BBC Two has announced it will broadcast Steven Spielberg's iconic horror film 'Jaws' on Christmas Day night. The 1975 movie, which holds a near-perfect 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, is widely regarded as the first modern summer blockbuster.
Adapted from Peter Benchley's novel, the film follows Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) as he battles a great white shark terrorising the resort town of Amity Island. Brody teams up with marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and shark hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) to hunt the creature after a series of attacks.
'Jaws' was the first major motion picture filmed on the open ocean, facing numerous production challenges. The mechanical shark frequently malfunctioned, leading to the creation of its famous minimalist score by John Williams, which won an Academy Award. The film itself won three Oscars and became the highest-grossing film ever at the time, a record held until 'Star Wars' in 1977.
Critics have praised the film's direction, performances, and lasting impact. One reviewer described it as 'an instant classic whose success owes as much to his superb orchestration as to the substantial jolts and knockout performances.' Another noted it 'still manages to instill a sense of genuine terror to this very day.'
