15 Most Profitable Movies Of All Time
5. Jaws (1975)
Before Jaws hit theaters in 1975, the concept of a summer blockbuster wasn't really a thing. The movie hit theaters, and while everyone suddenly became scared to venture into the water, they didn't have a problem strolling into their local movie theater, making it the prototypical summer blockbuster.
The movie was a massive success for both Steven Spielberg and the motion picture industry as a whole, as it upped the ante of what audiences expected out of the filmgoing experience. It told an engrossing story through fascinating characters with thrills and action, the likes of which hadn't been seen.
Jaws managed to launch a film franchise, which saw the release of three sequels. It held the record for being the highest-grossing film of all time until Star Wars was released two years later. The movie also won three Academy Awards, including Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound.
When it was shot in 1974, Spielberg's thriller cost Universal Pictures $9 million, which adjusts to around $24 million in 2020. Jaws managed to score an impressive $472 million in '75, which adjusts to a staggering $2.270 billion, leaving the studio with an estimated profit of $1.021 billion.