Why JAWS may be the greatest kids movie ever made
Hello Islanders,
I’m guessing you’re read the header on this piece and are scratching your head. “Did he mean NOT the greatest kids movie ever made,” you’re asking yourself? Nope.
I’ve done book signings where parents have asked me what a good age is for their kids to watch JAWS for the first time. I tell them that both of my grandchildren saw it when there were a few days old – my son was up late with the newborns and watched JAWS while holding them. When Jeff Kramer meets a young fan and their parents he asks the little ones if they’ve seen the film. If they say yes, he jokingly tells the parents he’s going to call social services on them! But when you think about it, JAWS is the perfect film for anyone between the age os of 6 and 12.
When they’re little, kids love watching movies, sometimes over and over again. I could put my 7 year old son in front of a television playing Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and he would watch it two or three times in a row. The beauty about multiple viewings is that each time he caught something new. The same can be said for JAWS.
The first time kids watch it, and I’ve attended dozens of screenings that are packed with youngsters whose parents brought them along, they are tense. All they’ve heard is that there’s a big shark so they spend the first viewing with their eyes glued to the screen, looking for any sign of the big beast. The next time they watch it, they’re a little more relaxed and spend more time following the characters and getting the jokes.
When a kid sees Hooper crush the Styrofoam cup for the first time they’re not sure what to do. This Quint guy is pretty mean..if I laugh will he be mean to me? Next time around, they get the comparison Hooper is making and laugh heartily. Other things that garner chuckes the second time around: Brody going “to make a phone call” and Quint telling Hooper to “stop playing with yourself.”
By the third viewing they’re actively asking questions, their curiosity piqued by the flickering images on their screens. In a few short hours they have learned to put their fear behind them and appreciate the story being put before them. Before you know it, they’re joining the cast in a rousing version of “Show Me the Way to Go Home!”
Every time my seven-year-old grandson comes over he often asks “can we watch JAWS? Not because he knows it’s my favorite film but because he really likes it. I guess I have my son to thank for that.
Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.
If you would like to write for The Daily Jaws, please visit our ‘work with us’ page
For all the latest Jaws, shark and shark movie news, follow The Daily Jaws on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.