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Jaws
Universal Pictures


8.1

based on 9 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 25 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG

Starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Carl Gottlieb, Jeffrey Kramer, and Susan Backlinie

In 1975, director Steven Spielberg brought Peter Benchley's best-selling novel to the screen with stunning power and unbearable suspense. Jaws left an indelible mark upon the movie-going (and beach-going!) public, distilling a sea of fear from these five words: "Don't go in the water." Once the terror begins, Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw must join forces on a desperate quest to destroy a killer embodying nearly three tons of white death. (Universal Pictures)

GENRE(S):	Adventure \| Horror \| Suspense/Thriller
WRITTEN BY:	Peter Benchley (also novel) Carl Gottlieb
DIRECTED BY:	Steven Spielberg
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: November 21, 2000 Video: July 14, 1998 Theatrical: June 20, 1975
RUNNING TIME:	124 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

This film was nominated for Best Picture at the 1976 Academy Awards, and it won Oscars in the categories of Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, and Best Sound.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

One of the most effective thrillers ever made.

100

Empire Ian Nathan

It was the complete nightmare that invented the "summer blockbuster", launched the genius on a global scale and delivered an astonishingly effective thriller built on a very primal level: fear.

100

Entertainment Weekly Ty Burr

Steven Spielberg overcame the lumpy plotting of Peter Benchley's novel to create an efficient, graceful fright machine in Jaws.

100

ReelViews James Berardinelli

The first is the best. When it comes to this kind of thriller, no movie has been able to top Jaws, although many have tried. And, as the years go by, it seems increasingly unlikely that anything will come close.

Variety Staff (Not Credited)

Robert Shaw [is] absolutely magnificent as a coarse fisherman finally hired to locate the Great White Shark; and Richard Dreyfuss, in another excellent characterization as a likeable young scientist.

TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

From the outrageously frightening opening--in which a beautiful young woman skinny-dipping in the moonlight is devoured by the unseen shark--to the claustrophobic climax aboard Quint's fishing boat, Spielberg has us in his grip and rarely lets go.

The New York Times Vincent Canby

If you think about Jaws for more than 45 seconds you will recognize it as nonsense, but it's the sort of nonsense that can be a good deal of fun, if you like to have the wits scared out of you at irregular intervals.

Chicago Tribune Gene Siskel

What this movie is about, and where it succeeds best, is the primordial level of fear. The characters, for the most part, and the non-fish elements in the story, are comparatively weak and not believable. [20 June 1975]

Chicago Reader Dave Kehr

Steven Spielberg's mechanical thriller is guaranteed to make you scream on schedule (John Williams's score even has the audience reactions programmed into the melodies), particularly if your tolerance for weak motivation and other minor inconsistencies is high.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sunshine fan Andrew gave it a0:
Overrated and sucky, one crappy film, rather watch the grudge.

Joyce C. gave it a0:
Disturbing and stupid, it is one of those terrible horror films that just don't make the cut, and have a certain cliche and flaw along the way.

James C. gave it a0:
Filed: Jaws, the worst movie of all time, Spielberg's worst, what a waste of time.

Jordan C. gave it a0:
Dull and boring thoughts wonder through your head once the movie is finished, people might think its a classic, but its bad quality of such script, story, effects, designs, and time frame creation, this is a techinal bore that is so unintelligent and dull.

Adam R. gave it a10:
Best movie of all time!!!!!

Patrick W. gave it a10:
Shaw and Dreyfuss in excellent form...many many memorable lines from Shaw, "What are ya, some kinda half assed astronaut?"...They just don't make films like this anymore folks...Spielberg's greatest work in my opinion.

Riren gave it a10:
The Godfather rises above crime movies, Rocky rises above sports movies, Seven Samurai rises above samurai movies, and Jaws rises above horror movies. This is one of those rare films that defies, and in turn, defines its own genre, and effects everything in its medium. There are the movies made before Jaws, and the movies made after Jaws. It is not about high concept or high budget; it is about what can be accomplished in film. It sports one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and truly inspired cinematography. It exemplifies what minimalism is supposed to do in Horror by hiding its monster and only drawing it out in measured doses. Similarly, the drama is measured and counterweighed with humor, humility and intertwining plot threads like moviemakers can't even do anymore. Complaints about the acting or characters are absurd; several of these stars turn in the performances of their lives. It will leave you with feelings like few horror films can, because it truly rises above. Really, what other movie can earn such a ridiculous ending?

Jaws Universal Pictures

Jaws
Universal Pictures