Is Jaws Set to Get a Modern Day Reboot?

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Jaws is among the most iconic and influential films of all time, but it’s also incredibly unique in that no other movie has replicated it. Steven Spielberg’s 1975 offering put the director on the map and kicked off one of the most successful careers in cinematic history.

Filmmakers and studios often attempt to reboot classics for modern audiences, and Jaws could potentially be given that treatment. Universal Pictures has toyed with the idea for some time, so it may be in the pipeline.

Jaws: One of the Most Influential Films of All Time

Jaw’s impact on the cinema industry was astounding. It arguably kickstarted the summer blockbuster trend that has continued to this day. Upon its release, it was the highest-grossing movie ever made and even inspired the idea of movie franchises with related merchandise and sequels.

Jaws has directly inspired plenty of movies. Along with the various shark films like Deep Blue Sea and The Meg, Jaws also introduced plenty of tropes that are still used in the horror genre.

Jaws also greatly affected the gaming sector, with titles still using its themes to attract players today. For example, the online casino Canada slot game Razor Shark was so popular that it led to a sequel, Razor Returns. There’s a good chance that these games wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Jaws.

Spielberg Could Potentially Produce New Offering

Spielberg wasn’t involved with any of the three Jaws sequels, and they never quite lived up to the original’s brilliance. However, they were successful at the box office, and the total franchise earned around $800 million. That’s pocket change in today’s market, but a few decades ago it represented great success. It also highlights a Jaws remake’s potential, which is why Universal Pictures appears to be keen to make it happen.

Spielberg has already announced that he wouldn’t taint his legacy by remaking one of his finest works, but the studio hopes that he may be interested in putting his name on the project as its producer. Reports also suggest that Andy Muschietti could be the director who brings this reimagining to life.

Modern Tech Could Make Jaws Scarier Than Ever

Part of Jaws’s brilliance was how it managed to evoke sheer terror in viewers even though it didn’t use any CGI. It used a few prominent special effects styles at the time, but most of the horror was generated through clever direction and an incredible score.

A remake would have to stay true to this style and mirror the techniques of the original. However, it would be great to see CGI employed to make some of the scenes more realistic. Potentially, a reboot could be even more terrifying than the original.

If there is going to be a Jaws remake, it’s likely a long way off. However, there’s a good chance that it will happen at some point as it would be a massive cash cow for Universal.