Steven Spielberg's iconic ocean thriller "Jaws" will hit theaters for its second innings on June 21. The 1975 blockbuster film is celebrating its 40th anniversary and will be re-released in 500 theaters all over the U.S. Tickets go on sale on May 29 at FathomEvents.com and in participating theaters.
Universal Pictures announced a partnership with Fathom Events to show "Jaws" four times in theaters throughout June. The screenings will take place June 21 and June 24, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Each screening will feature a special introduction from Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz. He will give an insight into how this classic still makes us think twice about jumping in that water.
"Jaws' is a classic thriller enjoyed by generations and it is ready for a comeback. Movie buffs will love seeing their favorite killer shark larger than life on the big screen. No risk of shark bite!" said Fathom Events programming VP Kymberli Frueh-Owens. The film is credited to set the record at the time for the highest grossing film ever. A group of industry voters ranked it Hollywood's No 24 best film.
In 1975, Steven Spielberg's adaptation of the Peter Benchley book of the same name "Jaws" became an instant success and changed summer blockbusters to come. Four decades ago, Variety's A.D. Murphy wrote in his review that the film was "an artistic and commercial smash." The shark attack film, which starred Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss, cost just $9 million to make and grossed nearly that much in its first weekend. It later accumulated more than $460 million worldwide.
"Jaws" revolves around a hot summer on Amity Island. The island is inhabited by a small community whose main business is its beaches. When new Sheriff Martin Brody discovers the remains of a shark attack victim, his first inclination is to close the beaches to swimmers. This doesn't go down well with Mayor Larry Vaughn and several of the local businessmen. Brody backs down to his regret as that weekend a young boy is killed by the predator. The dead boy's mother puts out a bounty on the shark and Amity is soon swamped with amateur hunters and fisherman hoping to cash in on the reward. A local fisherman with much experience hunting sharks, Quint, offers to hunt down the creature for a hefty fee. Soon Quint, Brody and Matt Hooper from the Oceanographic Institute are at sea hunting the Great White shark. As Brody succinctly surmises after their first encounter with the creature, they're going to need a bigger boat.
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