The Movies: Jaws (1975), Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3 (1983), Jaws: The Revenge (1987), Jaws 19 (2015) Despite a notoriously tortured production that went 100 days over schedule and $5m over budget, Jaws obliterated box office records around the globe following its release. Backed by an unprecedentedly aggressive marketing campaign and an unusually wide domestic release at over 450 theaters (which numbered almost 1000 two months later), the movie grossed an incredible $470.6m worldwide and kept a generation from going in the water. Besides the commercial success, Jaws remains an indisputable classic and one of the most perfectly-crafted two hours of entertainment in cinematic history. Three years later, the sequel arrived. It was obviously not going to be a patch on the original, but there is still some enjoyment to be had with Jaws 2. Even though it ultimately earned less than half the money of its predecessor, it was still the highest-grossing sequel in history at the time. Only later would we discover it would be the second-best entry in the franchise by quite some distance... Capitalizing on the resurgence of 3D (that sounds awfully familiar), the franchise returned to screens in 1983 with an entry that was a Jaws movie in name only, sullying the good name of the classic original and quickly burning out at the box office. However, Jaws 3D would appear like a minor classic following the travesty that was Jaws: The Revenge. Widely acknowledged as one of the worst movies ever made, Jaws: The Revenge has absolutely no redeeming qualities. The plot is ridiculous and full of holes you could (ironically) sail a boat through, and the effects are ropey at best. Thankfully, this proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the franchise. It speaks volumes about the quality of the Jaws sequels that each one grossed significantly less than its predecessor, and in fact the three sequels combined earned less than Steven Spielberg's original. The original redefined the summer as a time for huge event movies, launched one of the most successful directorial careers in history, and almost 40 years on remains as gripping as it was on the first viewing. The sequels on the other hand, are purely commercial exercises attempted to cash in on the name and legacy, with a drastic slide in quality. Like this list? Let us know in the comments section below.
I don't do social media, so like or follow me in person but please maintain a safe distance or the authorities will be notified. Don't snap me though, I'll probably break. I was once labelled a misogynist on this very site in a twenty paragraph-long rant for daring to speak ill of the Twilight franchise. I stand by what I said, it's crap.
