9 Classic Horror Films That Spawned Countless Imitators

Jaws might actually be the most ripped off movie in existence. That’s understandable, considering Spielberg’s film was brilliant and is considered to be the original summer blockbuster, so everyone in the industry wanted to get in on the action. It’s not even just that Jaws spawned a lot of shark movies, though.

So many of them copy Jaws so specifically that it feels like Jaws is just being released over and over.

From 1975 until today, nearly every shark movie features a villainous, greedy character who doesn’t think the sharks are dangerous. Sound familiar? There’s always the moment when the shark unexpectedly jumps out of the water like in Bruce’s famous first appearance. Usually, the shark blows up at the end, and the main character has to deliver some quippy one-liner before it happens while pointing their gun.

In Jersey Shore Shark Attack, they barely even change the line at all from Jaws. Instead of “Smile, you son of a bitch,” the lead character says, “Smile, you stupid fish.” They're not even trying anymore.

Seriously, Jaws came out 40 years ago, yet the genre has never moved on. Will no one ever make another aquatic horror movie that is completely original, or will we just keep seeing Jaws remade for the rest of time? Back to the Future II may have been on to something.