Discovery’s “Shark Week” 2018 finished with nearly 35 million all-in viewers, and was the cable channel’s highest-rated installment in three years.
Across the entire week, Discovery’s shark-themed programming reached 39.4 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. That’s a total day sum — not a metric we’d ordinarily use, but a worthwhile one for a weeklong event.
In primetime, this year’s “Shark Week” was the fourth highest-rated installment among adults 18-49, which is the demographic most coveted by advertisers. The 2018 week, which kicked off July 23, was only bested by the “Shark Weeks” from 2013 to 2015.
Branded for the 30th anniversary and featuring specials like “Shaq Does Shark Week,” “Ronda Rousey Uncaged,” “Bear vs. Shark” and “Guy Fieri’s Feeding Frenzy,” this summer’s edition of “Shark Week” propelled Discovery to its highest-rated week overall since 2015. That makes logical sense, as it’s the key week of programming for Discovery, Inc.’s main cable network.
This year’s festivities also featured the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Rob Gronkowski, Lindsey Vonn and Bear Grylls. It also saw the stars of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” including Marc Cuban, swim with actual sharks.
Discovery’s annual shark appreciation has become so popular that other networks have been following suit. Nat Geo Wild has been doing their own version called “SharkFest” since 2012, which kicked off a Megaldon-sized two week programming block to compete with Discovery.
Shark Week: 9 Memorable Movie & TV Predators, From 'Jaws' to 'Sharknado' (Photos)
In honor of the soon to be national holiday we call Shark Week, TheWrap breaks down some of our favorite sharks from both TV and film
Syfy/NFL
Jaws
The one that started it all. Steven Spielberg made us all afraid to go in the water with this blockbuster about a great white that terrorizes a small island community
Universal
Sharknado
Syfy struck gold with this laughably bad franchise about tornadoes filled with killer sharks that rain down all over Ian Ziering and Tara Reid
Syfy
Shark Tank
The "sharks" on this ABC competition show determine if they want to invest in an entrepreneur's business idea, then devour those who fail (just kidding)
ABC
Left Shark
Katy Perry performed at the Super Bowl XLIX, but it was the dancing Left Shark that stole the show. The dancer's wild moves captivated audiences the world over
Getty Images
Finding Nemo
Bruce the Shark may have looked menacing, but he was a softy at heart. He swore a vow that he was going to change the image of sharks everywhere by not devouring his fellow fish
Pixar
West Side Story
The Puerto Rican Sharks nearly got lured into a war with the white Jets in this classic Sondheim musical inspired by "Romeo & Juliet"
United Artists
Land Shark
"Saturday Night Live" played into the "Jaws" hysteria with this recurring sketch about "the cleverest of all sharks"
NBC
Happy Days
This iconic sitcom inspired the phrase "jump the shark"--which describes when a TV show has overstayed its welcome--when Fonzie did just that in a Season Five episode
ABC
Deep Blue Sea
Admit it: You lost your mind when Samuel L. Jackson got eaten by a shark not even halfway through this thriller
Warner Bros
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TheWrap looks back on our favorite razor-toothed undersea dwellers in honor of Discovery’s annual programming block
In honor of the soon to be national holiday we call Shark Week, TheWrap breaks down some of our favorite sharks from both TV and film