Jaws: The Revenge Movie Review – Analyzing the Plot, Effects, Endings, and Legacy

The Curious Case of 'Jaws: The Revenge': When a Shark Roars and Logic Swims Away

Ah, "Jaws: The Revenge." It’s often labeled as a bad movie, but it’s worse. It has a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Yes, zero. Stars probably avoid it. Even Rotten Tomatoes found nothing good about it, a rare feat. It’s like a ruined steak served on garbage.

A Plot Thicker Than Shark-Infested Waters

Let's examine the plot. Ludicrous describes it well. Rather than build suspense, "Jaws: The Revenge" presents a messy narrative filled with time-filling scenes. You’re supposed to connect with characters, but you end up confused. It's a thriller recipe replaced with bizarre items. The outcome? A movie that barely resembles one.

The dialogue? Oh, the dialogue is laughably bad. Lines are delivered with wooden sincerity. You might think the actors knew the script was poor. Special effects look like leftovers from a 1970s ad. It’s less scary and more comical. You can imagine a writer asking, "How can we make this more far-fetched?" "Let’s give the shark a vendetta!"

Special Effects That Would Make a Shark Laugh (If Sharks Could Laugh)

Now for the special effects. "Jaws: The Revenge" has some of the worst ever. In a movie featuring a fearsome shark, you want the shark to look real. Instead, we see a rubbery creature that seems lost from a cheap kids show. It’s not menacing; it’s an oversized bath toy. The effects are so bad they become unintentionally funny. It’s a type of bad that's entertaining in an ironic way.

The Ever-Shifting Sands of Endings: More Twists Than a Shark's Tail

Let's discuss the endings. One bad ending wasn’t enough. "Jaws: The Revenge" offers multiple terrible conclusions. Yes, multiple. You may wonder, "Are there two endings?" Surprisingly, more than two exist. There’s the theatrical ending, the explosive one, and an alternate ending where the shark gets stabbed. They couldn’t decide how to sink this ship.

If you watched AMC, you may have seen the "shark explodes" ending, where the shark, against all logic, explodes. It’s absurdly glorious. Netflix chose the original ending where the shark sinks. Less explosive but equally unsatisfying. Fans got an alternate stabbing ending on the 2016 Blu-Ray release. After all that roar and revenge, a stabbing ends it all. It seems anticlimactic for a movie already steeped in anticlimax.

Poor Jake gets hurt in this mess of endings. No matter the outcome—exploding shark or sinking—Jake finds trouble. But don’t worry! In most versions, after all choices sink, Michael hears Jake’s cries and rescues him. Critically wounded yet alive, Jake finds his end less dreadful than the film.

No Brody, No Problem? (Actually, Yes, Big Problem)

One glaring issue in "Jaws: The Revenge" is the absence of Roy Scheider as Brody. Why did he skip it? Scheider wisely had “other commitments,” Hollywood speak for "I'd rather do anything else". He clearly had no ambition to return to the sinking franchise. Richard Dreyfuss also stayed away, making it worse.

Others could not resist the lure of "Jaws: The Revenge." Michael Caine joined. Yes, the famous actor chose a shark film. But he had a good reason. He received $1.5 million for “a week of filming.” What did he do with it? He bought his mother a home. In his memoir, What’s It All About?, he said it was simple: money for mum from a roaring shark. No one can fault that.

Ranking the Jaws Juggernaut: From Great White to White Elephant

The "Jaws" series was once scary but is now mixed. Ask any film lover about the best "Jaws" movie and they say the first. Maybe add "Jaws 2". But when "Jaws 3-D" or "Jaws: The Revenge" comes up, opinions drop dramatically. Usually, "Jaws: The Revenge" sits at the series' bottom. It's like ordering fine food and getting this film.

Spielberg's Shark-Sized Regret: A Legacy of Fear and... Guilt?

Roaring Sharks and Revenge-Fueled Fins: Moments of... Huh?

Now, let’s explore wild parts of "Jaws: The Revenge." Remember when the shark roars? Yes, it roars like a lion or dinosaur. Not like a shark at all. After being zapped by Jake's device (why not?), it doesn’t just thrasher—it roars loudly. This shark also doubles as a T-Rex. It's absurd yet somewhat charming. Almost.

Then Sean Brody faces his fate. "What happened to Sean in 'Jaws: The Revenge'?" In a scene that matches the exploding shark’s ridiculousness, Sean, now a police deputy (since everyone in the Brody family risks death), goes to clear debris from a buoy. This should be harmless, right? But this is "Jaws: The Revenge," where routine jobs become deadly hunts by roaring sharks. Of course, Sean dies when the shark attacks in broad daylight, delivering another over-the-top scene.

Kick off the 'revenge' plot. It is less suspenseful and more sad. Sad for Sean. Sad for the franchise. Sad for anyone who had to see it.

Box Office Blues: Revenge is a Dish Best Served... Cold and Unprofitable

Financially, "Jaws: The Revenge" wasn’t a hit. "Jaws: The Revenge" grossed only $51.9 million worldwide on a $23 million budget. Technically, it barely broke even. In Hollywood terms, that’s a flop. It pales in comparison to the blockbuster success of the original "Jaws." The revenge was on Universal's box office returns. Audiences decided that sharks, even angry ones, weren’t worth the price anymore.

A Familiar Face in the Crowd: Mrs. Kintner Returns!

Despite the overall quality of "Jaws: The Revenge," there are nods to the original. Lee Fierro, who played Mrs. Kintner, has a brief cameo. It is a small connection to the film that started it. A wink to the fans amidst shark chaos. Fritzi Jane Courtney, who played Mrs. Taft, also appears. This further connects the film to its predecessors.

For a scathing and often funny take on the movie, revisit Roger Ebert's review. Spoiler: he wasn't a fan. For a general overview, see Wikipedia's page. If you think of watching it, Common Sense Media’s review offers a perspective. Just remember, "common sense" might suggest choosing something else.

In the end, "Jaws: The Revenge" is a cautionary tale. It shows what happens when a franchise goes too far. When spectacle is prioritized over story. When a shark has a motive for revenge and the ability to roar. It is so bad that it becomes unforgettable. For cinematic history, we might want to forget it happened. Or at least watch it with friends and irony.