| Jaws 2 | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster by Lou Feck | |
| Directed by | Jeannot Szwarc |
| Written by | |
| Based on | Characters by Peter Benchley |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Michael Butler |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | John Williams |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $20 million[2] |
| Box office | $208 million[2] |
Jaws 2 is a 1978 American horror thriller film[1] directed by Jeannot Szwarc and co-written by Carl Gottlieb. It is the sequel to Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975), and the second installment in the Jaws franchise. The film stars Roy Scheider as Police Chief Martin Brody, with Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton reprising their respective roles as Martin's wife Ellen Brody and mayor Larry Vaughn. It also stars Joseph Mascolo, Jeffrey Kramer, Collin Wilcox, Ann Dusenberry, Mark Gruner, Susan French, Barry Coe, Donna Wilkes, Gary Springer, and Keith Gordon in his first feature film role.[3] The plot concerns Chief Brody suspecting another great white shark is terrorizing the fictional seaside resort of Amity Island, following a series of incidents and disappearances, and his suspicions are eventually proven true.
Like the production of the original film, the production of Jaws 2 was troubled. The first director for the film, John D. Hancock, proved to be unsuitable for an action film and was replaced by Szwarc.[4] Scheider, who only reprised his role to end a contractual issue with Universal, was also unhappy during production and had several heated exchanges with Szwarc.[5]
The film was released on June 16, 1978 to mixed reviews.[6] While the performances of Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton, the special effects, and the score by John Williams, were praised, it received criticism for essentially duplicating the formula of the first film. However, it is regarded in retrospect as the best of the three Jaws sequels. It was briefly the highest-grossing sequel in history until Rocky II was released in 1979. The film's tagline, "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..." has become one of the most famous in film history and has been parodied and homaged several times.[7] It was followed by Jaws 3-D in 1983.
- ^ a b "Jaws II". British Board of Film Classification. June 28, 1978. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ a b "Jaws 2". The Numbers. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ^ "Jaws 2". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved December 11, 2016.
- ^ The Making of Jaws 2, Jaws 2 DVD, Written, directed and produced by Laurent Bouzereau
- ^ Loynd 1978, p. 103
- ^ Beek, Mike, "Jaws 2", Music from the Movies, archived from the original on June 2, 2008, retrieved December 17, 2006
- ^ "Andrew Kuehn, 66, Innovator In the Movie Trailer Industry", New York Times, February 3, 2004, retrieved March 27, 2008