Emily Blunt Reveals the Movie That Shaped Her Hollywood Journey

Striking the right balance between critical acclaim and box office appeal is no easy feat, but Emily Blunt has managed to do just that throughout her career. Whether she’s facing off against monsters or starring in dramatic roles, Blunt has proven she can handle it all. Her performance as Evelyn Abbott in her husband John Krasinski’s nerve-wracking thriller A Quiet Place even earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role. What’s even more impressive is that she’s the only winner in that category since 2008 who didn’t go on to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress—a rare achievement in itself.

Blunt’s versatility is on full display in her filmography. She’s gone head-to-head with Dwayne Johnson in Jungle Cruise, fought aliens alongside Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow, and bravely stepped into the iconic role once held by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins Returns. She’s also delivered powerful performances in films like Looper, Sicario , The Girl on the Train, and her Oscar-nominated turn in Christopher Nolan ’s Oppenheimer. Her ability to move seamlessly between blockbuster hits and intense dramas has cemented her status as a true A-lister.

Jaws: The Film That Sparked a Lifelong Obsession

Blunt’s repeated ventures into the world of the extraordinary can be traced back to a single film that ignited her dreams of stardom. Anyone familiar with her work knows about her deep admiration for Steven Spielberg’s Jaws. She’s spoken about her love for the legendary shark thriller countless times, so much so that she’s joked about how often she brings it up. When asked by Letterboxd to name her top four favorite movies, she didn’t hesitate: Jaws was her immediate answer. She admitted,

“People are sick of hearing me say that,”

but she stands by her belief that it’s

“an incredible, perfect film.”

Her fascination goes beyond what’s on screen. Blunt is equally captivated by the behind-the-scenes chaos Spielberg endured to bring Jaws to life. Despite the production’s notorious difficulties, Spielberg emerged with a groundbreaking blockbuster that changed the industry forever. Blunt has watched the film at least 35 times since first seeing it at age seven, and she insists,

“The more you see it, the more you learn about how extraordinary it is.”

Why Jaws Still Reigns Supreme

Shark movies are still a staple in Hollywood, but Blunt knows nothing can top the original. While films like The Meg, Deep Blue Sea, Bait, and even Sharknado have tried to capture the same magic, none have matched the suspense and impact of Spielberg’s classic. The secret, according to Blunt, is that Jaws doesn’t rely on nonstop action or gore. Instead, Spielberg took inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock, using suspense and the fear of the unknown to keep audiences on edge. As Blunt sees it, monsters are frightening when you see them, but knowing they’re lurking just out of sight is even more terrifying. That’s why, decades later, Jaws still stands as the ultimate shark movie.