Steven Spielberg’s horror hit from 49 years ago has left an enduring legacy that movies today have yet to rival.Jawscame out in June 1975 and immediately awed audiences. The movie follows a police chief who is determined to catch a great white shark after a series of shark attacks close to shore, leading toJaws' iconic ending sequence. Spielberg’s shark hunting movie combined hints of action and adventure with a thrilling horror that changed how people understand the success of movies, and the danger of sharks, to this day.
However,both the immediate and enduring popularity of Spielberg’sJawsremains an outlier in the horror genre.Beyond its reputation as one of the most iconic andbest monster movies of all time,Jawsset numerous box office records and was met with praise from critics.Jawsis even responsible for popularizing the term “blockbuster"when referring to a successful film, which is common parlance for movie fans today. One part ofJaws' reception includes a milestone that no other horror films have been able to surpass since.
Jaws Was The Last Horror Movie To Be The Highest Grossing Movie Of The Year
1975 Was The Last Time A Horror Movie Topped the Year’s Box Office
Jawsis considered one of the greatest films of its year and of all time based on box office results. 1975 saw other great hits grace the silver screen, such asOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Shampoo,andDog Day Afternoon, but none of the year’s other successful movies could matchJaws’s earnings of $260 million during its initial release (viaBox Office Mojo). Adding re-releases to the number brings the total even higher, up to $477.2 million, and, adjusted for inflation,Jawsis still the seventh highest-grossing movie of all time(viaBox Office Mojo).
Additionally, Spielberg’s movie also leveraged a wide theatrical release, which was uncommon at the time, andJawseven expanded to further theaters as its popularity grew.
Why Horror Movies Rarely Finish As The Highest-Grossing Movie Of The Year
Fewer People See Horror Films In Theaters
While there have been many popular horror movies in the last 49 years,Jawsis still one of thebest horror movies of all timeand one of the few horror movies to enter into the highest-grossing lists. In fact, its record as the highest-grossing horror was not surpassed untilThe Sixth Sensein 1999. One of the main reasons that horror movies are typically not the biggest earners of the year is that they are simply not as popular with audiences. Not everyone likes horror movies, and with many being R-rated, kids, a major movie-going demographic, often cannot see them.
How Much Money Jaws Would Make At The Box Office If It Released Today
Steven Spielberg’s Jaws grossed a record-breaking $260 million in 1975, but how much would that amount be today, adjusted for inflation?
Aside from rarely being the highest-grossing, horror movies are often overlooked during the awards season as well. Only afew horror films have been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, andJawsis one of them.Horror movies are often considered too gory or disturbing, and some make use of B-movie styles, meaning they are both less financially and critically successful. However, the rare enduring legacy ofJawsproves that the perfect horror movie has the ability to remain profitable, influential, and beloved throughout the years.
Jaws
Cast
Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, follows the residents of Amity Island as they face terror from a menacing great white shark. The town’s police chief, a marine biologist, and a seasoned shark hunter join forces to track and kill the predator threatening their coastal community. Released in 1975.
