Jaws Reviews | RateItAll

Jaws

1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley Website

Approval Rate: 77%

77%Approval ratio

Reviews 47

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  • by

    hello4377

    Sun May 30 2010

    i was expecting a big scare out of this but didnt. i liked the movie it was good/boring, but ill never understand how this would scare over a million people and make lakes or oceans scary.

  • by

    scuta5

    Wed Jun 25 2008

    Jaws. I never knew it was based on a book. but the film, makes me afraid to go in the water. i give Jaws, four stars. I consider Jaws the best shark film. and even its 3 sequels. On July 4th, 2008. on the AMC channel, there will be a Jaws marathon.

  • by

    cindy448

    Mon Jun 23 2008

    Old, but good

  • by

    spike65

    Sat Apr 26 2008

    A great movie when first released. The Hippy-Disco era music is a bit dated and close-ups of the shark reveal it starting to fall apart. Overall an exciting "fish tale". The only downside was this movie led to a large number of sharks being killed just for "kicks".

  • by

    karenmparan

    Fri Jun 22 2007

    THIS MOVIE IS A MASTERPIECE!  ONE OF THE BEST SHARK MOVIES EVER!  This movie deserves five stars!! "were gonna need a bigger boat"

  • by

    trebon1038

    Sun Apr 08 2007

    They have tried and tried to make big bad fish in the sea compare to Jaws and they have yet to succeed. The movie and the book were great. The cast was also top notch.

  • by

    kelticman

    Fri Oct 27 2006

    Jaws is a good old fashioned yarn in the Moby Dick tradition. I went to see this film ( based on the Peter Benchley novel - which I also read) when it came out. I liked it then and still do. The late Robert Shaw stole the scenes as Quint, who was based on a similar real life character, and who actually appeared in the movie. Shaw and co star, Ricahrd Dreyfuss, didn't get along during the shooting of this film. Dreyfuss accused Shaw of being a bully. Shaw said he only wound him up to draw out a better performance from him. Either way it worked. Quint's recounting of the shark attacks on his USS Indianapolis crew, followed by their "show us the way to go home" singalong with Brody (Roy Scheider) and Hooper (Dreyfuss)is for me, one of the most memorable scenes in movie history. Okay, the rubber sharks used in the fiming were at times laughable, but this didn't detract from the sense of suspense, tension and surprise the actors and especially Speilburg, helped create. As for the sequels: t... Read more

  • by

    0emily0

    Sun Oct 15 2006

    OHH ITS A MASTERPIECE I LOVE JAWS

  • by

    faa07a17

    Thu Jul 13 2006

    In hindsight, this movie ranks as one of my faves. It was in reality the first of the "summer blockbuster" style movies but despite the flash (it was deemed a quantum leap in special effects in its day)the story is excellent and the performances were top notch. Scheider was good but Robert Shaw as Quint stole the show. The scene where he tells the tale of the USS Indianapolis is pure cinema. Kudos to Dreyfus for playing a great foil to Quint.

  • by

    djahuti

    Tue Apr 04 2006

    This movie was over-rated when it came out.Can not figure how it still gets watched.The acting was wooden at best and the characters were so lame you may end up rooting for the shark.

  • by

    decalod85

    Sun Dec 04 2005

    You have to look at the overall effect of this movie on American culture. People would not go in the water when this movie came out. They were that scared! Great movie, great characters, a first class effort by Spielberg.

  • by

    echoscot

    Tue Oct 18 2005

    Great drama, great effects. Story was well told......

  • by

    crackerjacket

    Sat Aug 06 2005

    This movie scared generations of kids out of the water. Great flick.

  • by

    kattwoman

    Sun Jul 03 2005

    i never was a fan of this movie. it just didn't catch my interest. the characters were boring and i could care less whether the shark got them at all

  • by

    killerbudsfore_very1

    Fri Apr 08 2005

    Giant sharks arent scary, now a movie about giant midgets would br terrifying. go porn!

