Jaws 2's Deleted Helicopter Attack Was Its Most Terrifying Scene
Jaws 2's extended helicopter attack was arguably the most terrifying scene, but here's why it was cut. Jaws became the first summer blockbuster in 1975 and launched the career of Steven Spielberg. The troubled production was somewhat traumatic for the young helmer, however, as it went wildly over budget and schedule due to issues with filming at sea. The stress proved to be worth it ultimately, but Spielberg quickly rejected an offer to return for Jaws 2. While sequels and franchises weren't in vogue during this time, the groundbreaking success of Jaws made a second entry all but inevitable.
Jaws 2 would suffer its own tortured journey to screens, where the original director John Hancock was fired after a month of filming due to clashes with producers and executives. His darker vision was scrapped and almost all of his footage was cut when new Jaws 2 — which almost dropped the shark — director Jeannot Szwarc took over. The latter also clashed with returning star Roy Scheider, who reluctantly signed on for Jaws 2 to complete his contract with the studio. Despite the production woes, the sequel was still a tremendous hit for Universal. It suffers when compared to the original, but Jaws 2 is an effective thriller in its own right with some well-staged setpieces and another great score by John Williams.
Related: The Letter Steven Spielberg Sent To Jaws: The Revenge's Director
Highlights of Jaws 2 include a chase between the shark and a water skier, plus the electrifying (pun intended) finale. The sequel also feels like a precursor to the slasher movies of the '80s, with the third act featuring the shark stalking some marooned teenagers. This results in the one sequence viewers tend to recall the most from Jaws 2 — which was
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