The Jaws Effect

Jaws reshaped the movie business, not just horror. Before 1975, studios opened films slowly in a handful of cities and let word of mouth build over months. Universal released Jaws in hundreds of theaters at once, backed by heavy national TV advertising.

The gamble paid off, and the wide release became the standard playbook. Nearly every tentpole film that now opens everywhere on the same weekend is following the model Jaws set.

The Sound of Suspense

Much of Spielberg's tension comes from a partner you rarely see: composer John Williams, who has scored nearly all of his films since 1974. For Jaws, Williams built dread from just two alternating notes — a low, quickening pulse that warns of the shark before anything appears. Spielberg has said the theme is half the reason the film works.