Which Film Ruined It? Jaws How Did It Ruin It? By creating a shark so deadly that it scared Americans away from water for years. Jaws is one of the few films in history to suffer from a comedic spanking that was made possible only by its own formerly frightening reputation. Others in this list include Silence of the Lambs and The Exorcist. These movies were so effectively terrifying on first sight, that they were repeatedly cited, recycled and referenced until they became almost gimmicky in nature. Indeed, humour is so often used as a device to cope with fear. Jaws may not seem so realistic in a modern-day cinema that is so often drenched in CGI, but back in its day Steven Spielberg's murderous shark managed to detract many first-hand viewers away from sea water for a significant amount of time. The immediate aftermath of the movie was so intense that anyone who saw the film had sharks on their minds whenever they took a dip at the beach. Even now, you'll meet people who aren't entirely comfortable with wading in too deep in case a deadly grey fin come slicing at them through the water. Jaws may be referenced with a wink and a nudge nowawdays, but for a long time managed to mentally scar thousands of unsuspecting movie-goers at the time, changing the seaside for them forever. Any other leisurely locations you can't visit thanks to movies? Let us know in the comments below.
