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Jaws

Play trailer 1:24 Poster for Jaws PG In Theaters Fri Aug 29 2h 4m Holiday Mystery & Thriller Horror Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 159 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.
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Jaws

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Compelling, well-crafted storytelling and a judicious sense of terror ensure Steven Spielberg's Jaws has remained a benchmark in the art of delivering modern blockbuster thrills.

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Critics Reviews

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Kat Sachs Chicago Reader Infinitely watchable... Oct 24, 2024 Full Review Molly Haskell Village Voice It is a thriller, according to the classic distinction, of surprise rather than suspense. You feel like a rat, being given shock treatment, who has not yet figured out what to do to call off the buzzers. Jul 2, 2024 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Toronto Star Most movies that come within a mile of this one's technical expertise hardly bother with such matters as logical human motivations, strong and unhammy acting and believable characters. Jaws, on the contrary, is rich in all of these. Jul 2, 2024 Full Review John Stark Mac the Movie Guy The film doesn’t just stand the test of time, it defines it. Fifty years later, we’re still hesitant to go into the deep blue sea. Rated: 99/100 Jul 24, 2025 Full Review Trace Thurman Horror Queers Podcast The first summer blockbuster elevates its so-so source material into a thrilling horror adventure that still manages to instill a sense of genuine terror to this very day. Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Mark Jackson Epoch Times Blockbuster firecrackers used to blow kids' hands off. Then along came 'Jaws,' hijacked the name from fireworks, and transplanted it into showbiz forever. Rated: 5/5 Jul 3, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Landon H. Definitely the perfect summer movie, especially at the beach! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/22/25 Full Review BRizz 2 Jaws (1975) 🎬 Directed by Steven Spielberg 🐋 The blockbuster that changed cinema forever Jaws isn’t just a movie — it’s the movie. The first true blockbuster. The film that redefined the summer release. The reason people started lining up around the block, hoping to get into a packed theater… only to leave terrified of the ocean. What might look like a typical shark story on the surface is actually the shark story — the one that started it all. Directed by a young and hungry Steven Spielberg, Jaws was a bold, dangerous undertaking. He refused to shoot in a water tank, opting instead for the real ocean — risking unpredictable waves, faulty equipment, and even the possibility of real sharks. Why? Because he wanted authenticity, and he got it. The result? A masterpiece of tension and terror. From the haunting score to the infamous mechanical shark (which famously broke down often — but those setbacks actually made the film better), Jaws took cinematic storytelling to a whole new level. There’s something primal about watching this film — it grips you, gnaws at you, and leaves a lasting impression. This was a movie that sparked a cultural moment. People were scared to go into the water. Beaches saw a dip in attendance. The film grossed over half a billion dollars globally — and that was before the days of modern marketing and streaming. Imagine what it would make today. Spielberg didn’t just make a shark movie. He made a film that lives forever — a true classic that still plays in theaters during anniversary runs and continues to rake in new fans with every generation. You can rewatch it over and over again, and it still holds its bite. It’s been 50 years since Jaws first swam into theaters — and yet, it’s as powerful and thrilling as ever. If you’ve never seen it, do yourself a favor. If you have? Watch it again. There’s a reason this movie still haunts the water and our imaginations. Final Verdict: 🦈 Jaws isn’t just a film. It’s a legend. A cinematic tidal wave that’s still crashing to this day. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/22/25 Full Review Gareth v One of Spielberg's best and a defining movie to this day. It's pacing, nerve rattling suspense, minimalist horror combined with that iconic score makes this a must watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/22/25 Full Review Idris F Jaws es una obra maestra del suspenso que revolucionó el cine. Spielberg transforma el miedo en arte al mostrar poco y sugerir mucho, mientras la icónica música de John Williams intensifica cada escena, volviéndose en una melodía clásica del cine. Con un reparto peculiar y bien elegido, y una dirección impecable, la película sigue siendo tan tensa y fascinante hoy como en el 75. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/18/25 Full Review Evan C The best shark movie ever a fine example of 'they don't make em like they used to Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/25 Full Review Natalie W. Great movie! It’s my favorite movie of all time! Scary it’s the best shark movies of all time hands down! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/13/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Jaws

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Movie Info

Synopsis When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and grizzled ship captain Quint (Robert Shaw) offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.
Director
Steven Spielberg
Producer
David Brown, Richard D. Zanuck
Screenwriter
Peter Benchley, Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler, John Milius, Robert Shaw
Distributor
Universal Pictures, DiscoVision
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Zanuck/Brown Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
Holiday, Mystery & Thriller, Horror, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 20, 1975, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Aug 29, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 22, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$272.2M
Runtime
2h 4m
Sound Mix
Mono, CDS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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