Relive the ‘Jaws’-Mania of the 1975 Premiere, 50 Years Later (Photos)
Though today, Jaws is one of the most financially successful, critically acclaimed, and influential American films of all time, when it was released 50 years ago today, on June 20, 1975, it was far from a sure thing.
Though the studio supported the film, there was some concern because it was embracing so many “firsts.” The shoot had gone vastly over-budget and dealt with grueling production delays, largely due to Steven Spielberg‘s decision to make it the first film to ever be shot on the actual open sea, instead of a studio backlot. It was also the first film to engage in a modern-day marketing frenzy, with producers hyping the film up on the talk show circuit months in advance, and TV ads running frequently across the nation in the week before the premiere:
The film was also one of the first ever to be widely released immediately — instead of the usual slow rollout that new films got, opening in different cities over the course of several months, Jaws was simultaneously released in 409 of theaters around the country.
Studio heads needn’t have worried: Jaws earned a shocking $7 million during its opening weekend, expanding to 700 theaters nationally the next week, and 950 by mid-August. It was the number one film in the country for 14 consecutive weeks, leaving Americans — especially younger ones — in the throes of Jaws-mania.
Relieve that summer with the photos below — and ask yourself if it’s safe to go in the water yet:
Fans line up to see the film.
(Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
Fans wait on a long line to see Jaws.
(Steve Kagan/Getty Images)
Fans crowd a theater that is showing Jaws until 4 a.m.
(Mark Sullivan/Getty Images)
Jaws producer Richard D. Zanuck poses with merchandise.
(Courtesy of Everett Collection)
A “Sharkfacts” poster used to promote the film.
(Courtesy of Everett Collection)
A t-shirt printing shop offers Jaws shirts in the fall of 1975.
(Photo by Peter Keegan/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Dickie Goodman released a bizarre tribute song, “Mr. Jaws,” which reached the Billboard top 5 in October, 1975.
(Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
A few months later, in December 1975, Bob Hope posed in a shot intended to evoke the film at the NBC Christmas Party special.
(Gary Null / ©NBC / Courtesy Everett Collection)
In 1976, a Jaws segment was added to the famous Universal Studios backlot tour, featuring a large animatronic shark that would attack the tram filled with tourists.
(Calle Hesslefors/ullstein bild via Getty Images)