There are summer blockbusters — and then there’s Jaws. Steven Spielberg’s 1975 thriller didn’t just scare people out of the water. It changed the way movies were made, marketed, and experienced forever.
So, when was Jaws released?
Jaws hit theaters on June 20, 1975.
It rolled out across hundreds of screens — an unusual move at the time — and backed by a massive TV ad campaign, which was practically unheard of. The gamble paid off. Audiences poured in, and suddenly the shark wasn’t just a monster on screen — it was a cultural event.
That means this summer marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws.
Half a century later, people still hear those two notes from John Williams’ score and immediately feel a chill. The movie that made everyone afraid to go back in the water is still the gold standard of suspense.
So, when was Jaws released?
June 20, 1975. And now, in 2025, we celebrate 50 years of the shark that changed cinema.
Whether you saw it on the big screen back then, or still watch it every summer, Jaws remains proof that sometimes the scariest monsters are the ones you can’t see coming.
Sam
You’d think fear of sharks began with Jaws in 1975, but it dates back further. Ancient tales warned of shark dangers, and the 1916 shark hysteria in America fueled fear. However, it was Spielberg’s Jaws that transformed these fears into a global phenomenon, reshaping our view of these majestic predators.
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