10 Movies SIGNIFICANTLY Better Than The Book
7. Jaws
Steven Spielberg created the first true Summer film blockbuster with Jaws. People flocked away from the beaches and into theatres to watch this beast of a film, doing fantastic things for the actors' careers and terrible things to the reputations of sharks worldwide.
Peter Benchley wrote the novel in 1974, which gave the characters a little more to do, while stymieing some of their development. These characters are infinitely less likable than those in the film. They are also a little less lucky, with only Brody returning from the fateful fishing trip.
There is a subplot featuring the Mob that gives a little more reason to the Mayor's insistence on keeping the beaches open, but really there is very little competition here. The film is quite rightly considered a classic of cinema, featuring three terrific lead performances and one of the most frightening, and least seen, villains of the 20th century.
The film was responsible for both Spielberg and John Williams' careers taking off, thanks to that little two-note theme first hammered out on the piano. Few people who watch Jaws these days would consider the shark, when seen in the full, to be truly scary or realistic - but that misses the point. It is the very absence of the creature and the hunt that dominates the run time.
Much has been said about Robert Shaw's famous monologue in the film. That alone raises the film over the novel - it really is that good.