The Frank Bud Cinema will screen a 50th Anniversary showing of Jaws on Friday, Sept. 5, at 7 P.M. to close out the summer.
Dr. Chelsea Wessels, co-director of the Department of Literature and Language’s Film and Media Studies minor, looks forward to this season’s showing. “With 2025 being the 50th anniversary of Jaws, we knew we wanted to program it to close out the summer and welcome everyone back to the academic year,” she comments.
Originally released in 1975, Jaws instantly became a classic hit. The movie created the concept of a summer blockbuster and was the first film to gross over $100 million in the United States. Earning three Academy Awards, the movie has left a lasting impact on audiences.
Looking forward, Dr. Wessels comments on the following screening. “We decided to pair [Jaws] with Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) on Friday, Sept. 19, to offer two very different ‘goodbye, summer’ stories that have some unexpected connections of water, summer, and nostalgia.”
Sunfish (& Other Stories on Green Lake) is a 2025 semi-autobiographical drama by Sierra Falconer. She serves as director, writer and producer. This film is an anthology in four parts exploring life on Green Lake.
By pairing these screenings, the Frank Bud Cinema celebrates the legacy of Jaws, but also invites the community to say goodbye to summer and make a memorable start to the semester. Both showings are free and open to the public, but concessions will be available for sale. Doors open at 6:30 P.M.
Students are invited to join the celebration on Friday at the Frank Bud Theater located on the first floor of Gilbreath Hall. Additional information can be found on their website at https://www.etsu.edu/cas/bud-frank-cinema/. .
Later on this fall, the Bud Frank Theater will continue be show a variety of titles, including an annual showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7 P.M. and In the Mood for Love on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 5 P.M.
