Jaws Movie Research Paper

The term game changer, an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about something. That is exactly what the classic film was when it was released in the summer of 1975. This film directed by the renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg and quickly became Hollywood’s first summer blockbuster, starting a trend that is still continuing to this very day over four decades later. Jaws changed the way Hollywood targets the summer holiday season and set a new bar for the blockbuster film. Essential to consider when looking at the effects and success of Jaws, are how the film was made and the insurmountable obstacle of making such a classic film. Additionally, is annotating the box office success

Zanuck and David Brown once said that “Jaws was the most interesting thing they had ever read”. Additionally, David Brown was also quoted as saying “had they read the book twice, they would never have made the film because they would have realized how difficult it would be to execute certain sequences”. The making of Jaws an incredible accomplishment to say the least. The Film was adapted from Peter Benchley’s novel Jaws, written in 1974. After one quick read Zanuck and Brown were sold on Jaws and purchased the rights to adapt the novel into a film for approximately 175,000 dollars. Zanuck and Brown both producers at Universal pictures sought a director for their new film and after a failed attempt at working with popular maritime adventure director Dick Richards the duo decided to go with a young Steven Spielberg who they had recently worked with on Sugarland Express. Spielberg however did suffer from cold feet regarding making the project shortly after signing on to be its director for fear that the film would have him type casted, Spielberg, was convinced to proceed with the production of Jaws with an estimated budget of 3.5 million and a shooting schedule that was limited to only fifty-five days. Spielberg decided to remain true to the novel’s centralized story while simultaneously removing many of Peter Benchley’s subplots. The screenplay was a combination of original screenplay and adaption of the latter part of the novel itself. Benchley’s stab at the screenplay last only three failed attempts before it was taken over by Carl