  • by

    guitar_chick49_3

    Wed Apr 06 2005

    cheesy at some parts but one of the best action/thrillers. --meghan

  • by

    maomania

    Sun Feb 27 2005

    I remember I was so little when I saw Jaws the first time. And I couldn't sleep for days. I was so scared. I haven't watched it since then and I don't think I want to. I'm afraid it would lose something. But hell I was so scared.

  • by

    tocwelsh

    Sun Jan 30 2005

    Just can't watch rubber sharks.......

  • by

    cindyo

    Sat Dec 11 2004

    This movie freaked me out as a kid. The music by John Williams really adds to the mood. It makes it more suspenseful since the shark isn't shown until 1 hr 20 min into the movie! Speilberg did excellent directing this movie and Scheider, Dreyfull, and Shaw helped make this movie into a classic film that will be viewed for many generations.

  • by

    canadian_road_rage

    Fri Oct 22 2004

    My all time favourite movie!

  • by

    daccory

    Tue Oct 05 2004

    When I watch this now I wonder what all the fuss was about. The effect it had at the time is indicative of the celluloid master, Speilberg.

  • by

    frogger20190

    Thu Aug 26 2004

    One of the all-time greats. The fact that you can't see the shark until the second half (which was originally unintentional according to Spielberg) makes it even more effective. Personally I think it's his best film.

  • by

    beatlesfanstev_eo

    Tue Jul 13 2004

    it was a pretty got film. It was otherwise boring unless there was a scene with jaws in it.

  • by

    dirty_harry

    Tue Jun 29 2004

    A summer must-see classic! Even thoug I've seen about two-dozen times (at least) there are still scenes I love to see (the shark coming out of the water while the Sheriff tosses blood & guts overboard). This will always be a classic and even though special effects today might enhance the visuals, it would probably ruin it.

  • by

    lashes

    Mon Jun 28 2004

    One of the scariest movies i have ever seen.

  • by

    jamie_mcbain

    Thu Jun 24 2004

    See this one and avoid 3 and 4.

  • by

    coco13a8

    Thu Jun 17 2004

    My favorite movie of all time !

  • by

    virilevagabond

    Fri Feb 20 2004

    Released in 1975, Steven Spielberg's Jaws set the standard for summer blockbuster movies that we now take for granted. For those who have been too afraid to get in the water, the film is set in the New England coastal town of Amity which is suddenly plagued by a Great White Shark right before the summer season. Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) is thereby put in conflict with Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) who realizes that closing the beaches will devastate the town's tourist based economy. Nevertheless, push eventually comes to bites and Body sets off to kill the shark with ichthyologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and the crusty old salt Quint (Robert Shaw) on the latter's boat, the Orca. Besides flawless casting, Spielberg uses camera angles, deep focus, contrasting dialogue, and literary and historical allusions and references (eg Moby Dick and the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis) to build tension and mood. For instance, taking advantage of a flawed fake pr... Read more

  • by

    kolby1973

    Thu Feb 05 2004

    Jaws is about as scary as Killer Clowns from Outer Space. A complete waste of cinema...don't bother...

  • by

    salliesman15

    Wed Jan 14 2004

    Because of Roy Schneider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw this movcie is worth watching. Yes, its scary to a degree but the climax of the movie is disappointing. Robert Shaw getting eaten was the most corny scene in Hollywood history

  • by

    tvtator

    Thu Dec 18 2003

    This is an entertaining movie but by no means a classic. It was one of Steven Spielberg's first blockbuster films and certainly not one of his best. From what I know about sharks, they do not just outright attack people. Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss are good, but the best thing about the movie is Robert Shaw's performance and the memorable music score by John Williams.

