Fifty years ago, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws became the first summer blockbuster, revolutionizing the film industry forever. In 1975, moviegoers turned out in droves to be thrilled by the director’s tale of a rogue great white shark feasting on the inhabitants of the otherwise peaceful Amity Island. Earning $260.6 million domestically during its initial theatrical run, Jaws held the title of highest-grossing film of all time and earned numerous accolades (including an Oscar nomination for Best Picture). In the decades since, Jaws has endured as a staple of pop culture; there was a lot of fanfare surrounding the film’s 50th anniversary. Love for Spielberg’s groundbreaking movie is still strong, as Jaws cleaned up at the box office this weekend.
Videos by ComicBook.com
According to Variety, Jaws is projected to finish second at the domestic box office this Labor Day weekend with about $9.8 million earned over the extended four-day holiday frame. It managed to top a pair of notable new releases: crime thriller Caught Stealing and comedy The Roses, which are estimated to gross $9.5 million and $8 million, respectively. Jaws is only behind Weapons, which is poised to win the weekend with $12.4 million.
Why Jaws Performed So Well at the Labor Day Box Office
Traditionally, Labor Day is not a very busy time for the box office. There have been some exceptions (Shang-Chi earned a record $94.6 million over Labor Day in 2021), but this typically isn’t the window for studios to launch high-profile tentpole fare. That certainly proved true this year; Caught Stealing and The Roses both earned generally positive reviews and boast star-studded casts, but neither was a big draw. As summer winds down and school starts back up again, rushing out to the theater to check out the new releases isn’t high on a lot of people’s to-do lists.
That made this weekend the perfect time to put Jaws back on the big screen, including special screenings in IMAX locations. The classic blockbuster was in a spot where it could face minimal competition. Only the critically acclaimed Weapons, which has dominated the August box office (if not for Kpop Demon Hunters, this would have been its fourth win in a row) posed a threat. Weapons has benefited greatly from word of mouth, and that buzz has helped keep business afloat during a slower time for the movies.
Tying this re-release to Jaws‘ 50th anniversary was a smart move as well. This year has been an extended celebration of the film’s lasting legacy, with commemorative merchandise, a new documentary, and much more. It made a lot of sense to bring Jaws back to theaters now, as it’s at the forefront of fans’ minds with all the 50th anniversary talk. Coinciding with such a special occasion, this re-release felt like an event.
Jaws isn’t the only legacy re-release this year to find success at the box office. Back in April, Disney and Lucasfilm celebrated the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, which grossed $34.1 million in a limited engagement. It’s no surprise Lucasfilm is going to re-release Star Wars: A New Hope for that film’s 50th anniversary in a couple of years. Revenge of the Sith and Jaws show that there’s an interest in seeing old favorites on the big screen — even when they’re readily available to watch at home.
Most Viewed
-
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm -
Image courtesy of Stage 6 Films
