This year marks the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” and local multiplexes are marking the milestone with a re-release of the iconic thriller this weekend.

There’s been a lot of ink spilled about what makes the film so remarkably popular and universally celebrated. But I think there’s an element — one more human than seabound — that sets the film apart from so many other summer blockbusters that rode the wake of its success.

“Jaws” is considered the genesis of the summer movie. Before 1975, the season was seen as a dumping ground for lesser-quality kiddie films that kept schoolchildren preoccupied until classes started. But there was a business model being cooked up by Universal to take the bestselling Peter Benchley novel and turn it into an event.

Rather than rolling out

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