Top crime series to binge-watch on Showmax
Feel like sinking your teeth into a gritty thriller, crime caper or police procedural series? Here are some of the most addictive series that fit the bill, all available on Showmax.
Prepare to be gripped by police procedurals that take you behind the scenes of law enforcement, gritty stories of ordinary people turning to a life of crime to secure their families’ futures, and shows about the pursuit of justice in all its forms. These crime series on Showmax are sure to keep you hooked for hours on end.
Red Eye S1
A London police officer is escorting a man back to Beijing where he has been accused of a crime, when an escalating conspiracy unfolds on board flight 357.
Marmalade (2024)
A recently incarcerated man narrates the colourful tale of a romantic bank heist with the love of his life, Marmalade.
The Rookie S6
The oldest rookie in the LAPD uses his life experience, determination and sense of humour to keep up with colleagues 20 years his junior.
Get Millie Black S1
An ex-Scotland Yard detective returns to Jamaica to work on missing persons cases, and soon finds herself on a the toughest quest case of her career.
The Day of the Jackal
Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne stars as the unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee.
Found S2
Found follows recovery specialist Gabi Mosely as she and her team work tirelessly to find missing people forgotten by the system.
White Lies S1
Natalie Dormer drives this thrilling crime drama set in the Mother City. When an investigative journalist’s estranged brother is murdered, she’s drawn into the underworld of Cape Town.
Made in South Africa
Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent S1
This spin-off of the hit crime drama franchise follows an elite squad investigating corruption and high-level criminality in the Greater Toronto.
Sweetpea S1
Rhiannon Lewis doesn’t make much of an impression – until she is pushed over the edge and loses control. Her life transforms, but can she keep her killer secret?
Heist 88 (2023)
In this captivating heist thriller inspired by a daring true story, a criminal mastermind recruits a group of young bank employees to steal $80 million.
Made in South Africa
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist S1
An explosive star-studded limited series based on the infamous story of an armed robbery after Ali’s historical comeback fight.
Devil’s Peak S1
This crime series follows Detective Benny Greissel in his quest to track down a righteous vigilante killer in Cape Town.
Made in South Africa
The Truth vs Alex Jones
This doccie looks at how families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting took conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to court for spreading lies about the event being a hoax.
The Penguin S1
Based on the DC Comics character, Penguin, this limited series explores the transformation of Oswald Cobblepot (Colin Farrell) from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster.
Die Bloedhonde (2024)
Katrien is on holiday with her family when an unexplained death gives her reason to suspect the beloved local pastor of foul play…
Made in South Africa
Tell Them You Love Me (2023)
A true-crime documentary about the university professor who had a controversial affair with a non-verbal man with cerebral palsy.
Dr Death S1-2
Investigative journalist Benita Alexander discovers a new subject in world-renowned surgeon Paolo Macchiarini, known as The Miracle Man.
Daar’s Bloed (2023)
A famous South African actress becomes paranoid when private photos of her appear in a magazine. Does she have a stalker?
Made in South Africa
Fargo S5
Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning anthology series about a crime in an unassuming town. This season, housewife Dot finds herself plunged into her past.
Alert: Missing Persons Unit S1-2
Showrunner John Eisendrath and Jamie Foxx are behind this police procedural. After her son goes missing, Nikki Batista joins the Philadelphia Missing Persons Unit, helping find people’s loved ones as she searches for her own.
Eye-opening documentaries to stream
Eye-opening homegrown documentaries to stream
These unmissable South African shows and movies deliver surprising insights on the country we’re living in today.
Made in South Africa
Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music (2023)
An epic documentary about Taylor Mac’s flamboyant 24-hour-long musical odyssey covering 24 decades of American popular music.
The Golden Boy: Oscar De La Hoya (2023)
This explosive two-part sports documentary peels back the layers of this celebrated yet complicated figure.
Director Richard Gregory on how he nearly turned down Steinheist
Showmax is now streaming two new episodes of Steinheist, which go even deeper into unpacking SA’s biggest corporate scam and how the net tightened around former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste.
Made in South Africa
Steinheist
Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste got caught pulling the scam of the century. Follow the money in this Showmax Original documentary series that investigates the events leading to his suicide in 2024.
Made in South Africa
The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring (2023)
Rachel Lee was the “teenage mastermind” behind high-profile celebrity robberies in 2008. This candid documentary reveals her motivations.
The Habits of Gen Z
A captivating South African documentary series that follows the lives and challenges of being a Gen Z.
Made in South AfricaTime Bomb: The Incredible Story of Phillip Ndou
This 6-part docuseries follows former world boxing champion Phillip Ndou on a journey to reunite with boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather in Michigan.
Made in South AfricaLooking for something lighter?
Showmax and Laugh Africa Comedy Festival are proud to announce headline act Deon Cole
Get ready for the return of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, featuring headliner Deon Cole. The event will take place from Friday, 2 May to Sunday, 4 May 2025 at the Sandton Convention Center.
Made in South Africa
The Righteous Gemstones and 5 more Danny McBride hustles
As The Righteous Gemstones returns for its final season, we look at 5 of writer-creator-actor Danny McBride’s best side hustles, from Eastbound & Down, to Halloween.
Danny McBride on how Bradley Cooper became the first Gemstone
Creator and star Danny McBride talks about the final season of the HBO comedy series The Righteous Gemstones, now streaming on Showmax.
The Righteous Gemstones S1-4
Danny McBride created this outlandish, star-studded HBO comedy about a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work.
Laugh Africa Comedy Festival returns – bigger, bolder, funnier!
The Laugh Africa Comedy Festival returns in May 2025 with a stellar lineup including Felix Hlophe, Nina Hastie and more. The 13-part series will stream exclusively on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
Party Down S1-3
A group of struggling actors and dysfunctional dreamers wait for their big break while they are stuck working at a Hollywood catering company.
Party Down stars’ jobs before they were famous
Comedy series Party Down Seasons 1-3 takes us inside an LA-based catering company staffed by struggling entertainers. It was flashback time for stars like Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Megan Mullally, Jane Lynch and Jennifer Garner.
Frasier S1-11
The iconic comedy series that took the world by storm. After years spent at the Cheers bar, Frasier moves home to Seattle to become a radio psychiatrist.
Shows you'll find only on Showmax
The Righteous Gemstones and 5 more Danny McBride hustles
As The Righteous Gemstones returns for its final season, we look at 5 of writer-creator-actor Danny McBride’s best side hustles, from Eastbound & Down, to Halloween.
Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music (2023)
An epic documentary about Taylor Mac’s flamboyant 24-hour-long musical odyssey covering 24 decades of American popular music.
The Golden Boy: Oscar De La Hoya (2023)
This explosive two-part sports documentary peels back the layers of this celebrated yet complicated figure.
The Cleaning Lady S1-4
Cambodian doctor Thony becomes a cleaning lady for an organised crime syndicate in the US to keep her ill son alive in this fan-favourite series.