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FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES |
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Rating: About Ratings
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Opens: 05/16/2025 |
Running Time: 110 |
Rated: R |
Cast: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner,
Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger and Tony Todd. |
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Crew: Directors: Zach Lipovsky/Adam B. Stein Producers: Toby Emmerich, Jon Watts, Alice S. Kim, Bliss McDonald, Dianne McGunigle, Craig Perry, and Sheila Hanahan Taylor. Executive Producers: David Siegel, Richard Brener, Pete Chiappetta, Andrew Lary, Dave Neustadter, Chris Pan, Anthony Tittanegro and Warren Zide. Screenwriters: Guy Busick, Lori Evans Taylor, Jon Watts, and Jeffrey Riddick. Music: Tim Wynn. Cinematographer: Sabrina Pitre. |
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REVIEW: By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Fans of the "Final Destination" franchise have waited 14 years for a new installment since the release of "Final Destination 5" in 2011. Now, the wait is finally over.
"Final Destination: Bloodlines," directed by Zach Lipovsky ("Freaks Underground") and Adam Stein (TV's "Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion"), has arrived, and it is a real doozy. The trailers offer only a tantalizing glimpse of the chaos to come.
"Final Destinations: Bloodlines" cleverly honors the formula fans love--elaborate, fate-driven deaths and a growing sense of paranoia, while introducing a deeper, more emotional backstory that ties into the franchise's roots.
The movie explores the chilling concept of inherited fate, focusing on a group of characters who discover that cheating death might run in their bloodline. The set pieces are as inventive and grotesquely satisfying as ever. After this, you might just find yourself looking at a ceiling fan in a completely new light.
While the film doesn't radically reinvent the series, it injects just enough new blood--literally and figuratively--to feel fresh.
Screenwriters Guy Busick ("Abigail," and "Scream VI"), Lori Evans Taylor (TV's "Lucky Dog"), and Jon Watts, TV's "Skeleton Crew") strike a solid balance between suspense, shock, and even a touch of dark humor. Longtime fans will appreciate the callbacks to earlier entries, while newcomers won't feel out of place.
"Final Destination: Bloodlines" is set in 1968, where Iris Campbell (Brec Bassinger, "TV's "Stargirl") and her fiancé Paul (Max Lloyd-Jones, TV's "The Irrational") are ready for a memorable night out. Paul surprises Iris with a visit to the grand reopening of the Skyview Restaurant Tower. It's a gleaming structure reminiscent of Seattle's Space Needle. As guests sip cocktails, party to live music, and enjoy the dazzling city view, Iris begins to feel uneasy. A wave of dizziness hits her, and an ominous sense of dread sets in.
Then, in a seemingly innocent moment, a bratty kid (Noah Bromley, "Happy Holidays from Cherry Lane") drops a penny. What follows is a surreal and terrifying chain reaction, culminating in a catastrophic gas explosion. Glass shatters, bodies are hurled through windows, and chaos erupts in a matter of seconds--plunging the evening into unthinkable horror.
I'll tell you; this scene is the most incredible and realistic disaster sequence you will likely see this year. It is extraordinary.
Fast forward nearly 50 years later and we meet Iris's granddaughter and promising college student Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana, "The Friendship Game") in her dorm with her roommate. Stefani is struggling in school because she keeps having these recurring nightmares about that tower collapsing.
The only way to face her fears and try to find out what is going on is to reach out to her estranged family. They are an odd bunch, but they're family and include her mother Darlene (Rya Kihlstedt, TV's "Star Wars: Tales of the Empire"), father Marty (Tinpo Lee, TV's "Kung Fu"), her brother Charlie (Teo Briones, TV's "Chucky"), uncle Howard (Alex Zahara, TV's "School Spirits"), aunt Brenda (April Telek, "Armageddon Road") and cousins Julia (Anna Lore, TV's "Gotham Knights"), Eric (Richard Harmon, "Lowlifes"), and Bobby (Owen Patrick Joyner, TV's "Julie and the Phantoms").
After rummaging through some old letters, Stefani also learns that her grandmother Iris (Gabrielle Rose, TV's "Virgin River") is alive but not so well and living in a dark, old, dilapidated house. When Stefani visits her, she is told that her nightmares are "Visions of Death" that are returning to claim their family.
