Cast
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Roy Scheider
as Police Chief Martin Brody
Lorraine Gary
as Ellen Brody
Murray Hamilton
as Mayor Larry Vaughn
Joseph Mascolo
as Len Peterson
Jeffrey Kramer
as Hendricks
Collin Wilcox Paxton
as Dr. Lureen Elkins
Ann Dusenberry
as Tina Wilcox
Mark Gruner
as Mike Brody
Barry Coe
as Tom Andrews
Susan French
as Old Lady
Gary Springer
as Andy Nicholas
Donna Wilkes
as Jackie Peters
Gary Dubin
as Eddie Marchand
John Dukakis
as Paul 'Polo' Loman
G. Thomas Dunlop
as Timmy Weldon
Crew
Director
- Jeannot Szwarc
Producer
- David Brown
- Richard D. Zanuck
Reviews
Ian Beale
**Excellent sequel!**
Intense sequel directed by Jeannot Szwarc (who also directed episodes of Columbo alongside Steven Spielberg!)
Performances here are every bit as good as the original and Szwarc manages to infuse of great sense of style to the proceedings - building upon and adding even more depth to the Brody story. The camerawork is extremely stylish - some great gliding point of view shots.
John Williams outdoes his work in the original movie with his Jaws 2 score.
The film feels more brutal than the original and leads to a nerve shredding climax.
A great counterpart to Jaws (1975).
- **Ian Beale**
Feb 13, 2017
JPV852
Adequate but still entertaining sequel has some okay practical effects with the shark though still really silly given what happened in the last one nobody in charge would listen to Brody. Nothing overly special and doubt I'd revisit this anytime soon, but an okay sequel. **3.25/5**
Jul 25, 2020
quasar1967
just as good as the original, if not better
Sep 1, 2020
r96sk
A disappointing follow-up.
I enjoyed Roy Scheider's performance and the core action sequences near the end, but everything else is a bit boring. 'Jaws 2' puts high focus on the teenagers, though their story never possesses any intrigue. The effects for the shark, meanwhile, are a step down from the original.
It's not terribly far from being watchable, a slightly shorter run time might've helped in that regard, but I just personally found it to be an uninteresting 115 minutes or so. Perhaps initial director John D. Hancock's ideas would've came out better, though he was fired during production; speaking of which, the issues behind the scenes for this - and even the first film, really - are pretty fascinating.
Feb 19, 2022
CinemaSerf
It's only after watching this that you realise just how crucial to the success of the first film Robert Shaw was. This is not the worst sequel I've seen by any means, but without his gnarled and charismatic "Quint", we are left with a pretty mundane effort from all concerned. This time our hungry finned friend has a group of young sailors - including, of course, the Brady bunch - "Michael" (Mark Gruner) and "Sean" (Marc Gilpin) firmly in it's sights. This necessitates their sheriff father (Roy Scheider) having to defy his own loathing of the water to try and rescue them. Director Jeannot Szwarc tries to mix it up a little, but there is just too much inevitability about the ending; and the screaming hysterics of the weans - especially the truly irritating "Jackie" (Donna Wilkes) started to get under my finger nails quite quickly. The photography is good, and some effort has been made to disguise the more mechanical elements of the shark attacks, but the calamitous fire pan to fire scenarios recycle themselves once too often. John Williams' score still works well to help generate some semblance of a sense of peril, but I'm afraid this isn't remotely scary and was quite a disappointing watch.
Apr 13, 2022
Thematic Analysis
This Horror/Thriller film explores themes of fear and survival, delving into the psychological aspects of human nature when confronted with the unknown. Jaws 2 presents a unique perspective on the horror genre by focusing on the psychological terror rather than relying on typical jump scares.
Director Jeannot Szwarc brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.
Released in 1978, the film exists within a cultural context that now offers viewers historical perspective on the social issues of that era. Its reception demonstrates the diverse reactions to its artistic choices and its place in cinema history.
Did You Know?
- The production of Jaws 2 took approximately 32 months from pre-production to final cut.
- With a budget of $20.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
- The final cut of the film runs for 117 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 160 minutes long.
- The costume department created over 137 unique costume pieces for the production.
- Some visual effects sequences took up to 12 months to complete.
- Several scenes were filmed in multiple locations to capture the perfect setting.
Historical Context
- In 1978, when this film was released:
- Environmental awareness was growing as a social concern.
- The Watergate scandal changed public perception of political institutions.
- The film industry was dominated by major studios, with independent cinema still in its early development.
How This Film Stands Out
While Jaws 2 shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.
Unlike Cold Skin, which takes a more conventional approach to its subject matter, Jaws 2 subverts genre expectations by exploring its themes with greater nuance.
While films like Talk 2 Me and Disturbing Behavior explore similar territory, Jaws 2 stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.
This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its thoughtful balance of entertainment value and thematic depth, making it a valuable addition to its genre.
Details
- Release Date: June 16, 1978
- Runtime: 1h 57m
- Budget: $20,000,000
- Revenue: $187,884,000
Where to Watch
