'Jaws 2’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey
July 8, 2025 · Jaws 2 (1978) · Adventure · Horror · Thriller · 1:38:15 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Sean FennesseyThe woman pouring gasoline all over herself before lighting a flare and exploding▶ 31:52
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsThe classic 70s move where the guy does the airplane shake to calm down the screaming woman, looking like borderline domestic violence▶ 54:48
Chris RyanThe confusing large group size - having like 22 kids with many named Eddie, making it hard to keep track of who's who▶ 53:31
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsPeople used to have sex on sailboats doesn't make sense because if it doesn't go well, you're stuck at sea▶ 1:00:54
Chris RyanIf cousin Jackie never shows up in Amity, there would be a much lower body count because all the guys are so distracted by her that they want to take her sailing, and her freaking out/trauma is unearned▶ 59:59
Sean FennesseyThis movie (Jaws 2) is actually what killed the New Hollywood, not Jaws or Star Wars, because it proved movies don't even have to be okay to make money▶ 1:01:49
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsRoy Scheider — Discusses Roy Scheider almost being in The Deer Hunter instead of Jaws 2, considers it one of his favorite casting what-ifs but thinks Scheider was too old for the Michael role▶ 1:05:22
Chris RyanRoy Scheider — Thinks Scheider would have been good and could go toe-to-toe with great actors like in Marathon Man, noting Scheider's strength as a 'second guy' in films▶ 1:06:16
Sean FennesseyRobert De Niro — Happy they got De Niro instead of Scheider for The Deer Hunter, doesn't think it would have been a good Scheider part, similar to Sorcerer being better with Scheider than McQueen would have been▶ 1:05:46
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsDonna Wilkes — Every kid actor except Keith Gordon probably at apex mountain; water skiing murders as apex for water skiing; Donna Wilkes definitely peaked with Angel▶ 1:12:55
Hanks or Cruise
Chris RyanTom Cruise — Supports young Cruise who looks like the character and provides unintentional comedy▶ 1:15:23
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsThe water skiing boat explosion scene is ridiculously unrealistic, and the scene where Mike's friend keeps kissing young Sean on the cheek is weird and inappropriate▶ 1:17:31
Chris RyanThe water skiing boat explosion scene is ridiculous - the character's decision to cover herself in gasoline makes no sense when staying still would be the logical choice▶ 1:17:46
Sean FennesseyAgrees that covering yourself in gasoline doesn't make sense, noting that staying still is what actually works later when Tina survives using that strategy▶ 1:18:12
Sequel/Prequel/Limited Series/Remake
Chris RyanUSS Indianapolis prequel - they should have made that movie and it's surprising it's not happening now▶ 1:20:09
Sean FennesseyUSS Indianapolis prequel with enhanced elements like Portuguese man of war jellyfish alongside sharks for more kill opportunities▶ 1:21:09
Is This Movie Better With
Bill SimmonsLists the standard options but doesn't make a specific pick from the recurring list▶ 1:22:19
Chris RyanSamuel L. Jackson — Sam Jackson as the guy commenting on civic politics, saying things like 'how the fuck did that guy get re-elected'▶ 1:22:35
Sean FennesseyDoris Burke — Doris Burke doing Brody's final dialogue lines to the shark in her basketball commentary style▶ 1:23:08
Coach Finstock Life Lesson
Bill SimmonsMaybe believe the guy who was a prophetic hero three years before that something might be going on again - maybe trust him for a split second▶ 1:29:41
Sean FennesseyAgrees with the lesson about trusting the proven hero, noting that now 10 teenagers watched him murder his second shark so he's confirmed▶ 1:29:49
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsHe wouldn't have a lot of fear about getting back in, comparing himself to his past reckless motorcycle riding▶ 1:31:18
Chris RyanAfter the Jaws attack, would you still live in Amity or how long before you get in the water again▶ 1:30:50
Sean FennesseyPeople would get back in the water pretty soon, thinking 'it's not gonna happen to me'▶ 1:31:08
Movies Referenced (52)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halloween (1978) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 9 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 11:27 |
| The Beach (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 4:51 |
| Hancock (2008) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 23:57 |
| Man of the Year (2006) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 5:08 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 13:34 |
| Superman (2025) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 11:27 |
| American Psycho (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:28:33 |
| Fargo (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:03:44 |
| Psycho (1960) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 16:44 |
| American Graffiti (1973) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 11:13 |
| Beverly Hills Cop (1984) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 27:53 |
| Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 2:22 |
Directors Referenced (13)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Scorsese | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets | ▶ 4:56 |
| Steven Spielberg | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saving Private Ryan | ▶ 19:45 |
| Keith Gordon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 53:57 | |
| David Brown | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | The Player, Cocoon, Deep Impact | ▶ 13:23 |
| Brian De Palma | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Body Double, Dressed to Kill, The Bonfire of the Vanities | ▶ 27:28 |
| Clint Eastwood | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven | ▶ 10:15 |
| Dead or Alive | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | The A-Team | ▶ 21:40 |
| Eytan Rockaway | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 2:33 | |
| Gary Dubin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Jaws 2, Pump Up the Volume | ▶ 36:09 |
| Iyi Tubi | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Ex Machina, World War Z | ▶ 19:12 |
| James Gray | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Ad Astra | ▶ 8:49 |
| Jayson Clute | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Titanic, American Psycho | ▶ 8:19 |
Actors Referenced (26)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Williams | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | Jurassic Park, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope | ▶ 27:05 |
| Empire of the Sun | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Sex Tape, Hall Pass | ▶ 11:19 |
| Jan Hammer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Charlie's Angels, The Wedding Singer | ▶ 28:07 |
| Jeffrey Kramer | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Jaws, Jaws 2 | ▶ 1:08:46 |
| Mario Van Peebles | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | Jaws: The Revenge | ▶ 18:19 |
| Michael Caine | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | The Dark Knight, The Cider House Rules | ▶ 18:59 |
| Roy Scheider | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Jaws, The French Connection, All That Jazz | ▶ 8:06 |
| Angela Jeanneau | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 26:39 | |
| Anthony Perkins | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Psycho | ▶ 17:05 |
| Blake Lively | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Town | ▶ 21:21 |
| Breaking Benjamin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | National Treasure, Hellboy | ▶ 10:49 |
| Burt Reynolds | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Boogie Nights, Smokey and the Bandit, Striptease | ▶ 16:56 |
Writers Referenced (3)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 28:29 | |
| Carl Gottlieb | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan | Jaws 2 | ▶ 20:44 |
| Howard Sackler | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Jaws 2 | ▶ 1:19:38 |
Cinematographers Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Len Peterson | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 6:37 | |
| Michael Grantland | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Other Guys | ▶ 30:17 |