Jaws 2 -1978- -

Jaws 2 made $208 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. A hit. But critics savaged it: “More teeth than wit,” said Roger Ebert.

Roy Scheider hated being there. He’d been promised a starring role in a gritty cop drama, but Universal invoked his three-picture contract. His response? He showed up hungover, demanded $250,000 (double his Jaws fee), and tried to get himself fired. Jaws 2 -1978-

But in Hollywood, success breeds sequels. It was inevitable that the studio would return to the waters of Amity. Released in June 1978, Jaws 2 arrived with the weight of the world on its shoulders. It faced the impossible task of following a cinematic classic without its original director, its original cinematographer, or the element of surprise. Jaws 2 made $208 million worldwide on a $30 million budget

: At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film Universal Pictures had ever produced, costing roughly $30 million. 🎬 Production & Alt-History Jaws 2 Review | Movie - Empire Magazine Roy Scheider hated being there

In the final act, the shark explodes (electrocuted by a power cable). But before that, there’s a quiet shot that’s better than anything in Jaws 3 or The Revenge :

In the summer of 1975, Steven Spielberg’s Jaws didn’t just scare audiences out of the water; it fundamentally altered the landscape of cinema. It invented the summer blockbuster. By the time the credits rolled on that masterpiece of tension and indirection, the tale of Amity Island felt complete. The shark was dead, the survivors were safe, and the screen faded to black.

Here’s an interesting, angle-driven guide to Jaws 2 (1978) — not just the plot, but the fascinating, messy, and ambitious story behind the movie.