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CNET
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
'Shark Week' Comes Early as 'Jaws' Turns 50. Here's Where to Watch All the Movies
Somehow, five decades have passed since Steven Spielberg's Jaws chewed up the big screen. Turning the big Five-Oh is a big deal, so it's time to celebrate. The iconic movie, based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name, took style notes from Hitchcock and the grindhouse movies of the era and became the first-ever summer blockbuster. Jaws isn't a complicated movie: It tells the story of a vengeful shark and the tourist beach town of Amity Island, which it decided to terrorize. The movie starred Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw as police chief Martin Brody, oceanographer Matt Hooper and grizzled shark hunter Quint, respectively. This core trio of men became the only thing standing between the dastardly great white and the unsuspecting folks on the beach. Jaws chomped its way into the pop culture lexicon thanks to John Williams' iconic theme music and Spielberg's less-is-more approach (mainly because that shark kept malfunctioning). I remember seeing Jaws as a kid at the local theater. I'm almost exactly one year younger than the movie, but there was this delightful trend in the '80s where cinemas would revisit these incredible movies year after year so fans, young and old, could relive the glory. I was immediately hooked on the scope, soundtrack and cinematic terror of the whole thing. Soon after, a ride on the tram at Universal Studios through the Amity Island set cemented my newfound fear/fascination with great white sharks. Five decades later, the legacy of Jaws has endured. I have this tradition where I do a Jaws marathon just before the summer season. It's like my own personal Shark Week ahead of the official one that happens each year on The Discovery Channel. Of course, the first is still the best but there's something comforting about seeing Brody return for Jaws 2 to battle another shark threat. As for Jaws: 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge, there's certainly a place for them here, even if the plotlines don't connect as well as the original film. Sometimes you just want to see a revenge-hungry shark pick off unsuspecting people, one by one. That banana boat rider never had a chance. Read more: Peacock Review: Few Originals, but Cheap Access to Network TV, Movies May Grab You How to watch 'Jaws' parts 1-4 Beginning today, Sunday, June 15, you can watch every installment in the Jaws franchise on Peacock. This includes the 1975 classic, Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983) and Jaws: The Revenge (1987). The movies will be available to stream on the platform until July 14. NBC will air a special three-hour telecast of Jaws on Friday, June 20, at 8 p.m. ET/PT to celebrate the movie's 50th anniversary. It will open with a special introduction from Spielberg himself. Peacock/CNET Peacock Home of Jaws 1-4 If you want to get in on all the shark streaming action, you'll need a Peacock subscription. The streamer has two subscription tiers to choose from: Premium (with ads) costs $8 a month or $80 a year and Premium Plus costs $14 a month or $140 per year. With Premium Plus, you'll have the perk of being able to download titles for offline viewing and access to your local NBC channel. Students and customers of Xfinity Internet and Instacart Plus can get some cool discounts. It may seem like a lot in the long term but if you choose to pay for the entire year of Premium or Premium Plus, you'll pay less compared to the streamer's monthly cost. For more information, head on over to our review. See at Peacock Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw go shark-hunting in Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic to watch all the Jaws movies with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Jaws' Turns 50: How To Watch Steven Spielberg's Classic On Streaming
Director Steven Spielberg's landmark thriller Jaws turns 50 this week. Where can you stream the film at home? Released on June 20, 1975, Jaws came to define what became the term 'summer blockbuster,' which was followed by the release of Spielberg's friend and fellow filmmaker George Lucas' classic Star Wars in 1977. Made all the more compelling by composer John Williams' icon theme, Jaws — which was adapted for the big screen from author Peter Benchley's bestselling novel of the same name — begins with the death of a lone swimmer (Susan Backlinie) off the shores of the fictional Amity Island on the East Coast during a vicious shark attack. Identified as a Great White shark, the attack sends the community into a full panic after more attacks, which prompts Amity Island Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) to take action. Along with the shark hunter who only goes by 'Quint' (Robert Shaw) and a marine biologist, Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), Brody boards Quint's vessel, the Orca, in hopes of finding and killing the deadly shark. Since Jaws is a Universal Pictures release, Jaws will begin streaming on the NBC Universal streaming platform Peacock on Sunday, June 15. Peacock offers two streaming plans: The ad-based Premium plan costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year. While the ad-free Premium Plus