Fifty years ago, on June 20^th, 1975, Steven Spielberg (Hook) unleashed Jaws into theaters and audiences immediately became terrified to go into the water. Widely regarded as the first blockbuster film, its legacy is indelible between its John Williams (Star Wars) score, the collective cast, and their respective performances. Aquatic survival horror films of today owe so much to Jaws and in celebration of its 50^th anniversary, Universal Pictures is re-releasing the film on 4K UHD, but this time it includes a brand-new documentary, Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story.

Is it safe to repurchase this thrilling classic or should you observe some caution before diving in? Let’s get into it.

Based on the Peter Benchley novel and adapted by Benchley (Jaws 2; The Deep) and Carl Gottlieb (Jaws 2; The Jerk), Jaws centers on the New England town of Amity Island and its Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) who tries to keep its citizens safe amid several unusual shark attacks. Brushing up against Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton), who fears that closing the beaches will hurt the tourism dollars the town needs, Brody is left with little recourse. That is, until the shark gets dangerously close to Brody’s son, at which point the Chief hires a local shark hunter, Quint (Robert Shaw), and a concerned oceanographer, Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), to address the issue himself.

Right out of the gate, this 50^th anniversary edition is the exact same as the 2020 45^th anniversary first-time 4K UHD edition. The discs have the same art and the respective 4K UHD and Blu-ray of the film have the same menus and bonus features. The slipcover and liner art are different (instead of a close-up of Bruce with the title of the film in its mouth, it’s Bruce preparing to attack the swimmer from the start of the film) and this edition includes the new documentary on its own Blu-ray, but, otherwise, this is the exact same release. This is imperative to understand as those who have already purchased the 45^th anniversary 4K UHD may think that there’s more to this release than new packaging.

So, let’s talk about what’s new: the documentary from filmmaker/author/director Laurent Bouzereau (Music by John Williams; Catch Me If You Can: Behind the Camera), Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story. The doc premieres on National Geographic on July 10^th before being made available on both Disney+ and Hulu, so it will be available to screen without the need to purchase the 50^th anniversary edition. That said, for those who want to own as much as possible, be advised that Jaws @ 50 is included as a separate and individual Blu-ray within the 50^th edition and does not appear to either be currently available with the digital edition of the 4K UHD or via other digital services. If you’re a massive Jaws or Spielberg fan (or simply someone who enjoys deep dives into cinema history) and you want to be able to access materials without subscriptions requirements, the only way to maintain constant access to Jaws @ 50 is through the 50^th anniversary edition. This very well may be the thing that makes or breaks the decision to pick this up.

By the by, for those for whom totality matters as well as packaging, in addition to a standard release, there’s also a limited edition steelbook variation available from select retailors.

JAWS 4K UHD steelbook packshot. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.

Frankly, given the fact that the included 4K UHD and Blu-ray discs offer the same presentation with no change and all the same bonus features (save the Jaws @ 50 doc), the 50^th anniversary edition is something I would recommend either for die-hard Jaws fans or those who don’t already own it on 4K UHD. There isn’t enough meat on this edition to justify the full-price pick-up upon release, so, should you insist on getting it, I suggest waiting for a solid sale.

Jaws 50^th Anniversary 4K UHD Special Features:

• *NEW* Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
• Deleted Scenes and Outtakes – Over 13 minutes of content
• The Making of Jaws – An insider look into the making of this classic film, this original full-length documentary is filled with exhaustive cast and crew interviews, archival footage, outtakes, and much more!
• Jaws: The Restoration – An in-depth look at the intricate process of restoring the movie.
• The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of Jaws – A fan-made documentary that focuses on the many ways JAWS has helped shape elements of pop culture and influence a generation of filmmakers.
• Jaws Archives
• Storyboards
• Production Photos
• Marketing Jaws
• Jaws Phenomenon
• Theatrical Trailer
• From the Set – Available on Disc only

Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray Combo June 17^th, 2025.

For more information, head to the official Universal Pictures Jaws webpage.

Categories: Home Release, Recommendation

Tags: 4K UHD, adaptation, adventure, based on a book, Carl Gottlieb, home release, home video, horror, Jaws, Jeffrey Kramer, Laurent Bouzereau, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Peter Benchley, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, Steven Spielberg, The Zanuck/Brown Company, thriller, Universal Pictures