Quentin Tarantino praises Jaws as greatest movie ever, offering a unique distinction between what makes a movie great versus what makes a film exceptional. Speaking about Steven Spielberg’s landmark 1975 thriller, Tarantino shared his thoughts on why this legendary film resonates so powerfully within cinema history and his personal development as a filmmaker.
Tarantino Draws a Line Between Movies and Films with Jaws
It is widely accepted that Steven Spielberg’s Jaws not only jumpstarted his career but also set a new standard for blockbuster filmmaking, triggering a shift in Hollywood’s approach to big summer releases. The story of a small beach town terrorized by a Great White shark was transformed by Spielberg from a simple thriller into a genre-defining event. Jaws achieved unprecedented commercial and critical acclaim, at one time becoming the highest-grossing movie ever and earning a nomination for Best Picture at the Oscars. Its influence continues to be felt, with prominent directors like Quentin Tarantino counting it among the greats.
Tarantino has always been candid and sometimes unpredictable in his opinions on film. Known for unconventional comparisons—such as likening the Toy Story series to classic western trilogies—he occasionally champions films that align closely with popular opinion. His endorsement of Top Gun: Maverick is one such example. However, with Jaws, Tarantino’s appreciation includes a nuanced caveat that has intrigued many cinema fans and fellow filmmakers. He has been quoted as saying:
“I think Jaws is the greatest movie ever made. Maybe not the greatest film. But it’s the greatest movie ever made. And then there are other movies that can get in its rarefied air. But as far as a movie, there’s no making it better than Jaws. There’s no ‘better’ than Jaws. It is the best movie ever made. And it shows how badly timed most movies made before Jaws were.”
—Quentin Tarantino, Director
This remark highlights how Tarantino separates movie-making craft from artistic ambition or personal expression, suggesting that Jaws represents the pinnacle of entertainment value and craftsmanship in cinema, whereas “film” might refer to works that aim for something more introspective or artistically daring.
Exploring the Meaning Behind Tarantino’s “Greatest Movie” Distinction
The difference Tarantino draws between “movie” and “film” is central to understanding his praise for Jaws. While some might mistake this as a slight—akin to Martin Scorsese’s controversial opinions about certain blockbuster franchises—Tarantino frames these as categories representing distinct yet complementary approaches to storytelling.
He compares Jaws to Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, pointing out that both were box office successes and earning Best Picture nominations, yet serve very different creative purposes. With Taxi Driver, Scorsese crafted a brooding, challenging narrative about a conflicted protagonist, whereas Spielberg injected blockbuster energy, character-driven storytelling, and genuine suspense into Jaws to deliver mass appeal and excitement.
This nuanced understanding is not a dismissal of one approach over the other, but an acknowledgement of how Spielberg’s talents brought something unique and enduring to popular cinema. Tarantino further elaborated in his interview, sharing insight into what set Spielberg apart from other directors of action and adventure movies of his era:
What I meant by that, to one degree or another, is that Spielberg and a lot of his cohorts grew up seeing those kinds of movies in the theater. Henry Levin’s Journey to Center of the Earth, he’s gonna run to go and see that. Richard Fleischer’s Fantastic Voyage. He’s going to run and go see it. Gordon Douglas’s Them! He’s going to run and go see. Now… most of them weren’t directed that well. They were assignments given to journeyman directors who did their best with them. That was how we were used to seeing comic book — that kind of movie experience. As opposed to a Spielberg, who was like, ‘No, this is exactly the kind of movie he likes. This is exactly the kind of movies he was put on earth to make. And he’s going to make it, within an inch of his life, as effective as it possibly can be. And, you know, Michael Anderson, isn’t putting that kind of work in Logan’s Run.
—Quentin Tarantino, Director
For Tarantino, Spielberg’s unique passion for the type of film Jaws exemplifies was the essential difference. While adventure and genre movies were often delegated to competent yet uninspired journeyman directors, Spielberg approached them with the dedication and enthusiasm of someone who saw the popular spectacle as a legitimate primary form of cinematic expression.
Why Jaws Resonates So Deeply for Tarantino
Although some of Tarantino’s cinematic preferences may surprise fans, his admiration for Jaws fits within a broader context of his lifelong respect for directors like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Brian De Palma. The movies of the 1970s, in Tarantino’s view, represent the pinnacle of Hollywood achievement—a belief he often returns to in interviews and the pages of his book, Cinema Speculation.
In that book, he reflects on being exposed to a broad spectrum of movies at a young age, recounting how growing up in an era of blockbuster innovation allowed him to see classics like Jaws during formative years. Though his interests would eventually expand to include more challenging and mature films, the thrill and excitement of what Spielberg accomplished with Jaws left a lasting impression.
This connection is more than just one of a fan to a favorite movie. Tarantino’s own directorial style has been influenced by Spielberg’s model of elevating genre films through meticulous attention and a distinctive, personal touch. Tarantino has said his biggest inspiration comes from filmmakers taking familiar genres—heist, war, or Western movies—and making them singular through creative reinvention. He recognizes that Spielberg’s achievement in Jaws set an example he could follow as he developed his own memorable and genre-defining movies.
The Enduring Importance of Jaws and Tarantino’s Endorsement
The continuing influence of Jaws on both filmmakers and audiences speaks to the enduring power Spielberg captured in the summer of 1975. The movie’s blend of terror, excitement, and character has ensured its place at the heart of popular culture and film studies, and it remains a benchmark by which other blockbusters are measured. Tarantino’s enthusiastic analysis, delivered with characteristic passion, reminds us not only of the craftsmanship behind Jaws but also of the ways such movies can inspire generations of creative talent. His view reinforces the idea that popular entertainment and artistic aspiration are not mutually exclusive, and that movies like Jaws deserve their place at the top of cinema‘s achievements.
Key figures like Richard Dreyfuss, Roy Scheider, and Robert Shaw helped bring the unforgettable drama of Jaws to life, with each character contributing to the film’s lasting impact. Tarantino’s remarks—shared widely and discussed across film communities—invigorate debates about what makes a movie “greatest ever,” anchoring Jaws ever more firmly in the collective memory and imagination of Hollywood and its fans.