plan costs $13.99 per month or $139.99 per year. Jaws is also currently available to stream on AMC+, which costs $6.99 per month with ads, $9.99 per month without ads or $95.88 per year. In addition, Jaws will be airing on NBC on Friday with a three-hour presentation, according to the network. The movie, which is set to air at 8 p.m. ET, will feature an introduction from Spielberg. For viewers who prefer to see the film on the big screen, Jaws is scheduled to be re-released in theaters on Aug. 29 in celebration of the film's 50th anniversary. Viewers who don't want to subscribe to Peacock or AMC+ or wait until Aug. 29 to see it in theaters have several different options to watch Jaws on streaming. As of this publication, Prime Video has Jaws available to rent on Video on Demand for $3.79 or purchase on VOD for $7.99, while Apple TV has the film for rent for $3.99 or purchase for $7.99. Additionally, Movies Anywhere, Fandango at Home and YouTube are also offering Jaws for rent for $3.99 or $14.99 to purchase. Rated PG— a seemingly mild rating since the PG-13 rating wasn't introduced by the then-Motion Picture Association of America until 1984 — Jaws will also be celebrated beyond its 50th anniversary on June 20. According to National Geographic, the new documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story will begin streaming on Nat Geo channel on Thursday, July 10, on Disney+ and Hulu. The official synopsis of the Jaws documentary reads, 'Steven Spielberg shares an authorized look inside the story of Jaws in this documentary. 'From Peter Benchley's epic novel to Spielberg's film, Jaws continues to influence pop culture, cinema and shark conservation. With interviews from Hollywood's most influential directors and shark scientists, the legend of Jaws is endless.'
CNET
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
'Jaws' Turns 50: All the Movies Will Stream In One Place. So, I'm Starting Shark Week Early
Somehow, five decades have gone by since Steven Spielberg's Jaws chewed up the big screen. Yes, it is the shark thriller's 50th birthday (the movie premiered on June 20, 1975), which means it's time to celebrate. The movie, which was adapted from Peter Benchley's novel, took style notes from Hitchcock and the grindhouse movies of the era and ended up becoming the first ever summer blockbuster. Jaws isn't a complicated movie: it tells the story of a vengeful shark and the tourist beach town of Amity Island it decided to terrorize. The movie starred Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw as police chief Martin Brody, oceanographer Matt Hooper and grizzled shark hunter Quint. This core trio of men became the only thing standing between the dastardly great white and the unsuspecting folks on the beach. Jaws chomped its way into the pop culture lexicon thanks to John Williams' iconic theme music and Spielberg's less-is-more approach (mainly because that shark kept malfunctioning). I remember seeing Jaws as a kid at the local theater. I'm almost exactly one year younger than the movie, but there was this delightful trend in the '80s where cinemas would revisit these incredible movies year after year so fans, young and old, could relive the glory. I was immediately hooked on the scope, soundtrack and cinematic terror of the whole thing. Soon after, a ride on the tram at Universal Studios through the Amity Island set cemented my newfound fear/fascination with great white sharks. Five decades later, the legacy of Jaws has endured. I have this tradition where I do a Jaws marathon just before the summer season. It's like my own personal Shark Week ahead of the official one that happens each year on The Discovery Channel. Of course, the first is still the best, but there's something comforting about seeing Brody return for Jaws 2 to battle another shark threat. As for Jaws: 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge, there's certainly a place for them here, even if the plotlines don't connect as well as the original film. Sometimes you just want to see a revenge-hungry shark pick off unsuspecting people, one by one. That banana boat rider never had a chance. Read more: Peacock Review: Few Originals, but Cheap Access to Network TV, Movies May Grab You How to watch 'Jaws' parts 1-4 Beginning on Sunday, June 15, you can watch every installment in the Jaws franchise on Peacock. This includes the 1975 classic, Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983) and Jaws: The Revenge (1987). If you want to get in on all the shark action, you'll need a Peacock subscription. The streamer has two separate subscription tiers to choose from: Premium (with ads) costs $8 a month or $80 a year and Premium Plus costs $14 a month or $140 per year. With Premium Plus, you'll have the perk of being able to download titles for offline viewing and access to your local NBC channel. Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw go shark-hunting in Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic to watch all the Jaws movies with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
The Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Big boats and killer beaches: On a Jaws journey through Martha's Vineyard
