Jaws

About this book

This study of Jaws (1975) examines how Steven Spielberg's breakout film not only redefined the thriller but also pioneered the summer blockbuster, cementing his reputation as a master filmmaker. Adapted from Peter Benchley's best-selling novel and Spielberg's second feature, Jaws became a cultural phenomenon, its story of a great white shark terrorising a New England beach town striking a primal chord with audiences. Against the odds of a catastrophic location shoot, the 27-year-old prodigy delivered a film so effective that it became the highest-grossing movie of its time, transforming Hollywood's approach to event cinema.