The big question is: why has this curse been inflicted upon them, and how can it be stopped or broken? I won't spoil the details, but... |
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Rated: R
Opens: 05/16/2025
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Rated: R
Opens: 05/09/2025
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Rated: R
Opens: 05/09/2025
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Rated: PG-13
Opens: 05/02/2025
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Rated: PG-13
Opens: 05/02/2025
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Rated: R
Opens: 04/18/2025
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OLD SCHOOL VIDEO PICK OF THE MONTH
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Title: MAHOGANY
Year Released: 1975
Running Time: 109
Production Company: Paramount Pictures
Director: Berry Gordy, Tony Richardson and Jack Wormser
Director of Photography: David Watkin
Screenwriter: John Byrum and Toni Amber
Author: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
REVIEW: DIANA ROSS AND BILLY DEE WILLIAMS DAZZLE IN "MAHOGANY"
Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you? Where are you going to?
Do you know? Do you get what you're hoping for? When you look behind you, there's no open doors. What are you hoping for? Do you know? "Theme from Mahogany...
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NEW ON DVD
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Title: REVOLVER
Year Released: 2025
Running Time: 104
Production Company: Well Go USA
Director: Oh Seung-uk
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"REVOLVER"
Well Go USA just keeps the hits coming with its impressive slate of South Korean revenge thrillers, and the latest entry, "Revolver," is locked, loaded, and ready to fire.
While the premise may seem straightforward, in the hands of acclaimed director and screenwriter Oh Seung-uk ("The Shameless"), it's elevated into something far more compelling.
Korean star Jeon Do-yeon delivers a top notch performance as Ha Soo-young, a former cop who takes the fall in a corruption scheme. She agrees to serve a two-year prison sentence in exchange for silence--lured by the promise of a luxury apartment and $700,000 upon release. But when she walks out of prison, that promise vanishes.
Instead, she's met by Jeong Yon-seon (Lim Ji-yeon, TV's "The Tale of Lady Ok"), someone she's never fully trusted. Jeong Yon-seon coldly informs her that the apartment is gone, the money is missing, and there's nothing waiting for her but betrayal. With no other option, Soo-young begins tracking down her former co-conspirators, demanding answers and payback.
Things heat up and secrets unravel when one of the corrupt cops who helped frame her turns up dead. Now, Soo-young is caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, with everyone out to get her.
Make no mistake, Ha Soo-young may appear quiet and unassuming, but she's nobody's victim. She's constantly analyzing, calculating her next move, and figuring out how to outwit her opponents. Although she may rely more on brains than brute strength, she's relentless in her pursuit of justice and vengeance.
Her path crosses with a variety of dangerous players, including Andy (Ji Chang-wook, TV's "Gangnam B-Side"), the spoiled son of a gang boss who would rather delegate the dirty work than risk his own neck.
"Revolver" only grows more intense as it barrels along. The character development is sharp, the pacing taut, and the tension never lets up. But it's Jeon Do-yeon who steals the spotlight with her fierce and utterly magnetic portrayal. She doesn't just carry the film, she commands it.
With stylish direction, gritty action, and a powerful lead, "Revolver" is a slick, smart, and satisfying revenge thriller that fires on all cylinders.
(Highly Recommended).
Watch This Trailer For "REVOLVER"
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Title: JADE
Year Released: 2025
Running Time: 90
Production Company: Well Go USA
Director: Brett Juskalian and Colemar Nichols
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"JADE"
British martial arts master and stunt performer Shaina West--whose credits include "The Woman King," "Black Widow," and "The Killer's Game"--is electrifying in the retro-cool, blaxploitation-inspired action thriller "Jade" from director and co-screenwriter James Bamford ("High Ground" and "Air Force One Down").
Channeling the fierce energy and charisma of icons like Pam Grier ("Foxy Brown"), Tamara Dobson ("Cleopatra Jones"), and even Teresa Graves ("Get Christie Love!", West delivers such a stunning display of "Black Girl Magic" with every punch, kick and smoldering stare. You'll be ready to leap out of your seat and cheer for her.
"Jade" is a classic revenge thriller that delivers relentless, action. The gripping screenplay by Glenn Ennis ("Festival of the Living Dead") and Lynn Colliar ("The Hearts in the Game") centers on our fierce young heroine, Jade, who has had a pretty hard knock life.
Her parents were murdered and Jade is still reeling from accidentally shooting and killing her brother.
With so much violence and tragedy surrounding her, Jade decides she no longer wants any part in a life of crime. But trouble has a way of finding her. When a notorious thug named Logan (Mathew Yanagiya, "Atlas") entrusts her with a mysterious hard drive containing highly sensitive information, Jade suddenly finds herself at the center of a dangerous storm.