'No jumping or diving,' read the sign in large black lettering. Standing on a spot best known as 'Jaws Bridge'' I was in absolutely no danger of doing that. I scanned the sea for that distinctive grey fin. The water was calm, the sky a wonderful icy blue, tinged by a soft afternoon glow. Sadly, there wasn't a fish in sight. With the movie now in its 50th year, I was on a pilgrimage of sorts to visit the top locations in the film, which is being celebrated in full force in June. A whole host of events and activities are underway – from guided film tours and a chance to meet some of the original crew and cast, to a carefully curated Jaws exhibit at Martha's Vineyard Museum, along with a deep dive masterclass into the film with historian and film scholar Bowdoin Van Riper. I was told a visit was like stepping into the film's fictional Amity Island. This is particularly true of Edgartown – one of my first stops – where many of the distinctive seaside buildings from the screen are still standing. En route, I made an essential stop to buy as much Jaws merchandise as my luggage would allow. Trucker hat, T-shirt, socks, hand towel and an oven mitt successfully purchased (I drew the line at flip flops), I was not only ready to get my tour on, but suitably dressed for the occasion. I passed through small-town Oak Bluffs, better known for its 300 plus Victorian gingerbread cottages than its links to the film. Still, any Jaws fan would be remiss to skip these pretty pastel-coloured homes. Built in the 1800s around a Methodist camp meeting ground, they look plucked from the pages of Brothers Grimm's Hansel and Gretel fairytale. Intricate wooden trims line the cottage balconies like icing on a cake. Each has a cute porch and rocking chair, some with the odd trinket on view in the window. One named 'Sweet Chariot' bizarrely displayed a window full of horse medals. But I digress. No time to waste, I exited Oak Bluffs via Beach Road, a long strip stretching down the coast. I failed at trying to contain my excitement as I crossed over Jaws Bridge for the first time, screaming 'Shaaarrk in the pond! Shark, shark!' to my bemused partner. Originally settled by whaling captains, much of Edgartown's centre retains its historic architecture. Rustic clapboard homes are now inns, shops or restaurants – and they really do look like the ones in the movie. I could almost see Roy Scheider's Chief Brody storming out of the Amity Police Department in a panic, after punching 'Shark attack' into a police report minutes earlier – the first real signifier of the horror to come. From Edgartown, I hopped on the three-minute Chappy Ferry to Chappaquiddick Island. This is the same ferry where Brody and Murray Hamilton's Mayor Vaughn butt heads over closing the beaches. 'You yell 'shark' and we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July,' said Vaughn as the ferry shuttled them across the water, stopping the conversation dead. Thankfully, our trip over was far more amiable. A chipper 'hey there, friends!' from the ferry crewman, who went on to inform us he'd just seen a bald eagle soaring overhead. Apparently, we missed it by mere minutes. Aside from Jaws, politicos might recognise Chappaquiddick for its part in US Senator Ted Kennedy's mired career. In 1969, Kennedy accidentally drove off a narrow bridge on the island, after leaving a party to catch the Chappy Ferry with 28-year-old, Mary Jo Kopechne. After attempting to rescue Kopechne, Kennedy fled the scene. Kopechne sadly died – and Kennedy's career never completely recovered from the incident. Despite the tragic backdrop, walking around the area was a peaceful experience and we were lucky enough to be the only people around. Catching sight of a warning – 'caution, extremely soft sand' – we parked our car and travelled over the infamous bridge on foot. We headed towards the shoreline via a snaking walkway made from planks of old wood, framed by tufts of American beachgrass sprouting from the sand. This was my idea of New England perfection. Chappaquiddick is still inhabited by the Wampanoag tribe, who have lived here for at least 10,000 years on a part of the island called Aquinnah (also known as Gay Head). A visit to their cultural centre offers a window into the Wampanoag's heritage – and, as it happens, puts you just steps from another iconic Jaws scene. Remember the vandalised 'Amity Island Welcomes You' sign? Well, the sign isn't there today, but it's where shark obsessive oceanographer Hooper (played by the superb Richard Dreyfuss) delivers one of the best lines of the film: 'What we are dealing with here is a perfect engine: an eating machine!' Before calling it a day, I headed to Martha's Vineyard Museum to meet the team putting together the anniversary celebrations in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, including Bowdoin 'Bow' Van Riper whose Jaws knowledge knew no bounds. As a child during the summer of 1974 when filming took place, Bow was an extra in the movie. Sadly, his scene didn't make the final cut, but he proceeded to give me a fascinating breakdown of what makes the movie so iconic. For instance, did you know the mechanical shark ('Bruce') kept on breaking down during the movie? This meant Spielberg had to find alternative ways to shoot it, like those yellow barrels they fire into the shark to track it and tire it out. 