply