Cliff Notes – Masterpiece thriller that ‘changed cinema forever’ is now available to stream

Cinematic Impact: Released in 1975, Jaws is hailed as one of the most influential films in cinema history, setting the standard for modern blockbusters and inspiring numerous sharksploitation films.
Streaming Availability: The original Jaws is now available on Disney Plus, alongside its sequels, which have received mixed critical reception, with the original holding a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Director’s Experience: Steven Spielberg revealed that filming Jaws led to severe panic attacks, impacting him for years, highlighting the intense pressure and challenges faced during production.

Masterpiece thriller that ‘changed cinema forever’ is now available to stream

Dun dun… (Picture: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Fifty years after first terrifying cinema audiences, Jaws has arrived on Disney Plus just in time for Halloween.

Released in 1975, the iconic shark film sees an enormous Great White rack up a body count in the ocean surrounding Amity Island.

Sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) teams up with marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and local fisherman Quint (Robert Shaw) in a bid to take down the creature.

Jaws’ impact is almost beyond the realms of comprehension, going down in history as one of the most influential releases in motion picture history.

It was the highest-grossing film ever made until the release of Star Wars two years later, and has inspired every sharksploitation film that followed.

Jaws 2 was released in 1978 with Schneider reprising his role as Sheriff Brody alongside Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton as Ellen Brody and Mayor Larry Vaughn, respectively.

Jaws has gone down in history as one of the most influential films ever made (Picture: Universal Pictures/Courtesy of Getty Images)

In it, an enormous Great White shark terrorises the waters off Amity Island (Picture: Universal/Getty Images)

A sequel followed three years later as another shark preyed on the residents of Amity (Picture: Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Now the chief of police, Brody suspects another shark is terrorising Amity Island after a series of disappearances and bloody incidents.

In 1983, a third sequel, Jaws 3-D, hit the big screen, starring Dennis Quaid as Michael Brody, the son of Martin.

The Brody children from the previous films are all grown up and taking a trip to SeaWorld, where a young shark infiltrates the park from the sea and begins attacking and killing the park’s employees.

A final sequel (so far) was released in 1987, Jaws: The Revenge, starring Lorraine Gary as Ellen Brody, who came out of retirement for the film.

It acts as a direct sequel to Jaws 2 – ignoring the events of Jaws 3-D entirely – where a now-widowed Ellen Brody believes a shark is seeking revenge on her family.

The original film holds an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, being dubbed a ‘cinematic masterpiece’ and ‘truly great.’

Jaws 3-D, starring Dennis Quaid, was largely panned by viewers (Picture: Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Lorraine Gary came out of retirement to make Jaws: The Revenge (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)

Where to watch all of the Jaws films

Jaws – Disney Plus, Prime Video, Netflix, NOW TV, and Sky

Jaws 2 – Prime Video, NOW TV, and Sky

Jaws 3-D – Prime Video and NOW TV

Jaws: The Revenge – Prime Video

The critics’ consensus reads: ‘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.’

Its sequels have not fared as well, however, with Jaws 2 sitting at 56%, Jaws 3-D at 10%, and Jaws: The Revenge at just 2%.

Speaking earlier this year, Jaws director Steven Spielberg revealed how he thought he was having a heart attack due to a panic attack he experienced while filming.

Detailing his experience on set in a new National Geographic special to celebrate the milestone anniversary, titled Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, the filmmaker shared that he battled nightmares for ‘years’ afterwards.

‘When the film wrapped in Martha’s Vineyard, I had a full-blown panic attack,’ he told the cameras. ‘I couldn’t breathe, I thought I was having a heart attack. I couldn’t get a full breath of air.

‘I kept going to the bathroom and splashing water on my face. I was shaking. And I was out of it – I was completely out of it.’