Why is The Godfather seen as THE 1970s classic (for adults) and not Jaws?

Thats what I meant. You could easily see Jaws just as a horror film. Like you could see, for example, Psycho as just another thriller. But there are even postcapitalism layers there (according to Ziscek). The same is IMHO true for Jaws. The first hlf ist the usual "lighthearted" horror film (lighthearted in the sense of no deep meaning - surely except the uncommon family history of the Brodys which results in an weird family relationship). But the second half is simply "Men against themselves and the nature" in a sense not often seen even in an 1970s movie. The Godfather on the other side had just what it clearly showed. No further layer (beside the obvious political one you mentioned) and no mystery. Im not sure if Spielberg has done thos layers by accident (like most postmodern layers at Blade Runner which Ridley Scott doenst unterstand til this day :) ) or this was one of his few movies which was not just excellent, but instead a masterpiece. But perhaps I see there too much cause of the excellent play of not only Shaw, but also Scheider.

As we have had several debates about judging film by objective standards and how much subjective opinion plays a role, the way I answer this is Godfather is the better film, arguably top 3 to 5 of all films ever made in the last 100+ years of cinema. Jaws is also high up on best movies of all time and for me I personally prefer Jaws.

This is a pretty good summary of why Godfather is a better film. Not to say one cannot enjoy Jaws more. I think I do, but I can put aside my own personal taste and recognize that the Godfather is as you said "on another level".

There is a reason that The Godfather and Part 2 are basically on every critic's and film institutions' top 5 list and Jaws is not. A movie can't have that kind of widespread recognition for that long of time and not be considered among the best of all time. I hardly see jaws making a top 100 list of those same critics and institutions. One would have to be very biased to try to claim Jaws is a superior film and not be questioned for their lack of partiality.

Renovatio, stating Jaws as a kids amusement ride is like stating that Psycho is simply a thriller. Plain wrong. Jaws is at its core a movie about 3 men against nature. And how they interact with each other when they are physically and psychological far away from civilization.

Theres absolutley nothing similiar a ordinary gangster movie like Godfather could offer to movie goers. Using anti heroes wasnt anything new at all. It was common during the 1960s or even the 1930s (most of Cagneys Mafia movies). The violent scenes werent much of a surprise and were already shown at war movies of that era. So no, Godfather isnt anything special at all. Its just an average and violent mob movie like many others. Even with the problem that there are no likeable characters and therefor noone feels with any of this characters. So the shootings are like some football match. It doesnt matter whom dies or not. Compare that with real good mob movies like Scarface with Al Pacino. Scarface is as much unlikeable as possible. But you feel with him and you are amazed how long he survives at the films final scene. Theres no such a feeling at Godfather. So sorry to tell, and I really wanted to avoid that review for Godfather fans (cause I know that this average movie is a "religion" for many people out there ;) ), but Godfather is simply average. Brando is the one which saves that movie from being less then average.

Jaws on the other side has the quality only Hitchcock movies offer otherwise: For the simple ones Hitchcok movies and Jaws are nothing else then thrillers. For the movie goers like Truffaut (everyone should read his interview series with Hitchcock) there are far more layers beneath this surface. Thats why Jaws is way more the "godfather" of 1970s style movies then "The Godfather" itself. And yes, blockbuster movies started with the success of Jaws. But Hitchcock movies also were amazingly succesful and still most of them had way more to offer then any mob movie.