Jaws Sinking Its Teeth Into Blu-ray On August 14th

Universal City, California, April 10, 2012:  JAWS – the landmark motion picture that still makes audiences afraid to go in the water – comes to Blu-ray^TM for the first time ever on August 14^th, 2012. Featuring an all-new, digitally remastered and fully restored picture, as well as 7.1 surround sound, the JAWS Blu-ray^TM Combo Pack with DVD, Digital Copy and UltraViolet^TM gives fans the ultimate way to watch the breathtaking and terrifying action-thriller.

One of the most influential motion pictures of all time and nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award^®, JAWS stars Oscar^® winner Richard Dreyfuss and Oscar® nominees Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw.  Produced by legendary filmmakers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown, the film earned an Oscar^® for composer John Williams’ instantly recognizable minimalist score, as well as Oscars^® for Best Editing and Best Sound. When it was first released in 1975, JAWS smashed box-office records and became the highest-grossing film of its era, earning Spielberg a reputation as a Hollywood visionary.  Today, it remains one of the highest-grossing films in motion-picture history and is largely considered the film that launched the summer blockbuster.

  JAWS is one of 13 classic Universal films to be digitally remastered and fully restored from 35mm original film elements as part of Universal’s ongoing 100^th Anniversary celebration. The JAWS restoration began with researching and evaluating the existing film elements to determine the best means to restore the film. Over the course of several months, skilled technicians at Universal Studios Digital Services meticulously balanced color, removed dirt and scratches, and repaired any damage to the film elements shot by shot and frame by frame. Following the picture restoration, Universal Studios Sound team up-mixed the iconic JAWS soundtrack to DTS-HD Master 7.1, optimizing the sound on the Blu-ray^TM for the latest home theater technology. The entire restoration process was conducted in conjunction with Steven Spielberg and Amblin Entertainment’s post-production team to ensure the integrity of Spielberg’s original vision remained intact.

“JAWS holds a unique place, not just in Universal Pictures’ history, but in global pop culture,” said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. “It is only fitting that this phenomenal film should be given the extensive restoration needed to ensure that long-time fans as well as newcomers can enjoy this unforgettable cinematic achievement for generations to come.”