Soundtrack/1975/Jaws

mono mix vs. Atmos mix

➤ 01:00:20 – Helicopter flyby during swimmer panic (shark false alarm) As the camera remains offshore with panicking swimmers and a woman holding a child in her arms while screaming, an Enstrom F-28 helicopter flies overhead in the background. In the original mono mix, the helicopter's engine roar climbs in volume as it enters frame, amplifying the chaos. In the 2020 Atmos remix, the helicopter is much less present — part of a broader trend of downmixed or muted FX compared to the mono original.

➤ 01:02:19 – Transition from shark POV to Brody running toward the pond In the original mono mix, John Williams precisely times a musical shift: we cut from low, menacing strings (underscoring the shark approaching Michael) to an abrupt surge of upper strings at a faster tempo as we cut to Brody running. The cue feels synchronized with his panic — as if matching the rhythm of his racing heartbeat — and lands like a blow to the chest. The mono mix preserves the cohesion and force of this musical transition, placing the string section front and center.

In contrast, the 2020 Atmos mix disperses the score across the soundstage, giving it an echoic, spatialized character that dilutes the cue’s urgency. The strings no longer hit with the same immediacy, and the emotional gearshift that Williams crafted at the cut point loses its visceral impact.

50th Anniversary

A major soundtrack restoration was announced for the 50th anniversary of Jaws (1975). Mike Matessino confirmed via a June 18, 2025 post on the Film Score Monthly forums that he has restored, remixed, and remastered both the original film score and the separate album recording. A Special Edition CD from Intrada will include both versions and unreleased material.

The announcement was accompanied by a new YouTube video on Matessino’s channel and a social media post from The Legacy of John Williams, which has been documenting the 50th anniversary releases across multiple platforms.

While the *Jaws* 4K UHD release (2020) did not incorporate these music restorations into its audio mix, this project underscores the growing momentum in archival music preservation — and how rare it remains for those efforts to influence the actual presentation of legacy films on home media, as happened with The Sugarland Express .

Early Listener Reactions

Initial feedback from the Film Score Monthly forums has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Listeners are praising the sonic depth and instrumental fidelity of Mike Matessino's 2025 Jaws restoration, emphasizing how dramatically it surpasses prior releases.

“Incredible. I don't know how Mike has done this, or what improvements in audio restoration have arrived over the last decade, but I didn't think what I'm hearing would be possible. It sounds like a modern recording more or less.”

“One thing that's apparent to my ears is that this new restoration doesn't just improve overall clarity or reduce tape hiss, though that's certainly part of it. I can hear greater instrument separation, where instruments seem to ‘step out’ — that clearly isn't on the 2015 edition.”

“They should prepare a new audio mix for the movie using this remastered score.”

The remarks reflect a growing sentiment that high-resolution soundtrack restorations like this one often surpass the fidelity of the film’s own audio mix. As one user put it: “If only...” — a nod to how rarely these restorations are allowed to influence home media presentations, despite the sonic gains achieved in isolated album form.