Fifty years ago, a film was released that literally changed the world. Jaws transformed the way people think about going into the water and revolutionized how studios make movies, effectively creating what we now call the “summer blockbuster.” Its influence is still felt five decades later, by both fans and filmmakers alike.

And there’s a reason for that: Jaws is just that good.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the film and explore the impact it’s had on us (especially a couple of us who were profoundly shaped by it) as well as on the movie industry at large. People often talk about the idea of a “perfect movie,” one that couldn’t be improved. And while Jaws faced plenty of production problems (like the famously uncooperative mechanical shark), the creative solutions to those problems ended up making the film even stronger.

Films mentioned in this episode:

10 (1979), 47 Meters Down (2017), Barracuda (1978), The Beast (1996), Creature (1998), Cruel Jaws (1995), Dawn of the Dead (1978), Dawn of the Dead (2004), The Deep (1977), Deep Blood (1989), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Devilfish (1984), Duel (1971), The Exorcist (1973), Feast (2005), Frankenstein (1931), Friday the 13th (1980), The Giant Claw (1957), Grizzly (1976), Humanoids from the Deep (1980), The Island (1980), Jaws (1975), Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983), Jaws: The Revenge (1987), The Last Shark aka Great White (1981), Mako: Jaws of Death (1976), The Meg (2018), Open Waters (2003), Orca (1977), Piranha (1978), The Shallows (2016), Sharknado (2013), Star Wars (1977), Tentacles (1977), Tintorera: Killer Shark (1977)