Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movie theater, the 50th anniversary re-release of “Jaws” closes out the 2025 summer movie season.

“Jaws” set the template for the summer movie blockbuster.

“Jaws” grossed a then record $7 million on its opening weekend, June 20, 1975; is the first movie to gross more than $100 million; went on to $277.8 million at the domestic box office, and grossed $488.4 million worldwide in its initial release.

“Jaws” brought a pilgrimage of movie buffs, including yours truly, to the Woods Hole Ferry from Cape Cod to Martha’s Vineyard; walk the streets of Edgartown; see the fishing village of Menemsha; ride the ferry to Chappaquiddick Island, and stop at Joseph A Sylvia State Beach and South Beach, where the movie’s opening scenes were filmed.

The 50th anniversary re-release of “Jaws” landed the film in second place with $8.2 million for the Aug. 29-31 Labor Day weekend (not including Sept. 1), ahead of star-power new releases, “Caught Stealing,” starring Austin Butler, opening at No. 3 with $7.8 million, and “Roses,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, opening at No. 5 with $6.2 million.

The star power of “Jaws” is the often unseen Great White Shark. Malfunctioning mechanical sharks, harsh in-water filming and other problems pushed principal filming from a scheduled 55 days to 159 days.

From the opening thrum of John Williams’ (52 Oscar nominations; five Oscars, including for the “Jaws” score) dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun” score, ”Jaws,” directed by Steven Spielberg, at age 26 (his second directed theatrical movie; his first was “The Sugarland Express,” 1974) has you in its thrall.

Folks may not have wanted to go in the ocean because of a fear of sharks. They did go to the movie-theater to see a movie about the fear of sharks.

The chaotic beach scene, when the shark threatens the fictional Amity Island, New England, beach-goers; the media frenzy reporting shark attacks as Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) tries to keep the beach open for July 4 festivities; the familial rapport between Amity police chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) and his wife (Lorraine Gary); the acerbic banter between shark-hunter Quint (Robert Shaw) and marine biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), and the ultimate man versus beast aboard the broken-down boat Orca out on the ocean combine for compelling, captivating and memorable cinema.

“Jaws” has a great screenplay credited to Peter Benchley (who has a cameo as a TV news reporter), who wrote the 1974 novel on which the movie is based.

The screenplay was rewritten by Carl Gottlieb (TV’s “The Odd Couple”), an uncredited Howard Sackler, a Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright (“The Great White Hope”) with John Milius (director, “The Wind and the Lion,” 1975) and Matthew Robbins and Hal Barwood (screenwriters, “The Sugarland Express”) making uncredited contributions.

The cinematography by Bill Butler (1921-2023; Oscar nominee, cinematography, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” 1976)) is bracing, detailed and dynamic with careful pans, steady zooms and static shots punctuated by the sheer terror of the unseen leviathan.

The editing by Verna Fields (1918-1982; Oscar, editing, “Jaws”; Oscar nominee, editing, “American Graffiti,” 1973) is inventive, assured and often startling.

Roy Scheider (1932-2008; Oscar nominations: actor, “All That Jazz,” 1980; supporting actor, “The French Connection,” 1972) is self-assured as the town’s police chief with a seeming interior monologue going. It’s as if you can read his thoughts.

Richard Dreyfuss (who will be 78 on Oct. 29; Oscar nominee, actor, “Mr. Holland’s Opus,” 1996; actor, “The Goodbye Girl,” 1978) is immensely likeable as a scientist with a brutal sense of humor.

Robert Shaw (1927-1978; Oscar nominee, supporting actor, “A Man for All Seasons,” 1966) is magnificent as the irascible shark hunter who takes on mythic proportions.

Murray Hamilton (1923-1986), a great character actor, as the mayor, is a bulldog whose bark is bigger than his bite.

Steven Spielberg (who will be 79 on Dec. 18, with 23 Oscar nominations; three Oscars: picture, director, “Schindler’s List,” 1994; director, “Saving Private Ryan,” 1999) is the real star power in “Jaws.” It’s rare in movies that a director gets everything right. With “Jaws,” Spielberg does just that.

If you want some reliable thrills and chills, “Jaws” will do swimmingly.