She's not the only one who wants the drive--enter the sleazy and unpredictable Tork (Mickey Rourke, "Hollywood Heist," and "The Wheels of Heaven"), along with a host of other ruthless criminals willing to do whatever it takes to get their hands on it.
The plot thickens with the involvement of corrupt cops, and things escalate further when Jade passes the drive to a woman named Layla (Katherine McNamara, "High Ground"). Now, with enemies closing in from all sides, Jade becomes the hunted. Her only lifeline is her mentor, Interpol agent Reese (Mark Dacascos, TV's "Blue Eye Samurai" and "Warrior"), a father-figure who has known Jade since childhood and understands exactly what she's capable of.
Despite being captured, Jade proves once again that she's a force to be reckoned with--dropping, kicking, and dispatching every adversary who dares to underestimate her. She handles the chaos with lethal precision and barely breaks a sweat.
"Jade" is a fiercely entertaining ride that blends gritty action, heartfelt emotion, and a nod to the stylish swagger of classic blaxploitation heroines. Shaina West is perfect leading the charge. "Jade" is currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD.
(Highly Recommended).
Take a look at this Trailer For "JADE"
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Title: DEVILS STAY
Year Released: 2025
Running Time: 95
Production Company: Well Go USA
Director: Hyun moon-seop
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"DEVILS STAY"
Following in the eerie tradition of "Exhuma" and "The Wailing," Well Go USA presents their latest chilling thriller, "Devils Stay."
This suspenseful horror film from director/writer Hyun Moon-seop ("Nightmare Teacher"), follows So-Mi (Lee Re, "It's Okay!"), a young woman who mysteriously becomes possessed by a demon after receiving a heart transplant from her father, Seong-do (Park Shin-yang, "The Big Swindle" and "Man on the Edge").
Doctor Seong-do (Park Shin-yang), one of the world's most renowned cardiologists, prides himself on his flawless record. He reassures his vibrant, outgoing daughter So-mi (Lee Re) that her upcoming heart transplant surgery will go smoothly.
But imagine his devastation when things go horribly wrong, and So-mi tragically dies on the operating table.
However, the story takes a darker turn. Anger and suspicion surround this tragedy--how could a once-loving young girl suddenly turn violent? Just before the surgery, So-mi attacked a schoolmate and even tries to drown her own mother. The bigger question emerges: is So-mi truly dead?
Enter priest Hae-shin (Lee Min Ki, "Crash" and "Monster"), who is called in to perform an Exorcism. Unfortunately, this attempt turns into a spectacular failure.
From there, "Devils Stay" focuses on uncovering why and how So-mi became possessed. The film's pacing suffers at times due to an overuse of flashbacks, making the narrative feel clunky.
However, once it finds its rhythm, "Devils Stay" delivers some genuinely chilling moments particularly when the body comes to life at the morgue and during the memorial service when the demon attacks the attendees.
While "Devils Stay" may borrow elements from iconic films like "The Exorcist," it still manages to carve out its own identity within the demonic horror genre.
The South Korean traditions, eerie atmosphere and unsettling twists ultimately make it a worthwhile watch for fans of supernatural thrillers.
Recommended.
Editor's Note:"Devils Stay" is currently available on Blu-ray, DVD and
Digital.
Look At This Trailer For "DEVILS STAY"
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Title: THE OTHER LAURENS
Year Released: 2024
Running Time: 117
Production Company: Yellow Veil Pictures
Director: Claude Schmitz
Review By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"THE OTHER LAURENS"
Belgian writer/director Claude Schmitz ("Carwash") "The Other Laurens" offers a mildly engaging crime drama with his latest film, "The Other Laurens."
Starring Olivier Rabourdin ("Taken 2" and "Fox Hunt") as private detective Gabriel Laurens (Olivier Rabourdin, "Taken 2" and "Fox Hunt") in a dual role as private detective Gabriel Laurens and his identical twin brother François.
The film dives into Gabriel's tumultuous life. As a specialist in investigating extramarital affairs, Gabriel's personal world is already in disarray with his mother gravely ill and his own emotional turmoil over François's recent death. Adding to his burden is his niece Jade, played with remarkable depth by (a terrific debut by Louise Leroy), who is grappling with the loss of her father.
