There are few pieces of pop culture so universally known they can be conjured in a single musical motif. Yet, Steven Spielberg’s 1975 smash-hit Jaws has become much more than the definitive shark movie. It revolutionized the film industry, broke box office records, and gave audiences a new kind of movie: the summer blockbuster.
A pop culture icon turns 50: Looking back on the impact of Jaws
There's so much to love in Jaws: the stellar performances and first big examples of “Spielberg-face,” the iconic, dread-filled score, dazzling sweeping shots, and highly-quotable lines. It's scary, funny, and fun to watch. It’s still featured on cable TV regularly and screened in movie theaters around the world, often with live orchestral accompaniment. It's referenced in other media often, in everything from commercials and sports events toThe Simpsons and Spongebob Squarepants, and other horror films like the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and Jason Goes to Hell.
Fifty years on, Jaws remains as thrilling, entertaining, and terrifying as it was upon release. Plus it’s still one of the most genre-defining films out there; it helped bring much-deserved reverence and respect to the horror and thriller genres from the rest of the film industry. This summer, fans will have a chance to experience it again on the big screen—and a reason to stay out of the water all season long.
The 'first summer blockbuster' changed the film industry
These days, Jaws is more of a cultural icon than a classic movie. Before Jaws, there were no summer blockbusters. There were no big-budget shark movies. Horror was mostly a niche genre, virtually ignored by critics and major movie studios. It was the highest grossing film of 1975, and one of the most successful summer releases of all time.
By the mid-1970s, Hollywood was changing and young auteurs were making their way and adapting the old studio system into a new, more radical approach on filmmaking. This led to the rise of new talent like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and of course, Steven Spielberg. These new directors executed their visions through innovative technique and genre-bending appeal to wide audiences.
The production met challenge after challenge
Behind the scenes, the set was a disaster, actually so bad that it’s become Hollywood folklore and there’s even a musical about it. To Spielberg’s chagrin, the mechanical shark didn’t work properly and much of the shoot was reworked around ensuing mishaps and equipment issues.
The crew also struggled against the raging waves to shoot on the open ocean, a major motion picture first. Production went over schedule, over budget, and met struggle after struggle trying to complete filming on the Massachusetts coast. On top of that, there was a real-life murder that summer, and some claim the victim was an extra who was actually featured in the movie. There’s so much Jaws mythos out there to explore and discuss, it only makes the film that much more powerful.
Audiences were blown out of the water, shark fears sparked
While the shooting of the film itself was an infamous production nightmare, none of this translates in the final product. Jaws as a whole feels effortless and it draws audiences in from its sunrise-lit opening scene into the depths of their fear of the unknown.
The reaction was so strong among audiences that some moviegoers were afraid to swim in the ocean for years to come. One teenaged viewer famously suffered from cinematic neurosis after watching the film, which led to a psychological study on horror anxiety in viewers (that also examined William Friedkin's definitive 1973 masterpieceThe Exorcist). Others claim that shark populations suffered in direct result of the film’s impact and perpetuation of shark-fears, forever changing people's understanding of them. Whether the film caused this or not, its massive influence is clear far beyond the world of filmmaking.
Jaws will return to theaters beginning August 29th for a limited theatrical run to celebrate its anniversary. There are also special events to celebrate including festivals on Martha's Vineyard, where it was filmed.