“Jaws,” MPA Rated PG (Parental guidance suggested: Some material may not be suitable for children); Genre: Adventure, Horror, Thriller. Run time: 2 hours, 4 minutes. Distributed by Universal Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: Unlike contemporary movies, “Jaws” has few end credits. I stayed anyway.

At The Movies: “Jaws” was seen in IMAX at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Sept. 5-7: “The Conjuring: Last Rites,” starring Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson and Ben Hardy in the ninth film of the Horror franchise, is a record-breaker, opening at No. 1 with $84 million in 3,802 theaters, as the re-release of “Hamilton,” a filming of the Lin-Manuel Miranda Broadway musical, opened at No. 2 with $10 million in 1,825 theaters, and “Weapons” dropped two places from its three- or four-week run at No. 1 to No. 3 with $5.3 million in 3,284 theaters, $143 million, five weeks.

According to the entertainment publication Variety, “The Conjuring: Last Rites”’ opening is the biggest domestically in the series and is Warner Bros.’ seventh consecutive release to open above $40 million, which is a first.

The New Line paranormal franchise grossed $194 million internationally in its first weekend, surpassing the previous record of $190 million set by “It” in 2017, according to Variety.

“Conjuring”’s $84 million domestic weekend opening is the third-biggest in the Horror genre after two other Warner Bros.’ horror movies, “It” with $123 million and “It: Chapter Two” with $91 million in 2019, according to Variety.

The “Conjuring” franchise, which includes the sequels and spinoffs “The Nun” and “Annabelle,” is the highest-grossing horror franchise with more than $2.3 billion, according to Variety.

4. “Freakier Friday” stayed in place, $3.8 million in 3,125 theaters, $87.8 million, four weeks. 5. “Caught Stealing” dropped two places, $3.2 million in 3,578 theaters, $13.8 million, two weeks. 6. “The Roses” dropped one place, $2.8 million in 2,700 theaters, $12.2 million, two weeks. 7. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” dropped one place, $2.7 million in 2,385 theaters, $270.1 million, seven weeks. 8. “The Bad Guys 2” dropped one place, $2.4 million in 2,602 theaters, $77.7 million, six weeks. 9. “Light of the World,” an animation film retelling of the story of Jesus, opening, $2.4 million in 2,075 theaters. 10. “Superman” dropped two places, $1 million in 1,187 theaters, $353.3 million, nine weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Sept. 7 is subject to change.

Unreel, Sept. 12:

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale,” Rated PG: Simon Curtis directs Michelle Dockery, Joanne Froggatt, Paul Giamatti, Dominic West, Elizabeth McGovern, Joely Richardson and Hugh Bonneville in the Drama. The Crawleys face a public scandal, financial ruin and changing times for the next generation at Downton Abbey. It’s the first “Downton Abbey” without Maggie Smith (1934-2024). Previously, there were the “Downton Abbey: A New Era” (2022) and “Downton Abbey” (2019) movies and the “Downton Abbey” TV series (2010 - 2015).

“Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” Rated R: Rob Reiner directs himself, Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Fran Drescher and Paul Schaffer, who reprise their roles from “This Is Spinal Tap” (1984) in the Mockumentary Music Comedy. The band gets together after a 15-year break for a final concert. There are cameos by Paul McCartney, Elton John and Questlove.

“The Long Walk,” Rated R: Francis Lawrence directs Cooper Hoffman, David Johnson, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Mark Hamill and Judy Greer in the Horror film. Teen boys compete in an annual contest where 100 of them must maintain a certain walking speed or get shot until one is left, who gets whatever he wants for life. The story takes place in a dystopian alternative version of the United States ruled by a totalitarian regime. The movie is based on “The Long Walk” novel (1979) by Stephen King writing under the pseudonym Richard Bachman.

“The History of Sound,” Rated R: Oliver Hermanus directs Paul Mescal, Josh O’Connor, Chris Cooper and Molly Price in the History Music Romance Drama. Two young men during the World War I era record the lives, voices and folks songs of America.

“Code 3,” Rated R: Christopher Leone directs Rainn Wilson, Lil Rel Howery and Aimee Carrero in the Action Comedy. A paramedic is burned-out, but before resigning, he must train his replacement.

Movie opening information from Internet Movie Database as of Sept. 7 is subject to change.

Five Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes