"Jaws" 50th Anniversary Celebrations Include Upcoming Big Screen Re-release and More

"Jaws," a movie so perfect it thrills audiences today as much as it did in 1975, turned 50 this summer. Anniversary celebrations across the country include your chance to experience "Jaws" on the big screen in IMAX, 4DX and other enhanced formats in select Regal theaters from Aug. 29 – Sept. 1 (Labor Day weekend). 

One of the mechanical sharks used in "Jaws" at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Among the viewing options for the "Jaws" re-release, the most advanced and thrilling is 4DX. Considered the latest theater viewing experience, 4DX is a step beyond the immersiveness of IMAX to include multisensory effects timed perfectly to what’s happening on screen. Imagine feeling air across your face just as the wind blows or your seat vibrating while a boat motors out to sea.

Get ready for the special glasses! Regal will also offer RealD 3D showings, which utilizes special projection technology to transform a traditional 2D film into 3D. Or, see "Jaws" in RPX, a premium experience using a larger screen, advanced digital projectors and enhanced sound. If old school is your style, Regal is offering traditional 2D showings, as well.

Exhibits and Other "Jaws" 5oth Anniversary Celebrations  

The big screen re-release is just one of numerous high profile ways "Jaws" is being celebrated this year including:

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures -"Jaws" was not only a mega hit, but also an academy award winner, hugely influential on the film industry and part of an important time in filmmaking.

The 1970s marked a new era with young filmmakers like Spielberg and his friends, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma and Francis Ford Coppola, bringing a realism to the screen unlike anything that came before it. 

For these reasons, it's not surprising the "Jaws" 50th anniversary is worthy of special attention by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (they give out the Oscars). "Jaws: The Exhibition" is a large-scale exhibit showing at the academy's museum in Los Angeles from Sept. 14, 2025 – July 26, 2026. The event marks two firsts for the museum: it's largest exhibit dedicated to a single film and the largest exhibit ever curated about "Jaws." 

Visitors can expect to see rare and special items since the museum's curators were granted special access to the personal collections and archives of Spielberg, his production company and NBCUniversal.

If you miss the exhibit, but visit the academy museum at another time, you can still see the last surviving mechanical shark used in the movie. Once headed for the junk pile, this version of Bruce — as the shark was nicknamed — was restored and now hangs from the museum’s ceiling for all to see as they move from floor-to-floor. 

New Documentary on "Jaws" Now Streaming - "Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story," which first premiered on National Geographic channel, is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+

This wonderful deep dive by director Laurent Bouzereau is actually built upon his 1995 documentary, "The Making of Jaws,” but updated and filled with new content.

In my opinion, "Jaws @ 50" is the best documentary to date about the movie. It offers a complete look at the movie’s origin, cultural impact and relevance today. The documentary starts at the beginning with how Peter Benchley, who wrote the novel "Jaws" and the movie's screenplay, was influenced by his life in Nantucket and fishing off its shores. The documentary skillfully journeys through the nuts and bolts of making the film, which was notoriously difficult.

Best of all, the documentary includes new interviews with Spielberg and members of his crew and cast, including the actor who played the little Kintner boy! Featured throughout the documentary are past interviews with crucial members of Spielberg’s team and others in the movie industry who were impacted by “Jaws.” 

The documentary also includes shark experts who talk about the realism of the movie and its impact from the terrible (shark hunting) to the wonderful (raised awareness about the vital role great white sharks play in maintaining a natural balance in the oceans).

Martha’s Vineyard - Much of the film was shot on location in Martha’s Vineyard, which served as the movie’s fictional Amity Island. The town is hosting special screenings, concerts, and a series of other events throughout the summer. For more details, visit the town's official site.

Universal theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando - Interested in a mug with a quote from the movie? Or, how about a bucket hat like ones Amity Islanders might have worn? "Jaws" fans can expect these and more themed merchandise at both parks during the summer.

Plus, both parks have a "Jaws" float in their daily parade, themed dining experiences and other related entertainment. For instance, Universal Orlando includes music from "Jaws" in its nightly Cinesational: A Symphonic Spectacular show.

As part of Universal Hollywood's Mega Movie Summer, the park's Hollywood & Dine restaurant is now Amity Island Cafe serving lobster rolls and other food inspired by the movie.

There is no longer a "Jaws" ride at Universal Orlando, but Universal Hollywood still features the movie during its backlot studio tour. Be prepared for Bruce to pop up and say, "hello!" For more details on "Jaws"-related activities in both parks, visit the Universal blog site.

"Jaws" 50th Anniversary is Worth Celebrating

You may be asking yourself why the anniversary of a shark horror movie is a big deal deserving of a re-release with technological bells and whistles, exhibits and city-wide celebrations. Well, the original "Jaws" was a big deal. It was a cultural touchpoint – the first summer blockbuster (and the origin of the phrase) and a significant part in filmmaking history.

As a movie, "Jaws" is perfect — or at least near perfect — and why it's still just as riveting and entertaining today as it was 50 years ago. This isn’t just my opinion— the experts in the film world agree. Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderberg, James Cameron, and Jordan Peele were inspired by the film and use words like “masterpiece” and “perfect” to describe it in Bouzereau's documentary.

"Jaws" reaches perfection on all levels. Most of all, its due to Spielberg's amazing filmmaking, especially his ability to capture an audience and take them on an intimate journey. Like Alfred Hitchcock, the master whose influence is seen throughout the film, Spielberg knows how to frame a scene to build emotion and just how much to show or not show the audience, which allows their minds to fill in the terrifying gaps.

Plus, there all of the special, relatable moments that are a hallmark of Spielberg's work. These scenes help us believe the imaginary characters are real and not so different than us. My favorite is the kitchen table scene between Brody and his little boy.

The writing in "Jaws" is exceptional from Benchley’s work to the story Quint tells of a terrifying night surrounded by sharks after the U.S.S Indianapolis sank. The speech was written by screenwriter Jon Milius ("Apocalypse Now") and refined by actor and playwright Robert Shaw, who brought the sea-worn character, Quint, to life.

Like all well-done movies, the incredible actors portrayed their characters with such believability that we root for the hero, despise the villain and cry for the hurt. There's a deep understanding and representation of human nature throughout the performances. It's why we grieve for the Kintner boy’s mother and understand Brody's guilt over the boy's death. For an added touch of realism, Spielberg wisely used locals from Martha's Vineyard among the supporting actors and extras in the film.

In addition to the actors, was the incredible work by all of Spielberg's team — the crew shooting on location in the ocean, special effects artists building and operating a mechanical shark (that could actually work in an ocean), John Williams composing a hauntingly perfect score, shark experts and documentarians who consulted and shot footage of real sharks, and so much more.

As an audience member, all of these factors meld flawlessly making "Jaws" one of those movies you can watch over and over and never tire. You experience a roller coaster of emotions every time. You know that head will appear in the sunken boat, yet you still jump. You know the Orca doesn't sink and Brody survives, yet you still worry as he shoots at the air canister in the shark's mouth to blow it up.

And, of course, the music by Williams is so well known it's part of our shared cultural fabric. This is especially true of those two simple notes, commonly called “dun-dun." They show up in TV shows and other movies, but when they plays in "Jaws" it never ceases to strike fear and anticipatory nervousness in us knowing it means the blood-hungry shark is near unsuspecting humans.

Movie making is a complex process, a creative puzzle that provides wonderful, enduring entertainment when all the pieces fit together just right. In "Jaws" they certainly do. Whether you celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Jaws" with a viewing on your home's little screen or in a 4DX theater, enjoy the ride and here's hoping none of us ever has to say, "We're gonna need a bigger boat."