Sun Jun 22 04:20:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**’Jaws’ 50th Anniversary: Examining the Legacy of the Summer Blockbuster**
NEW YORK (AP) — As “Jaws” marks its 50th anniversary this week, The Associated Press explores the film’s enduring legacy as the progenitor of the modern summer movie blockbuster.
A data analysis of box office numbers from 1975-2024 reveals a collection of iconic films that have drawn huge summer crowds, including five “Star Wars” films, Pixar hits like “Toy Story 3” and “Finding Nemo”, superhero movies, and both “Top Gun” installments. There are also some unexpected titles and movies that are both less showy and less popular.
The AP’s analysis, compiled using data from Comscore, details the highest-grossing summer films of each year over the past half-century. It’s worth noting that box-office tracking was less comprehensive before 1981, and the summer movie season of 2020 was essentially non-existent due to pandemic closures.
For insights on this summer’s movie lineup, see the AP’s film reporter and critic Lindsey Bahr’s Reddit AMA. For the latest AP film reviews, visit AP’s review section.
First Piper 