  • by

    kirara

    Mon Nov 17 2003

    Ehim. Absolutely my favorite movie EVER. I have loved this movie since I was five so trust me, its great. Although more half the Earths population has seen (or at least herd a great deal about) this movie, there are still some people who are reluctant to watch it. I cant stand the excuse that its to scary. First off, no, its not, and second off, who cares? Are you not ever going to eat beef because at one point in time people thought you might get mad cow disease? Im not trying to bash the movie or anything, but really! The little bit of scariness in it makes it good, or at least interesting. Even if it was the scariest movie on the face of the planet, the wonderful cast and excellent overall story makes it one of the best adventures ever made for the cinema. From the rushing chase sequences, to the suspenseful grand finale, this movie never stops with the action and witty sayings that you can't help but remember. I mean, were have you NOT herd Were gona need a bigger boat? I even find... Read more

  • by

    bbennet39

    Mon Nov 03 2003

    A true classic, combining music, suspence, camera work and acting. Memorable characters and wonderful performances. One of the best movies ever made, the first of the Summer blockbusters.

  • by

    president_x_d

    Wed Oct 22 2003

    An excellent film, probably Speilberg's greatest film ever.

  • by

    badunsgirl

    Tue Oct 21 2003

    Jaws is a great flim and it's very suspenseful and keeps you on the edge of your seat!! it's one of those thillers that is regretable if you don't call this a true, Classic!!

  • by

    wpittman

    Thu Aug 28 2003

    jwas has been terrify adults and kids for more than 20 years. it's suspensful story and great actors make it a very memorable thriller

  • by

    sexybaby069

    Thu May 15 2003

    It's one of the greatest films!!!!

  • by

    zebadee

    Sun Apr 20 2003

    Dated

  • by

    philc01b

    Tue Apr 01 2003

    Guess it was ok back then because it had frightening moments. Not as good as newer thriller films.

  • by

    canadasucks

    Mon Feb 10 2003

    An American classic. . .JAWS is still a great film 20+ years later. Robert Shaw as "Quint" is a great example of character acting.

  • by

    teaseress

    Thu Jan 02 2003

    This is one of Speilburg's best films and it has a great cast. The editing for this film is amazing. Especially when you have Brodie sitting on teh beach looking out to sea to make sure that its safe and you have people walking past in their different coloured bathing suits and that determines how close the shot is on Brodie. Richard Drefuss is amazing as usual, especially when him and Brodie are trying to convince the Mayor that the beach should be closed as there was definately a Great White in the Waters and the mayor makes a comment about him and he starts laughing. This film has the suspense element done to perfection, especially with that famous music signature. Its a shame that they ruined it by doing all the other Jaws movies.

  • by

    lukskywlkr

    Fri Nov 01 2002

    Other than Raiders, this is my favorite Spielberg film. It just grabs you and won't let go...

  • by

    jason1972

    Wed Oct 30 2002

    I had a hard time swimming in a lake or an ocean for a while after seeing this one. A true classic that put Spielberg on the map.

  • by

    loadf19d

    Wed May 22 2002

    "Jaws" is certainly one of the most heart-pounding motion pictures ever made. It introduced to the world the superb talents of director, Steven Spielberg and musician, John Williams, two men who have defined the cinema of today. Immensely entertaining and highly suspenseful, "Jaws" is to Spielberg what "Psycho" is to Alfred Hitchcock.

  • by

    dianewarren

    Sun Apr 21 2002

    Jaws is excellent. The shark IS scary and the music is good too.

  • by

    iloveyou

    Sun Apr 21 2002

    The greatest film ever made. It's just brilliant.

  • by

    jawsscaresme

    Fri Apr 19 2002

    As you can see by my username this film terrifies me. Even today if I'm far out from the beach I think of this movie and it's music. Steven Speilberg even more amazingly was only about 26 (the same age as me) when he directed it. The chances of seeing a movie as effective as this again are extremely slim. Also does anyone know about this new version that was supposed to be released a couple of years ago in theaters. I've heard nothing more about the re-issue plans. I'd just love to see it on the big screen, that would really be something!