Latest news with #Jaws
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on
The first authorised Jaws documentary is to examine the film's impact on the perception of sharks to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw – who played professional shark hunter Quint, and Lorraine Gary who played Ellen Brody, along with other cast members, when it airs on National Geographic and Disney+. The 90-minute documentary will also feature home videos and rare outtakes from Spielberg and writer Peter Benchley's personal archives, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, including its malfunctioning animatronic shark and Spielberg's fears the film would end his career. The feature will also look at the wave of shark fear from the public following the movie's release, and will look at the novel which started the story through interviews with Benchley's wife, ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley and their children. Famous fans including JJ Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis will also speak about the film along with marine experts. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will be directed by Laurent Bouzereau, and will be produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. The documentary frames Jaws, released in 1975, as the 'first summer blockbuster', with the movie being the highest-grossing picture of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later. Jaws tells the story of a man-eating shark, named Bruce by the film's crew, that attacks beachgoers at a resort town on Amity Island, and the attempts of police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and professional shark hunter Quint (Shaw) to hunt it down. The film, based on the 1974 novel by Benchley, was followed by three sequels, and has inspired theme park rides at the Universal Studios theme parks as well as video games. The documentary will premiere on July 11 at 8pm on National Geographic and will stream the same day on Disney+.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
First official Jaws documentary to examine film's impact 50 years on
The first authorised Jaws documentary is to examine the film's impact on the perception of sharks to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will feature interviews with director Steven Spielberg, Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw – who played professional shark hunter Quint, and Lorraine Gary who played Ellen Brody, along with other cast members, when it airs on National Geographic and Disney+. The 90-minute documentary will also feature home videos and rare outtakes from Spielberg and writer Peter Benchley's personal archives, and a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie, including its malfunctioning animatronic shark and Spielberg's fears the film would end his career. The feature will also look at the wave of shark fear from the public following the movie's release, and will look at the novel which started the story through interviews with Benchley's wife, ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley and their children. Famous fans including JJ Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro and Robert Zemeckis will also speak about the film along with marine experts. Jaws At 50: The Definitive Inside Story will be directed by Laurent Bouzereau, and will be produced by Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. The documentary frames Jaws, released in 1975, as the 'first summer blockbuster', with the movie being the highest-grossing picture of all time until the release of Star Wars two years later. Jaws tells the story of a man-eating shark, named Bruce by the film's crew, that attacks beachgoers at a resort town on Amity Island, and the attempts of police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and professional shark hunter Quint (Shaw) to hunt it down. The film, based on the 1974 novel by Benchley, was followed by three sequels, and has inspired theme park rides at the Universal Studios theme parks as well as video games. The documentary will premiere on July 11 at 8pm on National Geographic and will stream the same day on Disney+.
The Sun
an hour ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Watch nailbiting moment enormous 20ft shark stalks human prey in terrifying Jaws-like scene…before boat makes hasty exit
THIS is the nerve-racking moment a huge 20ft shark emerges from the water before stalking a tiny boat - bringing to mind classic thriller Jaws. Tense footage showed the humongous beast lurking behind the small vessel in a pond on Block Island as it came dangerously close to two passengers. 3 3 3 The video was captured in Rhode Island by local Jen Seebeck who was eating at the Dead Eye Dicks restaurant by Great Salt Pond when she spotted the enormous dorsal, The Atlantic Shark Institute reported. The boat was seen slowly drifting towards the edge of the lake, while two dark shapes appeared to rise from the water. The two fins could easily have been mistaken for two separate sharks, due to the distance between the pair. But shockingly, they were actually part of the same beast - representing the top fin and tail of the 20ft predator. The boat carrying two passengers then started to speed away, possibly following the crew's sudden realisation. The nailbiting scene has sparked comparisons to the classic film Jaws - which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. One person even referenced Steven Spielberg's shark thriller in the video, as they shouted: 'There's a shark in the pond!' It is currently unclear what exact species the nimble shark captured in the footage is. The Atlantic Shark Institute said: "Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking. 'Hopefully this shark will find its way out of Great Salt Pond soon and continue on its way!' Block Island has recently been named one of the 10 best summer destinations in the United States, according to USA Today. It comes after another enormous shark was spotted dangerously near a beach in a popular Spanish tourist spot. A viral video showed the colossal beast skulking around the waters just off the coast of Marbella. And earlier this month, the biggest shark ever tagged by researchers was spotted prowling up the US east coast. Known as "The Contender", the massive white shark was seen skulking around the North Carolina coast. The behemoth was previously seen following the Gulf Stream south near Florida. Weighing 1,600 pounds, the beast was first tagged on January 17 this year about 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia border. It was the largest ever shark tagged by research group OCEARCH in the area.
Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Bigger Boat, Bigger Legacy! National Geographic Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Blockbuster Film Jaws With the Only Authorized Documentary, JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY, Featuring Exclusive New Interviews With Director Steven Spielberg
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Geographic's SHARKFEST wouldn't exist without the film that changed cinema - and our relationship with sharks - forever: 'Jaws.' This summer, in tribute to the movie that sparked a lasting fascination with the ocean's most misunderstood predator, National Geographic goes behind the scenes of the legendary blockbuster with JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau ('Faye,' 'Music by John Williams'), the 90-minute documentary takes viewers on the ultimate deep dive, from Peter Benchley's bestselling novel to the cinematic phenomenon that is 'Jaws' and how the film continues to ripple through pop culture, cinema and shark conservation to this day. You may think you know the full story of 'Jaws' - but not until now. JAWS @ 50 hails from Steven Spielberg's Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films, in partnership with Wendy Benchley and Laura Bowling, and is this summer's only authorized documentary on the making of 'Jaws,' with the award-winning director himself diving back into the story that launched his career and earned him final cut on the film, a creative control he has maintained for the last 50 years. The documentary premieres July 10 at 9/8c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. This definitive account offers an unfiltered look at the chaos and creativity behind the making of 'Jaws,' featuring never-before-seen footage from Spielberg's and Benchley's personal archives, including home videos and rare outtakes. Through candid new reflections, Spielberg recounts the high-stakes production, from battling a malfunctioning mechanical shark and relentless weather delays to his own post-production PTSD and fears the film would end his career. The documentary also reexamines the infamous 'Jaws effect' - the wave of shark fear it unleashed - and reframes it as a legacy of awe, curiosity and enduring respect for the ocean's top predator. Complemented by brand-new interviews with cast, crew, filmmakers and shark advocates, JAWS @ 50 captures the full creative and cultural shockwaves of the first summer blockbuster. In addition to Steven Spielberg, the documentary includes exclusive interviews from original cast and crew - including Joe Alves (production designer), Jonathan Filley (Cassidy), Lorraine Gary (Ellen Brody), Carl Gottlieb (Meadows, screenwriter), Jeffrey Kramer (Hendricks), Ian Shaw (son of Robert Shaw, who played Quint), Jeffrey Voorhees (Alex Kintner), and composer John Williams - and a who's who of modern filmmakers and superfans - including J.J. Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Greg Nicotero, Jordan Peele, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro, Robert Zemeckis, and more - reflect on how 'Jaws' shaped their work and the cinematic landscape. Alongside cast and crew, the film also features heartfelt insights from Peter Benchley's wife, renowned voice for sharks and ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley; their children, Tracy Benchley Turner and Clayton Benchley; and his brother, Nat Benchley, offering a rare glimpse into the real-life inspiration behind the bestselling novel that started it all. But JAWS @ 50 is more than a behind-the-scenes doc; it's a celebration of a legacy that fueled a global shark obsession and inspired generations of scientists, storytellers and ocean defenders. Through thoughtful conversations with leading marine advocates and scientists - including Philippe Cousteau, Candace Fields, Austin Gallagher, Gibbs Kuguru, Dr. John Mandelman (New England Aquarium), National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry, Dr. Greg Skomal and others - the documentary explores how 'Jaws' reshaped our relationship with the ocean and helped transform public perception of sharks, turning fear into fascination and sparking real-world conservation efforts that continue today. For National Geographic, JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY is produced by Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. For Amblin Documentaries, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are producers. For Nedland Films, Laurent Bouzereau and Markus Keith are producers, with Bouzereau also directing. Wendy Benchley and Laura Bowling executive produce the documentary. And, for National Geographic, Tracy Rudolph Jackson and Ted Duvall executive produce. About National Geographic Content Representing the largest brand on social media with over 780 million followers and 1.1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content's award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo, Oscar-nominated films Sugarcane, Fire of Love and Bobi Wine: The People's President, Emmy® Award-winning franchise 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, Emmy® Award-winning series Animals Up Close, series Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, Life Below Zero, and Secrets of the Whales, in addition to multiple National Magazine Awards, Pulitzer Prize Finalists and Webby wins. Visit and or explore Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit. About Amblin Documentaries Amblin Documentaries is a division of Amblin Partners, a content creation company led by Steven Spielberg. Presidents, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey oversee all development, production, and programming for Amblin Documentaries. In addition to its award-winning, culture-defining work in the scripted space through Amblin Television, Amblin Documentaries is a producer of renowned documentary features and series such as the film 'Good Night Oppy' for Prime Video – which was nominated for seven Prime Time and News and Documentary Emmys, the Emmy-winning series 'Five Came Back' for Netflix, and 'Laurel Canyon – A Place in Time' – which received three Emmy nominations including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special for its portrayal of the music scene in LA's Laurel Canyon in the 60's and 70's. Most recently, Amblin Documentaries produced 'Life on Our Planet,' 'Encounters,' and 'Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul' for Netflix as well as 'San Francisco Sound' for MGM+. Upcoming projects from Amblin Documentaries include 'Faye,' based on the life and career of Faye Dunaway, which premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival, 'Bodyguard of Lies,' with the Washington Post & Alex Gibney, 'Wild, Wild Space,' with HyperObject Industries & ZPZ, and, in partnership with Imagine Entertainment, a documentary on the life and work of legendary composer John Williams. Amblin Documentaries also produced 'Strokes of Genius' – the double-Emmy nominated film about the epic rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal; and 'The Contender' – in which Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard give 16 young boxing hopefuls a shot at the big time, and which received two Emmy nominations. Other unscripted Amblin Documentaries productions include 'Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy' and HBO's 'Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind' and 'Mama's Boy: A Story from Our Americas. About Nedland Films / Laurent Bouzereau (Director/Producer), and Markus Keith (Producer) Laurent Bouzereau is an award-winning filmmaker and best-selling author. His films, which he co-produced with his partner Markus Keith through their production company Nedland Films, include the feature documentary Faye about legendary actress Faye Dunaway for HBO/Amblin, the award-winning documentary Music by John Williams, produced by Steven Spielberg and Amblin/Imagine, the Disney+/Lucasfilm documentary Timeless Heroes on Harrison Ford, the HBO feature documentaries Mama's Boy, based on the best-selling memoir by Dustin Lance Black, and Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind, as well as the acclaimed Netflix series Five Came Back (with an Emmy winning narration by Meryl Streep), executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Amblin. Bouzereau is the author of several books on cinema, including Spielberg: The First Ten Years (2023) and The De Palma Decade (2024). About Wendy Benchley Wendy Benchley is a renowned global voice for protecting sharks and safeguarding our seas. As a scuba diver, she has witnessed dramatic changes to our ocean's wildlife and habitats; this has motivated her vigorous efforts to help shape smarter, stronger environmental and marine policies with government officials, NGOs, and other civic leaders. Based in Washington, D.C., Wendy is actively engaged in the marine policy community and supports many of the world's leading ocean & environmental philanthropies. She plays a prominent leadership role and is actively involved, as a Board member, in WildAid's highly effective and widely respected global work that reduces the demand for illegal wildlife products, including ivory, rhino horn, and shark fin. She is a Board Member of Beneath the Waves and Blue Frontier Campaign. She is also a Trustee on EDF's Advisory Board. About Laura A. Bowling Laura is a branding and strategic communications executive who has successfully led interdisciplinary creative teams for 25 years, delivering award-winning campaigns across all media platforms from corporate and nonprofit arenas. Laura has worked with some of the world's most successful companies and prestigious brands, including Procter & Gamble, Ogilvy (N.Y.C.), The Walt Disney Company, and Conservation International, where she served as Chief Marketing Officer. Laura has a deep passion for protecting the environment and social causes. She oversees a successful consulting business, based in Carmel, California, that focuses on branding, strategic communications, and development for nonprofits. She has worked closely with Wendy Benchley on all aspects of branding for the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards and on Wendy's public speaking and ocean advocacy events, publications, and press.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix adds Steven Spielberg's first big-screen movie — and no it's not Jaws
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Fifty years ago, Steven Spielberg made a movie that quickly solidified him as one of the preeminent directors in all of Hollywood, Jaws. While that movie is undoubtedly Spielberg's breakthrough picture, it was not his first time that audiences got to see a Spielberg movie on the big screen. That distinction goes to 1974's The Sugarland Express, which is a new addition to Netflix as of May 1, and one of my picks for new movies to stream in May. The Sugarland Express stars Goldie Hawn as a woman who attempts to reunite her family, but to do so involves breaking her husband out of jail and then kidnapping their young son from the foster family looking after him. However, things quickly go awry, including kidnapping a police officer, and they are soon pursued across the state. William Atherton, Ben Johnson and Michael Sacks star in the movie, which was written by Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins, based on a true story. Often overlooked in Spielberg's filmography, The Sugarland Express is a fascinating entry from the director who would become known for some of the biggest movies in Hollywood history. Incredibly, Spielberg was just 26-years-old at the time the movie was released and still he earned praise, particularly from one of the most notable critics of the time, Pauline Kael, who called the movie 'one of the most phenomenal debut films in the history of movies' in The New Yorker; even detractors at the time called Spielberg a 'skillful' technician. Personally, The Sugarland Express reminds me of the Hollywood B-movies of the 1960s and early 1970s, often made by Roger Corman; particularly the fact that it is a road picture crime movie with plenty of car crashes. It's an entertaining movie, but I won't go so far to say we need to reevaluate it as a forgotten Spielberg masterpiece. But any fans of Spielberg should watch it to check off his complete filmography. Another reason that The Sugarland Express is a notable movie is that it actually is the first time that Spielberg and composer John Williams worked together. While Spielberg was an upstart at the time, Williams was already an Oscar-winning composer coming off a recent string of movies that included Fiddler on the Roof (his first Oscar win) and The Poseidon Adventure. But it didn't take long for Williams to recognize the talent and passion that Spielberg brought to the table. In an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert back in 2022, Williams detailed the lunch meeting that was arranged for him and Spielberg ahead of The Sugarland Express, where Williams said after overcoming the initial surprise of Spielberg's youth he 'I realized this was somebody very, very special.' Though Williams' blues-tinged score for The Sugarland Express would not be nominated for an Oscar, it was the start of a collaboration that has yielded some of the greatest movie scores of all time (Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler's List and more). Netflix subscribers can now watch The Sugarland Express on the streaming service; if you're not a Netflix subscriber the movie is available via digital on-demand. Watch the trailer for The Sugarland Express right here:
