50 Reasons Why Jaws Might Just Be The Greatest Film of All Time

By Oliver Pfeiffer /

21. Brilliant Supporting Cast

Not only are Scheider, Shaw and Dreyfuss a flawless trio, but the supporting cast is pretty impressive too. From Murray Hamilton's pigheaded money driven mayor ("We need summer dollars!") to Lorraine Gary's 'lesson in natural acting' loving wife Ellen. €”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€“

22. Was Responsible for the Outstanding 1978 rip-off PIRANHA

If it weren't for Jaws Joe Dante's brilliant send-up/homage wouldn't exist. €”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€“

23. The Score

Ok so we have talked about the shark theme but let's not neglect the rest of John William's opus: the hallucinatory harp that intensifies the mystery of the opening swimming scene, the sense of seafaring Moby Dick adventure aboard the Orca; the eerie menace conjured during the 'Ben Gardner's boat' underwater exploration; the gentle beauty of the notes that accompany the mimicking 'Father and Son' scene and the whimsical reassurance of the final end credits that now sound suspiciously like the opening bars of Michael Jackson's Earth Song. €”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€“

24. The Cinematography

Bill Butler's camerawork arguably features some of the best underwater shots put to cinema. €”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€”€“

25. Quint's Death

We miss him when he's gone but what a way to go.