We know the poster, the score, the famous lines. Jaws cemented its place in film history from the moment Chrissie is dragged under the waves in the iconic opening scene, dubbed the first “summer blockbuster”; it set the rules for box-office-breaking romps for the decades to come, for better or worse.
Peter Benchley’s original novel had only been released a year prior, and film rights had already been purchased by Universal Pictures with a reluctant Steven Spielberg sitting in the director’s chair. Spielberg had the arduous task of shooting it in 55 days, with only $7m (equivalent to $42m today), and the most unforgiving cast member of all time: Bruce the shark. Yet against every odd and setback, it was released on 20th June 1975, making a whopping $490,000,000 to critical and commercial acclaim, something perhaps lacking in the blockbusters of today. Unsurprisingly, the film is reported in causing a reduction in beachgoers and an increase in shark sightings across the USA.
Jaws continues to prove its relevance as the go-to for the blockbuster staple: a somewhat reluctant hero, a hardened veteran expert and a nerdy comedic relief character. Once you get this in your head, it’s easy to spot it anywhere.
The main trio of Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss were praised for their ability to mix the comedy with the serious moments involving the horror lurking in the ocean. Shaw’s USS Indianapolis monologue has become one of the most iconic of all time; his stoic bravado and Bill Butler’s simple yet effective cinematography have made the scene an all-time classic. The gore of limbs being bitten off and Quint’s bisection proves that even 50 years later, good blood and body horror is always a welcome addition, especially when it stands out against the waves of the Atlantic Ocean; famed film critic Roger Ebert even declared it “as frightening as The Exorcist.”
Furthermore, horror wouldn’t be horror without a score haunting you long after the credits rolled. Enter John Williams: Spielberg collaborator, score connoisseur. The Jaws theme is a symbol of soundtrack iconography, being referenced in Shark Tale (2004), Airplane! (1980) and Clerks (1994), proving its role as an all-time classic. All cinematic aspects come together in this pillar of excellence, standing on top for more than 50 years.
Yet the blockbuster curse hit Jaws before long, with Jaws 2 hitting screens in 1978 and another two critical failures in 1983 and 1987, dragging the likes of Dennis Quaid and Michael Caine into the franchise. Despite the dampers, it’s never taken away from the icon status the first film holds, with it entering the National Film Registry in 2001. The same can’t be said for a lot of modern blockbusters today, with underwritten characters and poor CGI. Despite studios loving to add unnecessary legacy sequels and remakes to their line-ups, perhaps they should take some pointers from their box-office-breaking predecessors. However, time and time again, studios take the wrong message, declaring, “You’re gonna need a bigger blockbuster.”
Illustration by Violet Studdert-Kennedy, @violetvictoriaart