'So instead of creating what's known in the business as a 'jump scare', he had to suggest the shark was out there waiting to eat our heroes instead,' he says. I also spoke to Laurel Redington, the museum's director of programming and audience engagement, who had been devising the Jaws programme. Aside from all the classic fanfare you'd expect in celebration of the movie – a special mention to the 'Barks & Sharks' dog costume meet-up (please take photos) – she made a more serious point about shark conservation and awareness. The film led to what marine biologists refer to as the 'Jaws effect', which prompted a spike in shark hunting. Peter Benchley, the author of the book on which the film was based, later became a passionate shark conservationist. 'Knowing what I know now, I could never write that book today,' he lamented. Fortunately, the shark population, including great whites, has increased around Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod in the last decade. It's not an entirely happy-ending, however, as this is linked with warming waters (as well as an increasing seal population), which presents new issues. The programme has a strong educational thread running through it that tempers the fear element of the film with the reality: 'Great whites actually shy away from humans'. It also hopes to raise awareness of how to be safe in the water, which can be broadly summed up by the rule: if you see a seal, get out of the water. I ended my tour in Chilmark, a fishing village in Menemsha where Captain Quint's shack once stood. Though the original set is long gone, the cluster of small harbour buildings still feels like a backdrop to the film. We sat by the docks with warm, buttered lobster rolls from Menemsha Fish Market, watching a fisherman haul supplies onto a tiny boat headed out to sea. He's definitely gonna need a bigger boat, I thought. Getting there Numerous airlines fly from the UK to Boston, including JetBlue, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Flight time is around seven and a half hours. The drive from Boston to Martha's Vineyard is around two hours and 20 minutes and the ferry over to the island is usually 45 minutes. Where to stay Robyn was a guest of Mansion House, which has been in operation since 1794. It's said to be the hotel that Spielberg's location scout stayed at when he visited the island – by accident. The story goes that Martha's Vineyard was not the first choice to film Jaws. A storm actually forced the scout to detour from Nantucket to Martha's Vineyard, which is when he found the perfect location.
CNET
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Happy 50th Birthday, 'Jaws': I'm Geeked I Can Binge All 4 Movies in 1 Place This Summer
It may be hard to believe, but Steven Spielberg's Jaws is turning 50 (the movie premiered on June 20, 1975). The low-budget thriller, which was adapted from Peter Benchley's novel, leaned heavily into Hitchcock and grindhouse territory and became the first summer blockbuster. It told a simple, yet terrifying story about a vengeful shark and the tourist beach town of Amity Island it would relentlessly terrorize. Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw lead the cast as police chief Martin Brody, Matt Hooper and grizzled shark hunter Quint, respectively, the core trio tasked with capturing and killing the water-dwelling monster. It immediately tapped into the pop culture lexicon thanks to John Williams' iconic theme music and Spielberg's less-is-more approach (mainly because that shark kept malfunctioning). I remember seeing Jaws as a kid at the local theater. I'm almost exactly one year younger than the movie, but there was this delightful trend in the '80s where cinemas would revisit these incredible movies year after year so fans, young and old, could relive the glory. I was immediately hooked on the scope, soundtrack and cinematic terror of the whole thing. Soon after, a ride on the tram at Universal Studios through the Amity Island set cemented my newfound fear/fascination with great white sharks. Five decades later, the legacy of Jaws has endured. I have this tradition where I do a Jaws marathon just before the summer season. Of course, the first is still the best but there's something comforting about seeing Brody return for Jaws 2 to battle another shark threat. As for Jaws: 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge, there's certainly a place for them here, even if the plotlines don't connect as well as the original film. Sometimes you just want to see a revenge-hungry shark pick off unsuspecting people, one by one. That banana boat rider never had a chance. Read more: Peacock Review: Few Originals, but Cheap Access to Network TV, Movies May Grab You How to watch 'Jaws' parts 1-4 Beginning on Sunday, June 15, you can watch every installment in the Jaws franchise on Peacock. This includes the 1975 classic, Jaws 2 (1978), Jaws 3-D (1983) and Jaws: The Revenge (1987). If you want to get in on all the shark action, you'll need a Peacock subscription. The streamer has two separate subscription tiers to choose from: Premium (with ads) costs $8 a month or $80 a year and Premium Plus costs $14 a month or $140 per year. With Premium Plus, you'll have the perk of being able to download titles for offline viewing and access to your local NBC channel. Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw go shark-hunting in Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic to watch all the Jaws movies with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
