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How did Jaws change Hollywood marketing and distribution of movies?

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Steven Spielberg wearing a tuxedo and bow tie, smiling at the camera on the red carpet at the Cannes International Film Festival. — Steven Spielberg American motion-picture director and producer Steven Spielberg attending the premiere of *Inside Llewyn Davis* at the Cannes International Film Festival, France, 2013.

Released in 1975, Jaws revolutionized Hollywood marketing and distribution, establishing the model for the modern summer blockbuster.12

Before Jaws, studios typically considered television advertising too expensive. The film broke this convention by utilizing heavy promotion through 30-second television trailers in the week leading up to its premiere.1

Furthermore, the film transformed distribution strategies. Previously, movies followed a staggered release pattern, debuting in a major city before slowly expanding to other locations over several weeks. Jaws defied this by launching with a widespread release in more than 400 theaters across the United States simultaneously.1

These tactics shifted the industry's perception of summer releases, which were previously reserved for lower-quality films because audiences were thought to avoid theaters during that season. By grossing an unprecedented $100 million within 60 days, Jaws proved that high-concept action films could achieve massive box office success during the summer, turning these new marketing and distribution methods into the industry standard.1