Jaws 2 Budget
HorrorThriller1h 57mUpdated
Synopsis
"Jaws 2" (1978) picks up a few years after the terrifying events of the first film, where the infamous great white shark was defeated. The town of Amity Island has attempted to move on, but the shadow of the past looms large. Chief of Police Martin Brody, played by Roy Scheider, is still haunted by the memories of the shark attacks and remains vigilant about the waters surrounding the island.
As summer arrives, tourists flock to Amity, and the local economy thrives. However, a series of mysterious disappearances and attacks begin to occur, leading Brody to suspect that another shark is on the prowl. Despite facing skepticism from the town council and the community, he is determined to protect the residents and visitors.
The tension escalates when a group of teenagers goes out on a sailing trip, unwittingly putting themselves in the path of the deadly predator. With time running out, Brody must confront his fears and rally a team to hunt down the shark before it strikes again. "Jaws 2" combines suspense and action, delivering a thrilling sequel that explores themes of courage, responsibility, and the fight against nature's most formidable creatures.
What is the budget of Jaws 2?
"Jaws 2," a horror released in 1978, was directed by Jeannot Szwarc and stars Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary. The production budget was $20,000,000, placing it in the mid-budget range for horror productions of the 1970s.
Key Budget Allocation Categories
While specific budget breakdowns are not publicly available, typical cost drivers for a horror production like this include:
- Practical Effects, Prosthetics & Makeup: Horror productions invest disproportionately in practical effects , prosthetic applications, animatronics, blood and gore effects, and creature suits. A single hero creature suit can cost $50,000 to 200,000.
- Atmospheric Production Design & Cinematography: Creating dread through environment is essential. Abandoned locations must be secured and dressed, lighting rigs designed for shadow and tension, and sets built to enable specific camera movements and reveals.
- Sound Design & Score: Horror is arguably the most sound-dependent genre. Foley work, ambient textures, frequency manipulation, and jump-scare stingers require specialized sound designers working with unconventional techniques.
What were the major cost factors in Jaws 2?
Several factors contributed to the overall production costs of "Jaws 2."
- Practical Effects: Practical Effects, Prosthetics & Makeup is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
- Atmospheric Production Design: Atmospheric Production Design & Cinematography is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
- Sound Design: Sound Design & Score is one of the primary cost drivers in horror productions of this scale.
How Does Jaws 2's Budget Compare to Similar Films?
At $20,000,000, Jaws 2 sits in the mid-budget range. Here is how it compares to productions with a similar budget:
- 12 Years a Slave (2013): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $187,000,000
- 21 Grams (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $60,427,839
- 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $11,798,854
- A Guy Thing (2003): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $17,400,000
- A Most Violent Year (2014): Budget $20,000,000, Worldwide Gross $12,007,070
The median budget for wide-release horror films in the era ranges from $30 to 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles.
Jaws 2 Box Office Performance
"Jaws 2" earned $81,766,007 domestically and $187,884,000 worldwide at the box office. Against a production budget of $20,000,000, the film performed strongly at the box office.
A film typically needs to earn approximately twice its production budget to cover marketing and distribution costs. For "Jaws 2," that break-even threshold was roughly $40,000,000. With worldwide earnings of $187,884,000, the film cleared that threshold comfortably.
- Production Budget: $20,000,000
- Worldwide Gross: $187,884,000
- Net Return: $167,884,000
- ROI: approximately 839.4%
At 839.4%, "Jaws 2" earned roughly $9.39 for every $1 invested in production.
Awards and Recognition
N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did it cost to make Jaws 2 (1978)?
The production budget was $20,000,000, covering principal photography, cast and crew salaries, locations, sets, post-production, and music. Marketing and distribution (P&A) costs are estimated at an additional $10,000,000 - $16,000,000, bringing the total studio investment to approximately $30,000,000 - $36,000,000.
How much did Jaws 2 (1978) earn at the box office?
Jaws 2 grossed $81,766,007 domestic, $106,117,993 international, totaling $187,884,000 worldwide.
Was Jaws 2 (1978) profitable?
Yes. Against a production budget of $20,000,000 and estimated total costs of ~$50,000,000, the film earned $187,884,000 theatrically - a 839% ROI on production costs alone.
What were the biggest costs in producing Jaws 2?
The primary cost drivers were above-the-line talent (Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton); practical creature effects, atmospheric cinematography, and psychologically engineered sound design.
How does Jaws 2's budget compare to similar horror films?
At $20,000,000, Jaws 2 is classified as a low-budget production. The median budget for wide-release horror films in the era ranges from $30 - 80M for mid-budget to $150M+ for tentpoles. Comparable budgets: 12 Years a Slave (2013, $20,000,000); 21 Grams (2003, $20,000,000); 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994, $20,000,000).
Did Jaws 2 (1978) go over budget?
There are no widely reported accounts of significant budget overruns for this production. However, studios rarely disclose precise budget overrun figures publicly. The reported production budget reflects the final estimated cost.
What was the return on investment (ROI) for Jaws 2?
The theatrical ROI was 839.4%, calculated as ($187,884,000 − $20,000,000) ÷ $20,000,000 × 100. This measures gross revenue against production budget only - it does not account for P&A or exhibitor shares.
What awards did Jaws 2 (1978) win?
N/A.
Who directed Jaws 2 and who were the key crew members?
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc, written by Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler, Peter Benchley, shot by Michael C. Butler, with music by John Williams, edited by Steve Potter, Arthur Schmidt.
Where was Jaws 2 filmed?
Jaws 2 was filmed in United States of America. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Filmmakers
Jaws 2
Official Trailer
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