Shark Week 2025 Bites Back With Drama And Dancing

Shark Week 2025 delivers spectacle, science, and “Jaws” nostalgia with daring dives, terrifying tales, and even a shark-themed dance-off.

It’s officially the Summer of Jaws as Shark Week 2025 returns bigger and bolder than ever, colliding with the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 classic that started it all. From spine-tingling survival stories to an underwater dance competition, this year’s Shark Week (July 20–26) is diving into uncharted territory.

Shark Week has long walked the line between science and spectacle. But this year, the Discovery Channel leans hard into both, offering over 20 hours of new programming. Titles like Great White Reign of Terror and Florida’s Death Beach lean into the fearsome image that Jaws popularized, while Dancing With Sharks, hosted by former Dancing With the Stars emcee Tom Bergeron, brings unexpected levity. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like—a dance competition between divers and their shark “partners”—but it also weaves in real shark behavior education and research.

The oceanic homage continues with Surviving Jaws, where marine biologist Tom “The Blowfish” Hird and predator ecologist Michelle Jewell put classic movie myths to the test. One segment explores if skinny-dipping really attracts great whites. It’s part science, part spectacle—and entirely Shark Week.

Not everyone is thrilled with the show titles. In 2021, researchers at Allegheny College found that many episodes promoted unnecessary fear. Lead author Lisa Whitenack continues to critique titles like Florida’s Death Beach, calling them “cringeworthy” and “focused on portraying sharks as man-eaters.”

Yet even the most sensational Shark Week content often sparks genuine interest in marine life. Steve Kessel, director of marine research at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, acknowledges that “people love to be scared,” but emphasizes Shark Week’s potential to inspire future ocean advocates. “It’s still my all-time favorite movie,” he says of Jaws, which originally inspired him to pursue a career in conservation.

While Discovery pioneered shark-themed summer TV back in 1988, competitors are circling. National Geographic’s SharkFest (July 5–21) leans more educational, with standout features like Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory, emphasizing awe and respect over fear. But even Nat Geo has its teeth out with intense offerings like Investigation Shark Attack and Shark Quest: Hunt for the Apex Predator.

Meanwhile, Netflix is joining the fray with two big titles. Shark Whisperer, from Oscar-winning My Octopus Teacher director James Reed, follows viral marine activist Ocean Ramsey as she swims alongside great whites and tiger sharks. And All the Sharks, launching July 4, combines conservation and competition as shark lovers race to photograph rare species in the wild.

Aquariums across the country are also embracing the frenzy, including the Shedd Aquarium, which is rolling out special Shark Week programming to coincide with the anniversary of Jaws. Visitors can explore the Wild Reef tank—home to over 20 sharks—while learning how real-life shark research is shaping the future of marine conservation.