Jaws changed the way a generation thought about the fun of going to the beach. Summer would never be the same, as a giant shark terrorized an entire town while the police chief’s (Roy Scheider) hands are seemingly tied by a local government in stewardship of the almighty dollar and the town’s image.
Based on the book of the same name by Peter Benchley, Jaws released in 1975 – and the popularity of the film demanded a sequel. The basic premise of of Jaws II is essentially; if there was a shark attacking people in the small town of Amity Island, and it was killed at the end of Jaws,
“In all the vast and unknown depths of the ocean, how could there have been only one?”
Jaws II released in 1978 with much of its original cast, and we discover that the same greedy mayor (Murray Hamilton) didn’t learn anything from last summer’s multiple tragedies, and is once again reluctant to allow Chief Brody to close the beach down, with horrifying results.
The sequel’s conflict extended beyond the screen and bled into real life as well, as Scheider reportedly had no desire to return for the sequel, but was contractually obligated to do so. His discontent extended to the director, Jeannot Szwarc, and even resulted in a physical altercation at one point.
Now, on the 45th anniversary of the release of Jaws II, we get the 4K Ultra HD blu-ray release. The anniversary and release are timely, when you think about it, when killer whales are getting revenge on the humans of the Earth by attacking ships and other watercraft – but also in that time of year when we’re all flocking to the beach.
What extras can we expect with this anniversary edition?
Jaws II is back in all its nightmare-inducing glory with:
- Includes 4K UHD, Blu-ray and a digital copy of Jaws (Subject to expiration. Go to NBCUCodes.com for details.)
- Features Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for Brighter, Deeper, More Lifelike Color
- The Making of Jaws
- The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of Jaws
- Jaws: The Restoration
- Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
- From the Set
- Theatrical Trailer
- The Shark Is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of Jaws
- Storyboards
- Production Photos
- Marketing Jaws
- Jaws Phenomenon
The 4K UHD blu-ray of Jaws II releases July 4, 2023, with a Limited Collector’s Edition Steelbook with Poster & Art Cards due out on July 28. Go ahead, don’t let it ruin your summer plans.