In 2016, $11,250,646,490 were spent at the box office. That’s a lot of money, isn’t it? Millions of people go to the theaters every year to watch blockbusters, and the movies shown range differently from sci-fi’s, to comedies, and horror films. The impact a movie can make on audiences can be astounding. Films have come a long way since the golden days of Hollywood, and some very iconic and special movies have been made throughout the decades. I’m sorry Mr. Rutter, but to say that Jaws is the greatest movie of all time is blasphemy considering that there are hundreds films that have received more praise than Steven Spielberg’s shark tale.

First, Jaws can’t be the greatest movie of all time because it hasn’t received the most awards. Jaws has only three Oscars compared to movies like Titanic and Ben-Hur that have won 11 Oscars. You don’t have to be a genius to know that 11 is better than three. In 1975, Jaws was beaten out of best picture by One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, which swept all the major awards that year(Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress). To say that Jaws is the greatest movie of all time is a stretch, considering that it didn’t even win the most Academy Awards the year it released.

Next, listening to a film is just as important as watching the film, and since that’s true, Jaws cannot be the greatest movie ever. The score in Jaws is effective. Honestly, it’s scarier than the shark. Although it is impressive, according to the American Film Institute, John Williams’ score in Star Wars succeeds his Jaws performance. In fact, it is number one on AFI’s 25 Greatest Film Scores of All Time. Jaws is number six on that list behind scores like Nina Rota’s The Godfather and Bernard Herrmann’s Psycho.

Also, movies have a surprising influence on viewers. Teenagers listen to the messages movies tell them more than the messages their parents tell them. Jaws didn’t have an influence on the audience, other than scaring them out of going to the beach. However, it did have an influence on the money crazed film industry because of their successful ad campaign, which other blockbusters in turn used to make more money. Star Wars has its own religion called “Jedism”; Blackboard Jungle triggered riots in Britain and is accredited to starting the teen rebellion era. Jaws may have had some sort of an influence, but not one as important as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. This film broke down the social customs of racial stereotypes, and started the acceptance of interracial relationships. Jaws main influence was how greedy Hollywood can make in lieu of the almighty dollar.

I’m not saying that Jaws is a bad movie because it’s not. Jaws is a very good movie, one that people (specifically you, Mr. Rutter) cherish and love. There’s hundreds of movies that people cherish and love though, and that’s the joy of cinema. There are so many important films that are about so many different ideas that it’s mind boggling. So Mr. Rutter before you decide to put one movie above all the rest, pick up some more and explore. Don’t worry Mr. Rutter, your coffee will be just fine. Just don’t go in the water with it.