I was just sent the following scan from the December 2, 1977 Daily Variety in which Steven Spielberg congratulates George Lucas for Star Wars, which surpassed Jaws at the domestic box-office. Released in 1975, Jaws went on to make $260 million at the box-office while Star Wars, in its first theatrical run, ended with $307 million. Future re-releases saw Star Wars end with $460 million total domestically and should Lucas’s 3D release pattern hold true, that total could end even higher.
Star Wars is currently the fourth highest domestic earner of all-time behind Avatar, Titanic and The Dark Knight. Jaws is number 53, directly behind How the Grinch Stole Christmas… Oh, the horror…
As for the Lucas-Spielberg relationship, the two would work together on the Indiana Jones franchise as well as serving as producers on The Land Before Time. Will they work together again on an Indiana Jones 5?
