Four decades later and it's still not safe to go in the water, as evidenced by the utterly terrifying classic, Jaws. Re-released in theaters as a two-day-only event, the film holds up extremely well through its combination of practical effects and clever camera tricks. It also features one of the most memorable scores of all time from the legendary John Williams. As a serial killer monster movie filled with suspense and even humor, the film still has plenty of teeth all these years later.

Only director Steven Spielberg's second picture, it launched the very idea of the summer blockbuster when Universal released it on 4th of July weekend, the same period portrayed in the film. At the time, however, summer was considered a slow season at the box office, as studios assumed no one wanted to be in a theater during nice weather. With Jaws positioned as a minor movie, audiences instead flocked to see the man-eating great white shark, making it the highest grossing film of all time at that point.

While my greatest fear is being eaten alive by sharks, the movie remains objectively horrific, even when the shark isn't seen at all. A woman being dragged around the water screaming, or a geyser of blood in the surf are suggestion enough that a killer lurks below. Spielberg also hints at his future greatness with some iconic shots accompanied by classic one-liners like "You're gonna need a bigger boat" and "Smile you son-of-a-bitch!" Even after three sequels and 40 years of imitators, nothing has thrilled and disturbed moviegoers quite like Jaws.

Final Grade: A | 95/100 | ★★★★