Spielberg to Introduce Special NBC Airing of JAWS as Part of Massive 50th Anniversary Celebration

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the film that made people afraid to go in the water and created the modern blockbuster, NBCUniversal is going all-in.

At the center of the celebration will be a brand-new filmed introduction by director Steven Spielberg himself, airing with a special three-hour NBC broadcast of Jaws on June 20 at 8 p.m. ET, which is the exact date the film first hit theaters in 1975.

NBCUniversal is rolling out a summer-long wave of Jaws-related content and experiences. According to Jenny Storms, chief marketing officer of NBCUniversal Television & Streaming:

“Universal is home to the biggest movies in the world and it doesn’t get any bigger than Jaws. We want to celebrate 50 years of this enduring film that has captured the public imagination for generations by bringing it to audiences at home in all the ways they love to watch.”

So what does that look like? For starters, the entire Jaws franchise will be streaming exclusively on Peacock through July 14, complete with Spielberg’s new intro. And for fans looking to dive even deeper (pun slightly intended), a “Trouble in the Water” collection will launch on Peacock starting June 15, curating aquatic thrillers like Piranha, 47 Meters Down, Night Swim, and Captain Phillips alongside the original Jaws films.

Sports fans won’t be left out, either. NBCUniversal is teaming with Major League Baseball for Jaws-themed home games between June 20–22. The San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies will host activations with custom scoreboard content, exclusive giveaways, and other shark-sized surprises.

For collectors and cinephiles, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing a 50th anniversary Jaws edition on June 17, available as a digital and combo pack (4K, Blu-ray, and digital).

This release comes loaded with Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Story, a new documentary directed by Laurent Bouzereau, developed in partnership with National Geographic, Amblin Documentaries, Nedland Media, and Wendy Benchley.

On the merch front, fans can expect an influx of new Jaws gear across toys, fashion, books, collectibles, and more, all timed to hit alongside the anniversary.

Fifty years later, Jaws is still drawing blood. Whether you're watching it for the first time or the hundredth, this summer is the perfect time to return to Amity Island and hear those iconic two notes echo from the deep.

Source: Variety