Jaws In 3D? The Coming Overhaul Of Every Hollywood Classic

“Clash of the Titans” and “Alice in Wonderland” have used 3D to make a mint at the box office recently. Both movies were originally meant to be screened only in 2D, and then retrofitted after “Avatar” made a zillion dollars. And if a new movie can be retrofitted for a 3D release, why not an old classic? Like, I dunno, “Jaws”? Oh yes, people. 3D isn’t just the future of movies. It appears to now be the past as well, if you go by this intriguing tidbit from the LA Times in its profile of producer Richard Zanuck:

Zanuck and Spielberg spoke a few years ago about going back to the original film with the digital paintbrush of CG effects to create a more horrific predator. They decided, for the time being, to leave the film alone, although Zanuck says he is intrigued by the notion of adding 3D effects to the 1976 classic for a theatrical re-release.


I’m the sort of person who would like to kick George Lucas in the shin for adding dopey CGI effects to the original “Star Wars” trilogy (the subsequent trilogy merits a much more thorough beating). But I’m not naive. There’s clearly money to be made from turning “Jaws” into a 3D movie, re-releasing it, and then (most important for the revenue streams) re-releasing nine versions of that version onto Blu-Ray.

Maybe Zanuck and Spielberg will never get around to it with “Jaws,” but someone on some other movie certainly will. Lucas will certainly do it with all six “Star Wars” films. Peter Jackson could do it with “The Lord of The Rings.” “Harry Potter” will also likely be retrofitted (the next two are already going to be released in the format). “The Godfather,” “Apocalypse Now,” every old Pixar movie, you name it. 3D is about to take over your entire movie catalog. Will you like it? The current box offices grosses suggest you probably will.

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