When Jade requests Gabriel to probe into François's suspicious car accident, he travels to Perpignan, (South of France, near the Spanish border) where François had been living a lavish lifestyle with his beautiful wife Shelby (Kate Moran, "This Is the End"), who is also Jade's stepmother.
Gabriel's arrival in this seemingly idyllic setting quickly unravels a web of intrigue, complicating his investigation and deepening the mystery.
While audiences may not be on the edge of their seats waiting for the next twist in "The Other Laurens," they certainly won’t find themselves dozing off either. The movie brims with a boatload of interesting characters from drug dealers, thugs and biker gangs and other lowlifes that has Gabriel wondering just what his brother was into.
While the array of characters adds intrigue to the story, the plot itself often feels mired in inertia and never quite achieves the level of intensity it aims for, thus making "The Other Laurens" a decent, but just another average crime thriller.
(Recommended).
Editor's Note: "The Other Laurens" is currently available through Video On Demand.
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
MCKENNA GRACE JOINS "THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING"
Lionsgate Films announced that Mckenna Grace is set join the cast of "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" as Maysilee Donner, Haymitch Abernathy's fellow District 12 Tribute.
Joseph Zada("Invisible Boys") will play Haymitch, with Whitney Peak (TV's "Gossip Girl") playing Haymitch's girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird.
The film adaptation of "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" will be released on November 20, 2026.
Francis Lawrence will direct from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray, based on the bestselling novel by Suzanne Collins. Color Force's Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson will produce. Cameron MacConomy will executive produce. The five films in the franchise have taken in over $3.3 billion at the box office.
"Sunrise on the Reaping" sold 1.5 million copies in its first week on sale in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The 1.2 million copies sold in the U.S. are twice the first week sales of "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" and three times the first week sales of "Mockingjay."
Published on March 18, "Sunrise on the Reaping" revisits the world of Panem twenty-four years before the events of "The Hunger Games," starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Meredith Wieck and Scott O'Brien are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.
Grace, in addition to her many other credits, starred in the movies" Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire." She is currently starring in the adaptation of the best-selling Colleen Hoover novel "Regretting You for Paramount." Upcoming, she will also appear in the lead role of Blumhouse's "Kiss of Death" as well as in Blumhouse's highly anticipated sequel to "Five Nights at Freddy's, "Scream 7" with Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox, and she also she stars alongside an all-star cast led by Diane Lane in Lionsgate's Anniversary.
Grace is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.
IN OTHER MOVIE NEWS:
FOCUS FEATURES SETS WIDE US RELEASE ON CHRISTMAS FOR "SONG SUNG BLUE" STARRING HUGH JACKMAN AND KATE HUDSON
Focus Features will release "Song Sung Blue" on Dec. 25. The film, written and directed by Academy Award winner Craig Brewer, ("Hustle & Flow") stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson and tells the inspiring true story of two down-on-their-luck performers who form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.
Brewer, produced the film alongside Davis Entertainment’s John Davis and John Fox. Rounding out the star-studded cast are Michael Imperioli, Fisher Stevens, Jim Belushi, Ella Anderson, King Princess, Mustafa Shakir, and Hudson Hilbert Hensley.
Focus developed and holds worldwide rights to the film, which is based on Greg Kohs' 2008 documentary of the same name. Universal Pictures International is handling international distribution.
Editor's Note: Photo: Gus Black.
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
DIEGO LUNA TO HOST ACADEMY'S SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWARDS
Actor, director and producer Diego Luna will host the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards presentation on April 29 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. During the evening he will present 14 achievements, which were previously announced in January.
Achievements receiving Scientific and Technical Awards must demonstrate a proven record of contributing significant value to the process of making motion pictures. In addition, an Academy Award of Merit (an Oscar statuette) will be presented at the ceremony to collectively recognize "all the individuals who have developed and supported captioning technology, whether open or closed, for film."
Luna currently stars in and executive produces the Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning series "Andor," reprising his role as Cassian Andor from "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." Recently, he appeared in the limited series "La Máquina," earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. His filmography includes such notable works as "Y Tu Mama Tambien," "Frida"and the upcoming film "Kiss of the Spider Woman." He has also directed several films, including "Cesar Chavez" and "Mr. Pig." Luna co-founded the production company La Corriente del Golfo, which focuses on developing Mexican stories and talent.
For more information about the Scientific and Technical Awards, please visit www.oscars.org/sci-tech.
Editor's Note: Information used in this report provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences publicity department.
