YORK, Pa. — In what has become an annual rite of summer as popular as baseball, movie sequels and fireworks, Shark Week will return to Discovery for its 36th year this weekend.
The week-long block of shark-themed documentaries first debuted on Discovery in 1988, after employees came up with the concept on a napkin, according to The Atlantic.
From those modest beginnings, Shark Week has become an annual summer hit, drawing millions of viewers. In addition to providing lurid thrills about the mysteries of the deep, Shark Week has helped correct some common misconceptions about sharks in the wake of their depiction in popular movies like "Jaws."
This year's installment kicks off Sunday night, hosted by actor and former professional wrestler John Cena.
Here's what to expect, and how you can watch.
Shark Week Schedule
Here's the programming schedule for Shark Week 2024:
Sunday, July 7
- 8 p.m. — Belly of the Beast: Bigger and Bloodier
- 9 p.m. — Jaws vs Leviathan
- 10 p.m. — Makozilla
- 11 p.m. — Sydney Harbor Shark Invasion
Monday, July 8
- 8 p.m. — Big Shark Energy
- 9 p.m. — Shark Frenzy: Mating Games
- 10 p.m. — Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood
Tuesday, July 9
- 8 p.m. — Deadliest Bite
- 9 p.m. — 6000 LB Shark
- 10 p.m. — Monster Hammerheads: Species X
Wednesday, July 10
- 8 p.m. — Great White North
- 9 p.m. — Expedition Unknown: Sharks vs Nazis in Paradise
- 10 p.m. — Alien Sharks: Ghosts of Japan
Thursday, July 11
- 8 p.m. — Monsters of Oz
- 9 p.m. — Caught! When Sharks Attack
- 10 p.m. — Great White Danger Zone
Friday, July 12
- 8 p.m. — The Real Sharkano
- 9 p.m. — Sharks of the Dead Zone
- 10 p.m. — Shark Attack Island
Sunday, July 13
- 8 p.m. — Sharktopia
- 9 p.m. — Mothersharker: Hammer Time
How to watch Shark Week
Those with an active cable subscription can watch Shark Week on Discovery.
How to stream Shark Week
If you don't have cable but still want your shark fix, you can stream it on Discover+, which can be accessed with a subscription to the streaming service MAX.
MAX is free to HBO subscribers. A subscription to the service with ads costs $9.99 per month ($99.99 annually), or you can upgrade to ad-free tiers for $16.99 per month ($169.99 annually) or the ultimate ad-free package at $20.99 per month ($209.99 annually).
What are some of this year's highlights?
According to Discovery, one of the highlights of this week-long event will be the premiere of Belly of the Beast Pt. 2, "an intense and eye-opening show that delves into the world of great white shark feeding frenzies."
You can also look forward to Monster Hammerhead: Species X, a captivating exploration of a potential new species of hammerhead sharks. Plus, Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood, a gripping tale of a great white shark wreaking havoc in a local village.