'Jaws 2’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

Jaws 2 marked the start of the sequel boom in Hollywood during the late 1970s, following the massive success of the original Jaws. Despite being slower and less special than its predecessor, it defined the template for many sequels that followed—more kills, similar structure, and often a less enthusiastic lead.

The podcast highlights that sequels from 1977 to 1980 typically reused the original film's formula but with diminishing quality, heralding a new era of franchise filmmaking. Producer David Brown noted the sequel was made because "somebody's doing a shark movie if we don’t." Importantly, Jaws 2's financial success ($208 million on a $20 million budget) proved sequels could be lucrative despite critical panning.

This transitional moment in cinema shows how Jaws 2 influenced the relentless sequel culture and shaped the Hollywood business model focused on proven hits rather than originality.

• Bill Simmons recalls being genuinely scared by Jaws 2's last hour as a child in a theater.
• The helicopter attack scene was especially intense and memorable to him.

• Jaws 2 unintentionally became a blueprint for '80s slasher films and teen beach hangout movies.
• It blends multiple genres, including PTSD damaged hero and detective story elements.