Fifty years ago, Steven Spielberg changed the landscape of filmmaking when, on a shoestring budget, he brought Jaws to the big screen. Premiering on , Jaws became a box office sensation and a cultural phenomenon. It was the first film in history to surpass $100 million at the domestic box office and helped usher in the era of the summer wide-release blockbuster that has now become the movie industry standard.
To celebrate this landmark anniversary, Universal Pictures is bringing Jaws back to theaters in a big way. On , the film returns to theaters nationwide in stunning 4K, with select screenings in IMAX®, RealD 3D, 4DX, and D-BOX, offering audiences the chance to experience the original summer blockbuster as never before.
Jaws, which was an adaptation of Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel, follows the residents of Amity Island as a series of attacks by a great white shark that threatens the summer tourist economy. Fearing the worst, the town’s police chief (Oscar® nominee Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Oscar® winner Richard Dreyfuss), and a grizzled shark hunter (Oscar® nominee Robert Shaw) venture into open waters to confront the predator head-on. But what they discover is more than they bargained for.
At only 27 years old, Spielberg approached Jaws with both ambition and restraint. When the production’s mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, repeatedly malfunctioned, Spielberg leaned into the power of suggestion. Through careful composition, editing and sound, he built a sense of dread and foreboding that has lasted for five decades. Jaws was nominated for four Academy Awards®, including Best Picture, and won three: Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Original Score for John Williams’ now-legendary theme. The film marked an early milestone in Spielberg’s partnership with Williams, whose collaboration would come to define the emotional and musical architecture of modern film.
“Few films have had the kind of enduring impact Jaws has had,” said Jim Orr, President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution for Universal Pictures. “It was a cultural event when it debuted in 1975, and its impact continues to resonate with every generation of moviegoers. We’re proud to bring it back to theaters in the most dynamic formats available, where audiences can once again experience the full power of this enduring classic, exactly as it was meant to be seen.”
The theatrical re-release of Jaws is just one part of a global celebration honoring the film’s 50-year legacy. Additional tributes include Jaws: The Exhibition, opening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures; themed experiences at Universal Studios theme parks around the world; a commemorative 50th-anniversary merchandise collection; and streaming availability on Peacock beginning this summer.
Tickets for the 50th anniversary re-release are on sale now and can be purchased on Fandango.