50 years ago today, cinema changed forever withthe introduction of its first true blockbuster—Jaws. Directed by legendary filmmakerSteven Spielberg, the classic thriller based onPeter Benchley’s novel of the same name became the gold standard for what a big, buzzy summer film should be, with moments, quotes, and characters that are forever seared into film history, incredible practical effects thatgive it a bite that holds up to this day, and an iconic villain that taught viewers “Don’t go in the water.” Now, to celebrate the occasion, the film is swimming onto broadcast television for a special one-night-only screening featuring an introduction by the director himself.NBCwill air the three-hour telecast of Universal’s legendary shark-infested featurestarting tonight at 8 p.m. ET.
Even if you haven’t seen it, you probably know the story ofJawsby now. The film is set on Amity Island, a small New England tourist town suddenly shaken to its core when a young woman is killed by a shark during a swim. Police chief Martin Brody,brought to life memorably byRoy Scheider, and the town’s Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) disagree over whether to close down the town’s idyllic beaches, its main tourist attraction, ahead of the Fourth of July weekend to prevent another attack. However, when another victim dies and Brody’s own son nearly succumbs to the shark, the mayor relents, and Brody, despite his fear of the ocean, heads out on the Orca with oceanographer Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and eccentric shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) to take down the vicious great white. Once out there, the film becomes fixated on the three men’s epic,thrilling struggle for survival against the apex predator, watching them quarrel, bond, and come to the realization that they may need a bigger boat to spear their foe.
In addition to being seen as one of the greatest films ever made,Jawswasone of the most profitable films ever, earning $476.5 million at the box office against a budget of only $9 million. Carried by a marketing campaign anda memorable posterthat played into fears of something sinister lurking in the waters, it captured the hearts and minds of cinema-goers at the time with a film on a scale that hadn’t been seen before. The excellent cast, along with the direction of a then-27 Spielberg and the writing of Benchley, helped it live well beyond its hook, though. It’s an adventurous film that, given its troubled production history, largely stemming fromstruggles making Bruce the shark actually function, almost feels like it shouldn’t exist. Spielberg’s introduction to the broadcast will likely help give some of that extra context into the herculean effort behind and impact of the legendary blockbuster.
‘Jaws’ Is Still Making Waves to This Day
The groundwork laid byJawsstill exists today, with a focus on big box office numbers through massive marketing campaigns and efforts to get the biggest films in as many theaters as possible. Horror, too, forever changed with more movies pivoting to a premise revolving arounda single, terrifying creature. However, Spielberg’s classic also quite literally changed the real world. For better or worse, fears and obsessions with sharks stem from this movie, whichspawned dozens of imitatorsandthree not-so-great sequelscapitalizing on the sensation. Both Spielberg and Benchley have since expressed some regret for the real impact it’s had on the shark population, with Benchley since undertaking efforts to help the aquatic animals. It’s a testament to the grip the film had on audiences that it supercharged a specific fear to such a degree, even if that fear had some adverse effects.
Regarding the NBC broadcast,Jenny Storms, Chief Marketing Officer, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, spoke to the magnitude of the classic thriller in an official statement. “Universal is home to the biggest movies in the world,and it doesn’t get any bigger thanJaws. We want to celebrate 50 years of this enduring film that has captured the public imagination for generations by bringing it to audiences at home in all the ways they love to watch.”
The network is far from the only one celebrating the momentous milestone, however.Jawsalso receiveda new 4K Ultra HD release for the occasion, as well asnew collectiblesand a theatrical re-release. Over the weekend, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants are also getting into the water with exclusive activations, fan giveaways, scoreboard content, and more during their home games, all themed around the movie.
CatchJawsat home with NBC’s broadcast featuring an intro from Spielberg at 8 p.m. ET. If you prefer streaming, all four movies in the franchise are now available to watch exclusively on Peacock. The original is also currently on sale digitally in 4K Ultra HD for only $4.99 throughAmazon.
