‘JAWS @ 50’ documentary wins at the Classic Horror Awards
There’s something wonderfully fitting about Jaws still making waves 50 years later.
This week, the documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story took home the award for Best Blu-ray Extra at the 2025 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards — another remarkable achievement for a film that has never stopped inspiring audiences, filmmakers, collectors, and horror fans around the world.
For longtime members of the Jaws community, the win feels especially meaningful. The Rondo Awards are among the most respected honors in genre fandom, celebrating the very best in classic horror scholarship, preservation, documentaries, and special features. To see Jaws @ 50 recognized by horror fans themselves speaks volumes about the impact the documentary has already had.
Directed by Laurent Bouzereau and produced in partnership with National Geographic, Amblin Documentaries, and Wendy Benchley, Jaws @ 50 was released as the centerpiece bonus feature on Universal’s 50th Anniversary Blu-ray and 4K editions of Jaws. The feature-length documentary explores not only the making of Spielberg’s masterpiece, but also its enduring legacy in cinema, pop culture, and even shark conservation.
Ross Williams of The Daily Jaws (left) with ‘JAWS @ 50’ director Laurent Bouzereau
Unlike many retrospective documentaries, Jaws @ 50 manages to feel both nostalgic and fresh. It revisits the famously difficult Martha’s Vineyard production while also examining how the film changed Hollywood forever by creating the modern summer blockbuster. The documentary includes reflections from Steven Spielberg, filmmakers influenced by Jaws, cast and crew members, historians, and marine experts who discuss the movie’s complicated relationship with public perceptions of sharks.
Fans immediately embraced the documentary after its release. Across collector forums and Blu-ray communities, viewers praised the emotional storytelling, newly assembled archival material, and the way the documentary balanced celebration with honest reflection. For many fans, it became the primary reason to purchase the anniversary edition.
That enthusiasm has now translated into award recognition.
The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards have long championed genre preservation and thoughtful horror journalism, making this honor particularly special for Jaws fans. While Jaws has always occupied a unique space between suspense thriller, adventure film, and horror classic, the Rondos have once again acknowledged what fans have known for decades: Jaws remains one of the defining horror experiences ever put on film.
And perhaps the most remarkable part of all this is timing.
Half a century after audiences first heard John Williams’ iconic two-note theme echo through theaters, Jaws is still finding new ways to connect with audiences. Younger viewers are discovering the film for the first time. Collectors continue debating the best home video release. Fans still travel to Martha’s Vineyard every summer. And documentaries like Jaws @ 50 prove there are still new stories left to tell about Spielberg’s classic.
Winning Best Blu-ray Extra at the Rondos is more than just another trophy. It’s a reminder that Jaws is not simply a beloved movie from 1975 — it is a living piece of film history that continues to evolve with every generation.
Fifty years later, the shark still has bite.
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story is included on Universal’s Jaws 50th Anniversary Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD releases.
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