How JAWS Made a Template for the Modern Blockbuster

Peacock/Universal Pictures, via Associated Press

Much more than a mere creature feature, “Jaws” created a playbook that filmmakers have followed closely for 50 years.

By Rumsey Taylor and Eve Washington

The reporters cataloged more than 50 films, which include scores of deaths by sharks, dinosaurs, piranhas, anacondas, spiders, "Graboids," tornadoes, aliens and more sharks.June 18, 2025

Fifty years ago, Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” terrified moviegoers. Its shocks still reverberate.

Its blueprint is now so recognizable that you have probably seen “Jaws” — even if you haven’t actually seen “Jaws.”

Here’s a breakdown of the plot (spoilers abound):

A mysterious creature


… stalks …

a remote island


… and attacks …

a nameless victim.


Next …

a reluctant hero


… challenges …

the town mayor


… and enlists …

a couple of experts.


Finally …

a major sacrifice


… leads to …

the final confrontation


… and …

the creature’s death
(it’s blown up).

Those nine points are what make “Jaws” “Jaws.” Put together the right way, they maximize suspense and spectacle without losing the human stakes.

“Jaws” didn’t invent the creature feature. By 1975, there had been 15 Godzilla movies and four King Kongs, as well as dozens of Hammer and Universal horror films, including “Creature from the Black Lagoon” in 1954. And Mr. Spielberg’s film included techniques popularized by other filmmakers, including Alfred Hitchcock and the famed B-movie producer Roger Corman.

Even if other films put similar elements into practice, none were as phenomenally successful as “Jaws,” boosted by a large budget and given a wide release on June 20, 1975.

The  creature stalks the remote location and attacks the first victim . Next, the reluc­tant hero challenges the local authority and enlists the experts . Finally, the sacrifice leads to the con­frontation and the crea­ture’s death .

Jaws1975
A great white shark stalks an
island and attacks a skinny­dipper . Next, a
policeman challenges the
mayor and enlists a scientist and hunter . Finally, the hunter’s death leads to a boat
attack and the shark’s death .

Alien1979
An
alien stalks a
spaceship and attacks an
officer . Next, the warrant officer challenges the
computer and enlists the science officer . Finally, the captain’s death leads to a
fight and the alien’s death .

Nope2022
A
U.F.O. stalks a rural
area and attacks a ranch
owner . Next, the rancher’s children challenges an impresario and enlists two
experts . Finally, one expert’s death leads to a
trap and the U.F.O.’s death .


These elements worked so well that dozens of films since then have more or less followed its playbook, to varying degrees of success.

To capture how widely “Jaws” has influenced Hollywood, we watched over 50 films that include most or all of those nine points.

Some are direct knock-offs, like “Great White” (1982), which was pulled from theaters after the distributor of “Jaws” claimed copyright infringement.

Others used the “Jaws” structure in new genres. “Alien” (1979) is said to have been pitched as “‘Jaws’ in space.”

This template can even be seen in films as recent as “Nope,” from 2022.