Get ready, shark enthusiasts! Discovery Channel’s 36th annual Shark Week is set to kick off on Sunday, July 7, and will run through Saturday, July 13. This year, fans are in for a special treat as John Cena takes on the role of host, guiding viewers through 20 hours of thrilling shark movies and documentaries. According to Discovery Channel’s official website, this year’s Shark Week promises to be an unforgettable and electrifying experience.
Shark Week will feature a mix of entertaining movies and educational documentaries, such as “Monster Hammerhead: Species X,” which explores a newly discovered species of hammerhead shark. The event will begin on Sunday, July 7, at 8 p.m. with “Belly of the Beast: Bigger and Bloodier,” an intense and eye-opening show that delves into the world of great white shark feeding frenzies.
For those who have cut the traditional cable cord, you can still watch Shark Week live through streaming services like Philo, which offers free trials to new subscribers. Additionally, Shark Week 2024 can be streamed on live TV streaming services that carry the Discovery Channel, including Max, Hulu + Live TV, and DirecTV Stream. You can watch most of Shark Week for free online with a five-day free trial to DirecTV Stream or a three-day free trial to Hulu + Live TV.
Here’s a breakdown of the entire 2024 Shark Week schedule:
Sunday, July 7
8 p.m. – Belly of the Beast: Bigger and Bloodier
Dr. Austin Gallagher and his fearless team deploy a 29-foot whale decoy to attract and study massive great whites in New Zealand, witnessing their feeding frenzy and uncovering dominant Queen Boss females ruling male-dominated clans.
9 p.m. – Jaws vs. Leviathan
In New Zealand, a clash of titans is about to erupt, the Great White versus a 60-foot leviathan. Dr. Tristan Guttridge and Kina Scollay simulate epic battles and study orca tactics to discover the ultimate predator.
10 p.m. – Makozilla
A spike in attacks on sea lions off the coast of Southern California sends shark researchers searching for an oversized, aggressive mako shark they believe could have family ties to the legendary record-breaking mako called “The Beast.”
11 p.m. – Sydney Harbor Shark Invasion
Three recent bull shark encounters in the heart of Sydney Harbor leave the city on edge. Shark attack survivor Paul de Gelder returns to the exact location where a bull shark nearly took his life to determine the cause for the spike in attacks.
Monday, July 8
8 p.m. – Big Shark Energy
Shark experts Dr. Riley Elliot and Kori Burkhardt conduct a one-of-a-kind shark competition to determine which male great white is the alpha in the pack. They test the sharks’ speed, hunting ability, and fearlessness.
9 p.m. – Shark Frenzy: Mating Games
Dr. Craig O’Connell and his team willfully ignite shark-feeding frenzies to uncover whether these violent and chaotic events trigger mating behavior. The results could be the key to ensuring the survival of these crucial apex species.
10 p.m. – Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood
After fatal shark attacks in 2022 and 2023 off the shore of a Mexican fishing village, shark attack survivor Paul De Gelder joins shark investigator Brandon McMillan to ID the killers and help prevent future attacks from happening.
Tuesday, July 9
8 p.m. – Deadliest Bite
A group of shark experts set out to discover which shark species has the deadliest bite. Using bite force meters, biomedical imaging, and a cutting-edge super slow-motion camera rig, they’ll document and analyze shark bites like never before.
9 p.m. – 6000 LB Shark
With reports of enormous fat white sharks appearing off the coast of New Zealand, scientists Tom Hird and Leigh de Necker set out to find one of these behemoths and determine if the great white can reach a staggering 6,000 lbs.
10 p.m. – Monster Hammerheads: Species X
Dr. Austin Gallagher and his team investigate an aggressive population of hammerhead sharks in Turks and Caicos. They could be an entirely new species.
Wednesday, July 10
8 p.m. – Great White North
There’s a growing population of aggressive white sharks in an unlikely location, Canada. Andy Casagrande heads out on an expedition along Nova Scotia’s coast to determine if this new population could be the largest in the world.
9 p.m. – Expedition Unknown: Shark vs Nazis in Paradise
10 p.m. – Alien Sharks: Ghosts of Japan
Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante explores the alien world of Japan’s oceans. Teaming up with deep-sea shark expert Christina de Silva, they search for the extremely rare Japanese angelshark, the ghost of the sea.
Thursday, July 11
8 p.m. – Monsters of Oz
In southwestern Australia, an unknown predator with a taste for great white and mako sharks ignites fears of sea monsters in the abyss. Filmmakers Dave and Jennene Riggs join Dr. Tristan Guttridge and Rosie Moore to track down the killer.
9 p.m. – Caught! When Sharks Attack
Researchers are witnessing an unusual amount of shark aggression and attacks. A team of experts analyzes the most intense shark encounters caught on camera, unveiling mysterious new behaviors within these dangerous interactions.
10 p.m. – Great White Danger Zone
Alison Towner and her team investigate a new great white hot spot off the coast of South Africa. Equipped with cutting-edge fin cameras, tracking tags, and underwater surveillance, researchers unveil unusual behavior in these great whites.
Friday, July 12
8 p.m. – The Real Sharkano
Shark Week star Paul De Gelder is taking a small team to an ultra-remote island of shark-worshiping natives to see if their secret ways of swimming with deadly sharks could hold the secret to humans and sharks living together in peace.
9 p.m. – Sharks of the Dead Zone
Dr. Tiara Moore has discovered bull sharks thriving in polluted, algae-filled lagoons. Teaming up with Dr. Craig O’Connell, they study why pregnant females still migrate there and how their pups survive in a seemingly hostile environment.
10 p.m. – Shark Attack Island
Saturday, July 13
8 p.m. – Sharktopia
In Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands, a team of researchers hunt for one of the region’s last living leopard sharks. They venture deeper into the unknown, and their journey brings them face to face with some of the weirdest and wildest sharks on Earth.
9 p.m. – Mothersharker: Hammer Time
Shark Week is known for its A-list hosts, including Dwayne Johnson in 2022 and Jason Momoa in 2023. This year, John Cena will be the face of the event. Cena expressed his excitement, stating, “I usually do Shark Week from my couch — with lots of snacks, but this year I’m beyond excited to host the week dedicated to the endlessly fascinating action heroes of the Ocean. It’s a wild week of shocking new footage, new discoveries, and lots and lots of teeth.”
Shark Week has been a staple since it first aired in 1988, quickly becoming a smash hit. The programming has helped correct some of the common misconceptions about sharks that have persisted in pop culture.
So, mark your calendars and get ready for a week filled with thrilling shark content. Whether you have cable or prefer streaming, there are plenty of options to catch all the action. Don’t miss out on this year’s Shark Week, starting July 7!
Source: Discovery Channel, Philo, Max, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream
