Following the success of its 50th-anniversary exhibition for Jaws, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has revealed plans for a full-scale retrospective dedicated to legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, scheduled to open in 2028, according to Deadline.
The announcement was made by Academy Museum director and president Amy Homma during the press preview of Jaws: The Exhibition, the museum’s first large-scale showcase focused on a single film. While details of the Spielberg retrospective remain under wraps, it promises a comprehensive exploration of the director’s prolific career.
Image: Academy Museum
Jaws: The Exhibition, open to the public from 14 September to 26 July, offers visitors an immersive experience into the making of the 1975 blockbuster. The exhibition chronicles the film’s arduous production process, its impact on cinema history, and its influence on ocean conservation. Hundreds of artefacts, including props, scripts, schematics, merchandise, and posters, are on display. Interactive elements allow visitors to play John Williams’ iconic two-note score on a miniature keyboard or recreate the famous dolly zoom in front of an orange-and-white striped beach hut.
Reflecting on the challenges of filming Jaws, Spielberg described the shoot 12 miles offshore in the Atlantic as an “exercise in hubris and futility”. He recalled, “I really thought I better give this my all because I’m not working in the industry again after they see the movie.” Despite multiple opportunities from Universal Pictures to halt production, the project continued because no one involved wanted to quit.
Spielberg credited the film’s success with providing him the creative freedom to pursue projects previously rejected by studios, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He emphasised the collaborative nature of filmmaking, noting, “This is an art form that only survives based on getting the best people in all the right positions.”
The upcoming 2028 retrospective is expected to cover Spielberg’s extensive body of work, including Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., The Color Purple, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, West Side Story, and The Fabelmans. The exhibition will explore his creative process, artistic origins, and enduring impact on the film industry.