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By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs:
ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES TO PRESENT "JAWS: THE EXHIBITION"
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will present "Jaws: The Exhibition," on view September 14, 2025–July 26, 2026. The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's film, a culture-defining thriller that continues to be a fixture in popular culture.
This is the first-ever exhibition of this scale at the Academy Museum focused exclusively on a single film, and the largest mounted exhibition ever for "Jaws" (1975), the Oscar-winning film from Universal Pictures.
The exhibition will feature over 200 original objects--including concept illustrations by production designer Joe Alves, a costume worn by Roy Scheider as Brody, original shark design schematics by design engineer Frank Wurmser, and a screen used prop dorsal fin—plus behind-the-scenes revelations and interactive moments.
"Jaws: The Exhibition" will illustrate how the film became the first summer blockbuster that forever changed the motion picture industry. Tickets for Jaws: The Exhibition are available to purchase now.
Curated with direct access to the collections from Steven Spielberg and The Amblin Hearth Archive, NBCUniversal Archives & Collections, and more, Jaws: The Exhibition has visitors step into the world of the iconic film, scene-by-scene, as it translates the movie into a spatial experience for all-ages audiences.
"As an institution both devoted to and deeply enshrined within the film industry, the Academy Museum can combine deep, rigorous, and fulfilling research with exciting moments of interactivity and discovery for our audiences, allowing them to experience this beloved film and enduring story in a brand-new way," said Academy Museum Director and President Amy Homma.
"After 50 years, many of the accounts about the production of Jaws are as well-known as the film itself. This exhibition uncovers the film’s multilayered mythologies and lore for both new and seasoned fans," said Senior Exhibitions Curator Jenny He. "It's fascinating to think that Jaws was Steven Spielberg's second theatrical feature film--the movie is a testament to the storied filmmaker's early success as a tenacious visionary pushing creative boundaries."
The Academy Museum has been home to the sole surviving full-scale model of the shark from Jaws since the museum's opening in 2021. At 25-feet-long, "Bruce the Shark" is the largest object in the Academy's collection and currently hangs outside of the museum's 4th floor exhibition space where it will remain on-view during the exhibition.
"Jaws: The Exhibition" is organized by Senior Exhibitions Curator Jenny He and Assistant Curator Emily Rauber Rodriguez, with Curatorial Assistant Alexandra James Salichs. It will be the museum's fifth large-scale exhibition in its Marilyn and Jeffrey Katzenberg Gallery, following Hayao Miyazaki (2021–22), Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898–1971 (2022–23), John Waters: Pope of Trash (2023–24), and Color in Motion: Chromatic Explorations of Cinema (which closes July 13, 2025).
The exhibition will be accompanied by a dynamic series of film screenings, exclusive new merchandise, and public programs to be announced at a later date.
ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURES:
The Academy Museum is the largest museum in the world devoted to the arts, sciences, and artists of moviemaking. The museum advances the understanding, celebration, and preservation of cinema through inclusive and accessible exhibitions, screenings, programs, initiatives, and collections. Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano, the museum's campus contains the restored and revitalized historic Saban Building--formerly known as the May Company building (1939)--and a soaring spherical addition. Together, these buildings contain 50,000 square feet of exhibition spaces, two state-of-the-art theaters, the Shirley Temple Education Studio, and beautiful public spaces that are free and open to the public. These include: The Walt Disney Company Piazza and the Sidney Poitier Grand Lobby, which houses the Spielberg Family Gallery, Academy Museum Store, and Fanny's restaurant and cafe. The Academy Museum is open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ABOUT JAWS:
Directed by Oscar-winner Steven Spielberg, "Jaws" set the standard for edge-of-your-seat suspense, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon and forever changing the movie industry 50 years ago on June 20, 1975. When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town's chief of police (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss), and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again.
Featuring an unforgettable, pulse-racing score, five decades later, Jaws remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history.
"Jaws: The Exhibition" is supported by the Givenchy Family, Emma Koss, Yeardley Smith, and Richard Talley.
IMAGE CREDITS: (L-R) Director Steven Spielberg, kneeling with camera, during production of Jaws (1975). Others unidentified. Courtesy of Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Director Steven Spielberg during production of Jaws (1975). Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC; Jaws (1975) production clapperboard. Courtesy of The Amblin Hearth Archive; Cast and crew during production of Jaws (1975). Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC; Concept illustration by production designer Joe Alves. Courtesy of Universal Studios Licensing LLC.
Editor's Note: Information used in this report obtained from the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures publicity department.
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