Few films have made as big a splash in cinema history as Jaws, aka one of the best horror movies of all time. The 1975 thriller didn’t just terrify a generation, it changed Hollywood forever, creating the summer blockbuster as we know it. People lined up for hours to see the smash hit on the big screen in the ’70s and audiences returned over and over until they got sick of watching the spectacle. It was a phenomenon, and launched young director Steven Spielberg to A-list creative status. This summer marks the 50th anniversary of the film’s release, and people are still in love with Jaws. Even Spielberg himself took a moment to reflect on the movie that catapulted his legendary career.
In a recent interview with Deadline, the filmmaker spoke to the publication about experiencing the movie once again 50 years after his cinematic shark terrorized audiences across the country. He explained that this was a unique feat for him, as he was able to see the film as an audience member, not as a critical director analyzing his own work. As for Spielberg’s review of Jaws? He had a simple response: