JAWS 2025: Celebrating Jaws 50 and that one shark film still has bite
JAWS may have been a phenomenon when it first swam onto US cinema screens on June 20 1975, but no one could have predicted – not Spielberg, not Dreyfuss, not Universal – that we’d still be watching, talking and writing all things JAWS five decades later.
That fast cinematic fish, it was after all the first film to smash through the $100 million barrier, pioneered the modern blockbuster, reshaped studio release strategies and embedded itself permanently – like a tooth in the hull of Ben Gardner’s boat - into popular culture.
Fifty years later, in 2025, JAWS reached its golden anniversary, and the celebrations unfolded across the year in a wave of announcements, releases, events and reflections that reaffirmed the film’s enduring power. JAWS 50 became a global, year-long tribute and enduring celebration, and people – to quote Mayor Vaughn – were having a wonderful time.
The anniversary year began with a surge of anticipation. Studios, museums, cinemas, and fan communities revealed plans that made it clear JAWS 50 would be a landmark cultural moment, capturing the consciousness not just of JAWS, shark and film fans, but the general population, in a way that it hadn’t since that summer of the shark back in 1975.
Among the forever constant and most influential voices was The Daily Jaws, which launched its expansive Jaws 50 interview series, which saw the likes of actors Simon Pegg and Jack Quaid, as well as Slash from Guns ‘N Roses talk about their huge admiration, the influence of and love of all things JAWS. Many an in-depth chat was interrupted by Deputy Hendricks himself, Jeffrey Kramer.
The interviews created a living oral history of the film, offering new insights while reinforcing the depth of its global fanbase.
You can catch the unfolding series on The Daily Jaws YouTube channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
“Fifty years on, JAWS still brings people together - not just through fear, fascination, film or nostalgia, but through a shared passion. It’s proof that a great film doesn’t just survive time; it swims alongside us, generation after generation. Arguably JAWS, all 25 feet and three tons of it, has never been bigger.”
January: JAWS play wows on UK tour
The Shark Is Broken embarked on its UK tour from January to May, dropping anchor in the likes of Oxford, Nottingham, Bath, Newcastle, Brighton, Poole, Birmingham and Dublin.
It featured original star and co-writer Ian Shaw reprising his mesmerising performance as Robert Shaw.
A different production of the show also docked in Martha’s Vineyard later in the year, minus Shaw but with its original director, Guy Masterton, back at the helm.
Meanwhile, several other versions of the play - having already made waves in the West End and on Broadway in previous years - also broke the surface at venues across the United States.
The play, about the behind-the-scenes events during the filming of JAWS by Shaw and Joseph Nixon, also made its streaming debut for those who weren't able to catch it live on stage.
May 2025: Martha’s Vineyard morphs into Amity Island once more
In May, the anniversary took physical shape when the Martha’s Vineyard Museum opened JAWS at 50: A Deeper Dive. The exhibition honoured both the film and the island community that became the fictional Amity Island.
Featuring rare photographs, original props, concept artwork, and oral histories from residents who participated in the production, the exhibit explored how the modest town became the setting for one of cinema’s most influential films, allowing visitors to step directly into the world of JAWS.
May 2025: Where are we going? Swimming!
Amid the celebrations, the anniversary also became a platform for reflection and change. In a powerful act of conservation-driven symbolism, endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh, from Devon in the UK, spent 12 days completing a 60-mile swim around Martha’s Vineyard, remember that it’s only an island if you look at it from the water, to raise awareness about shark conservation.
Pugh’s swim acknowledged JAWS’ complicated legacy — recognising the film’s cultural brilliance while confronting its role in fuelling fear and misunderstanding of sharks. By encircling the island that represented Amity, Pugh reframed the narrative, using the anniversary to promote respect for sharks and highlight the urgent need to protect them.
The swim became one of the most meaningful moments of JAWS 50, underscoring how the anniversary was not just about celebration, but about evolution of our understanding of sharks and the vital role they play in our oceans.
June 2025: Show me the way to go home releases and new stories
June marked a major milestone with the release of the 50th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray edition of JAWS. Of course we’d all bought the Steven Spielberg film on other formats, and many of us would buy it again.
This latest home release featured a pristine restoration and hours of bonus content, including archival documentaries, deleted scenes, and Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story, directed by longtime Spielberg collaborator Laurent Bouzereau.
The documentary chronicled the notoriously difficult shoot - from malfunctioning mechanical sharks to unpredictable weather - while also addressing the broader cultural impact of the film, enter Ross from The Daily Jaws, alongside the likes of Spielberg, JJ Abrahams, Jordan Peele, Wendy Benchley and the son of Quint actor Robert Shaw, Ian Shaw.
Importantly, the documentary incorporated perspectives from marine biologists and conservationists, acknowledging how JAWS shaped public perceptions of sharks and encouraging a more informed, responsible dialogue.
June 2025: Amity, as you know, means friendship
As summer arrived so did the summer dollars, Martha’s Vineyard hosted a multi-day celebration. Fans gathered for cast appearances – including the return of Richard Dreyfuss the first time since filming - panel discussions, guided filming-location tours, community events and even the return of the Orca, a lovingly created replica, which transformed the island into a living tribute to JAWS.
For many attendees, it was the emotional heart of the anniversary - a moment where film history, place, and fandom converged.
August: You’re gonna need a bigger screen
The crescendo of the anniversary arrived with the worldwide theatrical re-release of Jaws, with audiences experiencing the film in IMAX, the enhanced visuals and sound amplifying the scale of the ocean and the precision of Spielberg’s suspense for both new and returning generations of moviegoers.
There were also 3D presentations and the even more immersive 4DX screenings, where motion seats, wind, water spray, and environmental effects placed audiences aboard the Orca, making familiar scenes feel startlingly immediate. Together, these formats reaffirmed JAWS as a theatrical experience first and showed there was life in the old dog-eating shark yet.
And you can’t mention the cinema going experience without the merchandise that came along with it, specifically the impressive shark head popcorn holder – Hooper’s cage was also available – and also a drink’s cup in the shape of a yellow barrel. What else?
Collectors embraced limited-edition releases including anniversary versions of The Game of Jaws, a JAWS version of Operation, various figures, posters and vinyl soundtracks, as well as the John Williams score released on a three-disc CD complete with unheard cues.
September 2025: This belongs in a museum
Back in LA, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, unveiled Jaws: The Exhibition, the largest exhibition ever devoted to a single film at the institution. Drawing from studio archives and private collections, including Spielberg’s own, it showcased costumes, storyboards, concept art, and more.
JAWS still has bite as a pop culture icon
Once again, JAWS imagery flooded pop culture, reminding audiences how deeply the film remains embedded in the collective imagination. Make no bones, or should that be Cartlidge, about it, JAWS is a legacy that still swims and its stroke is strong.
Fifty years after its debut, JAWS remains a defining piece of cinema — not only for its continuing scares, but for its craftsmanship, cultural impact, and capacity to inspire conversation. The 50th anniversary unfolded as both a celebration and a reckoning, proving that the film’s legacy continues to grow, adapt, and resonate.
Half a century on, JAWS doesn’t just provoke fear and excitement but also admiration for a film that endures, enJAWS even, and will continue to do so long after we have said farewell and adieu. The shark and the JAWS story is simply one that will not stop swimming.
What were your highlights of JAWS 50? Let us know in the comments.