Remembering Jeannot Szwarc Director Of Jaws 2
Jeannot Szwarc was a French director who passed away at the age of 85 on January 14 th 2025. You may not know the name but you’ll certainly be familiar with his body of work. Szwarc is most famous for directing Jaws 2, the (admittedly slightly lackluster) sequel to Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller.
That’s only the tip of the iceberg. Szwarc has more than 80 credits listed on his IMDB page. He wrote, produced, and directed dozens of projects in his day, from television to cult classic films.
In this article, we remember and celebrate his impressive body of work.
Bio
Born in Paris in 1939, Szwarc and his family of Polish-Jewish immigrants were forced to flee to Argentina when the Germans invaded France in 1940. They would not return until 1947. Despite a turbulent early childhood, Szwarc enjoyed a successful life. Though he began his career in advertising, Szwarc pivoted into the world of film in 1962 at the age of twenty-three. For several years, Szwarc puttered around the French and American film scenes, working entry-level production assistant positions.
His career took off in 1966 when, while working at Universal Studios in a low-level role, he sent a detailed outline of his idea for a crime drama to producers. The project was streamlined and developed into Ironside, a show in which Szwarc would serve as a senior producer.
He spent several years in television before developing a name for himself as a film director in the 1970s. He continued to work in television and film for the next fifty years.
Many of his most notable contributions to the world of entertainment took place on the small screen. He directed dozens of episodes of television over his many decades as a storyteller. In season five of the hit show, Without a Trace, he directed a well-known episode that left many fans itching to play poker online as they drank in the compelling casino set pieces featured in the episode.
His last IMDB credit was for directing an episode of Grey’s Anatomy in 2019.
Jeannot Szwarc Claim to Fame
Jaws 2 is certainly his most recognizable film. The movie provided a much-anticipated sequel to a smash hit. Unfortunately, the story failed to capture the same level of interest that its predecessor had. Critically, the film achieved only minor success and currently holds a “rotten,” 56% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Commercially, the movie did better. It debuted at the top of the charts, selling more than $9 million in tickets on its first weekend. Mind you, this was in 1978 before modern blockbusters routinely generated $1 billion+. In fact, Jaws 2 even predates Star Wars (1980), arguably the movie that defined the modern notion of commercial film success.
That $9 million opening weekend, across 640 screens set the record for largest domestic gross at the time.
The movie would go on to earn more than $200 million worldwide against a $20 million budget. It spawned dozens of popular accessories and products and paved the way for Jaws 3D—which Szwarc did not direct.
Unequivocally, Jaws 2 was Jeannot Szwarc’s biggest financial success. It isn’t his most beloved film.
Somewhere in Time
“Somewhere in Time” (1980) stars Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour in a romantic time travel story. Reeve plays a playwright who falls in love with an actress's photograph from 1912 and uses self-hypnosis to travel back in time to meet her.
Director Jeannot Szwarc created a deliberately paced, atmospheric film focused on the romance rather than time travel mechanics. The movie features period costumes, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, and a memorable score by John Barry.
Initially received poorly by critics and audiences, it has become a cult classic, particularly admired for its emotional depth and the chemistry between Reeve and Seymour. Fans appreciate its pure romantic focus and tragic ending, while critics note its deliberate pacing can feel slow.
The film’s most lasting influences are its score (which won multiple awards) and its treatment of time travel through the force of will rather than technology.
When you read Jeannot Szwarc’s obituaries, this film that gets attributed to him the most. The Yahoo News article on his death is titled Jeannot Szwarc, Director of ‘Somewhere in Time’ and ‘Jaws 2,’ Dies at 87.
Jaws 2 may be his biggest blockbuster, but it’s this simple little love story that fans continue to remember Jeannot Szwarc for.
One-of-a-Kind
Szwarc may not have ever achieved the sort of commercial success generated by the modern Marvel project but he contributed massively to the world of pop culture while living a rich and rewarding life.
Stories like his just don’t exist anymore. From fleeing Nazis, to writing his own ticket with an unsolicited television pitch to producers, Jeannot Szwarc lived a rare and exciting life. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.