Few films remain as timeless as Jaws. Not only did it become the highest-grossing movie ever upon its release, but it also remains one of the most influential films in Hollywood history. It became so famous (and infamous) that it almost caused great white sharks to go extinct after terrified fishermen began killing sharks out of spite, fearing they were deadly man-eaters. On the flipside, the fascination with great whites that came from Jaws also led many to pursue careers in marine biology and helped propel the science of shark study, especially for larger shark species like whites and tigers.
But not every Jaws film is made equal. After the first movie won three Oscars and even earned a Best Picture nomination, the later films became bombastic, ridiculous, and downright silly. But trust me, their tawdry production values are actually tons of fun if you go into them expecting nothing but a good time. The franchise is also pretty easy to follow because the films’ release order is the same as their chronological order.
From the epic and enduring Jaws to the sock puppet shark used in the final film, here’s every Jaws movie in order, including the infamous Jaws 3-D and Jaws: The Revenge! Want to watch them right now? Then head over to Netflix, Apple TV+, and more.
Jaws (1975)
In the original film, a man-eating great white shark turns the waters around Amity Island into his hunting grounds, so the community’s police chief, Brody (Roy Scheider), gathers a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a shark hunter (Robert Shaw) to track down the beast. The movie is based on the 1974 novel of the same name by Peter Benchley, which itself was loosely inspired by the real East Coast shark attacks of 1916.
What makes Jaws so perfect is that it’s a monster movie filmed like a slasher film, but instead of a supernatural masked killer, the villain is a very large, very real animal that can very actually kill you, which heightens the tension and terror. If you love shark movies like Deep Blue Sea (1999) or any film with a giant animal antagonist, like Anaconda (1997), then Jaws is for you.
Jaws 2 (1978)
In Jaws 2, Brody returns…and so does another massive great white shark. Just like the first film, a giant shark kills more people, and honestly, it’s largely more of the same. But if you like Jaws and want to see more great white carnage (which, c’mon, who doesn't?), then it’s definitely a film that’s worth watching at least once.
Jaws 2 is an especially great choice for anyone who really loves shark movies and craves more carnage and bloodshed. If you adore creature features like The Shallows (2016) or 47 Meters Down (2017), I bet you’ll still love Jaws 2, even if it is a bit of a retread of the first film.
Jaws 3-D (1983)
One of my absolute favorites is Jaws 3-D. Yes, this movie is known to be pretty awful, but it’s also completely wild and campy beyond belief. You could say this is the moment when the franchise jumped the shark (rimshot, please!). The third film takes place in SeaWorld, which has decided to use real lagoons fed by seawater to create a more humane habitat for its marine life. And you’ll never guess who works there… Brody’s son (Dennis Quaid).
Also, an angry 35-foot great white shark has swum into the park, and you know exactly what happens next. But what really makes this movie so much fun is the wild setting. The park is set up with tons of underwater glass tunnels for visitors, which creates the perfect environment for the shark to generate pure chaos. Jaws 3-D is seriously unhinged, and if you’re the type of person who loves how silly the Jurassic World franchise or the Fast and Furious series has become, then you’ll also enjoy this madcap entry.
Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
If you thought Jaws 3-D was out there, Jaws: The Revenge blows it out of the water in terms of cheese. In the movie, Brody is now dead, and his wife (Lorraine Gary), who has developed a terrible fear of sharks and the ocean, visits her grandson in the island nation of the Bahamas. However, she’s not the only one taking a little Caribbean vacay; the great white is back and out for blood.
The Revenge is so bad and so bonkers that it becomes an unintentional comedy. Oh, and be warned, the finale is an atrocious, laughable joke that features a claymation shark that roars! Don’t go into Jaws: The Revenge expecting a decently made film. Instead, go in assuming it's more along the lines of Spaceballs (1987) or Scary Movie (2000). It’s a parody of Jaws. It doesn’t know it’s a parody… but trust me, it is.
