It’s a provable scientific fact (that you don’t need to check) that no one feared sharks before 1974. Not one person. But after Peter Benchley’s novel, Jaws, and especially a year later after Steven Spielberg’s film of the same name, people began to avoid coastal waters like Mayor Vaughn swerves tasteful clothing. That means for half a century, we’ve collectively found Great White Sharks terrifying and fascinating. Shark Week seventeen times a year, anyone? If the movie hadn’t been a major hit, and also one of the best movies ever made, this likely wouldn’t have happened. Now to celebrate the 50th anniversary, Jaws is getting a fancy new 4K steelbook release.
In addition to the movie in 4K UHD (also in a non-steelbook version), the release will have a bevy of extras. Jaws is maybe one of the most documentary’d movies in Hollywood history. I remember the 20th, 25th, and 30th anniversaries all came with a new documentary. The 50th is no exception. With this release, in addition to the earlier ones, we get Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. The film is a brand-new look at the making and legacy of the film. The doc comes from director Laurent Bouzereau and from National Geographic, in partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Documentaries, Nedland Media, and Wendy Benchley.
BONUS FEATURES ON 4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL INCLUDE:
- Deleted Scenes and Outtakes – Over 13 minutes of content
- The Making of JAWS – An insider look into the making of this classic film, this original full-length documentary is filled with exhaustive cast and crew interviews, archival footage, outtakes, and much more!
- JAWS: The Restoration – An in-depth look at the intricate process of restoring the movie.
- The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of JAWS – A fan-made documentary that focuses on the many ways JAWS has helped shape elements of pop culture and influence a generation of filmmakers.
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JAWS Archives
- Storyboards
- Production Photos
- Marketing JAWS
- JAWS Phenomenon
- From the Set – Available on Disc only
- Theatrical Trailer
Both the steelbook and the regular edition of the Jaws 50th anniversary edition will go on sale June 17 but is available for preorder now on the likes of Amazon and Walmart. And yes, Jaws has had roughly a hundred million physical media releases over the years. It’s only one of the best movies ever made. Don’t tell us you won’t buy it again.
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.
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