Steven Spielberg's first blockbuster, "Jaws," also risked being his final film as chaos reigned. But 50 years on, the shark saga still thrills fans.

“Jaws,” which hit theaters 50 years ago next Friday, is lauded for making many splashes. But my favorite feat of “Jaws” is that the monster movie had such a powerful bite that it made the ...

For more stories like this, follow us on MSN by clicking the +Follow button at the top of this page. Why not celebrate 50 years of fin-related fears by streaming every Jaws movie.© Universal Pictures ...

Movie rights for "Jaws" were purchased for about $175,000. Lorraine Gary (who played Ellen Brody) was the wife of Sid Sheinberg, the then-president of MCA/Universal, which distributed the film.

But because so many of the shark’s victims are feckless teens this time around, Jaws 2 also plays a bit like a proto-slasher movie. (It came out just a few months before the original Halloween.) ...

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images When Steven Spielberg started filming “Jaws” on May 2, 1974, Martha’s Vineyard began its long association with the movie’s fictitious location, Amity Island.

A new documentary explores how Steven Spielberg’s hit reshaped the movie industry 50 years ago and why it resonates today. Hint: It’s not the shark.