This Steven Spielberg film that came out 50 years ago still remains my favorite thriller

Few have been able to replicate his success, right?

If I had to pick one movie that completely changed what we think a thriller should be — I wouldn't even hesitate. It's definitely "Jaws."

June 20, 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's iconic film. Half a century since the movie hit theaters and changed Hollywood forever. "Jaws" literally created what we now take for granted — the summer blockbuster.

But strip away the flashy headlines and historical analysis, and you're left with simply perfect cinema. One of those rare films that still has you glued to the screen decades later, forgetting to blink.
Actor Robert Shaw in a gray cap stands next to a board with a shark drawn in chalk on it
Still from the movie "Jaws"
Source:
This movie isn't just about a shark. It's about the fear that lives inside us. About the unknown that can surface at any moment. And suddenly you're afraid to dip your foot in a lake or... even a bathtub.

Fun fact: the fear has (mostly) faded with age, but as a kid I spent ages begging my parents to buy me a dorsal fin like a shark's so I could play with it in the bath.

Sure, movies today are packed with amazing graphics that cost millions. But even now, few filmmakers can play with an audience's nerves as skillfully and subtly as did in 1975.

The camera slowly closing in on a swimmer, the haunting rhythm of John Williams' legendary score, and the shark's absence from most of the film — that's pure magic.
Shark with open jaws in blue light
Still from the movie "Jaws"
Source:
The film doesn't need defending. Even without awards, industry influence, or box office records — it would still be damn good. Because when you come back to it years later, you still jump at that unmistakable dun-dun... dun-dun... dudu-dudu-dudu-dudu!

One Rotten Tomatoes viewer summed it up perfectly:
"Jaws is the main reason the summer blockbuster phenomenon even exists. This is the movie that makes me afraid to go into water where I can't see the bottom. It's possibly the greatest horror film ever made. It deserves to be on the Mount Rushmore of American cinema. And its soundtrack is one of the best ever created for the big screen."
Viewer named Tim M. from Rotten Tomatoes
Hard to argue with that. Fifty years later, "Jaws" still keeps us on edge. Still hits those emotions. And it's still my absolute favorite thriller. Earlier on zoomboola.com, we told you about "The Shooter" — an action flick you definitely missed in the '90s.