Antonia Quirke

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.

Against the odds of a catastrophic location shoot, 27-year-old Spielberg delivered a film so effective that it became the highest-grossing movie of its time, transforming Hollywood’s approach to event cinema.

Adapted from Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel, and Steven 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. Under extreme pressure on a catastrophic location shoot, Universal's 27 year-old prodigy crafted a thriller so effective that for some time Jaws was the highest-grossing film of all time. It was also instrumental in establishing the concepts of the event movie and the summer blockbuster.