Steven Spielberg's best film until Schindler's List was released, this definitive horror/thriller combines brilliant acting, careful directing, John Williams' legendary score, and nerve-wracking, nail-biting chills. This isn't just a run of the mill suspense flick. This is a surprisingly intelligent film with great strength of character (including terrific performances by Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, and Robert Shaw).

It's also a wonder it ever got made. Spielberg was young, a relative unknown, and almost fired from the job. Yet the confidence he had in his work is daunting. Among other inspired choices, he demanded location shooting in the Atlantic -- a decision whose impact on the final film is great and obvious.