The scariest horror series and movies to stream

The scariest horror series and movies to stream

Do you love the thrill of watching scary horror series and movies that make you want to bury your face in a pillow at crucial moments?

Consider yourself warned: you might want to keep the lights on and have a friend nearby for comfort for this horror line up. You don’t want to watch these alone – they’re the most terrifying horror series and movies to stream on Showmax, and are best experienced with company.

Smile 2 on Showmax

Smile 2 (2024)

This horrifying sequel explores a global pop sensation’s slow descent into madness as escalating horrors force her to confront her past before it’s too late.

Teacup on Showmax

Teacup S1

In this gripping horror series, a disparate group of people in rural Georgia unite in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive.

Abigail on Showmax

Abigail (2024)

When a group of criminals kidnaps the daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they soon realise she is no ordinary little girl.

Heretic on Showmax

Heretic (2024)

In a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, two young missionaries find themselves trapped in the home of a diabolical man set on testing their faith.

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Yellowjackets S3 on Showmax

Yellowjackets S1-S3

In this dark, compelling horror, a high school girls’ soccer team becomes the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the wilderness.

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Night Swim on Showmax

Night Swim (2024)

A family moves into a new home, unaware that a dark secret from the house’s past will unleash a malevolent force in the backyard pool.

A Quiet Place: Day One on Showmax

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

A young woman named Sam finds herself trapped in New York City during an invasion by alien creatures with ultra-sensitive hearing.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines on Showmax

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023)

Young Jud Crandall dreams of escaping Ludlow, but dark secrets force him to confront a family history that will keep him there.

Immaculate on Showmax

Immaculate (2024)

Unspeakable nightmares awaken in this horror. An American nun discovers her new home, a remote convent in the Italian countryside, harbours a sinister secret.

Hysteria! on Showmax

Hysteria!

In this horror-comedy, when a quarterback disappears, a struggling high school heavy metal band capitalises on the town’s sudden interest in the occult.

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SAW X on Showmax

Saw X (2023)

Set between events of Saw I and II, the 10th instalment sees John Kramer plot his twisted revenge on the doctors who conned him.

The Nun II on Showmax

The Nun II (2023)

Once again, Sister Irene comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun, while investigating the murder of a priest in 1956 France.

The Exorcist: Believer on Showmax

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

A terrifying sequel to the 1973 film about a 12-year-old girl who is possessed by a mysterious demonic entity. Her mother is forced to seek the help of two priests to save her. 

Five Nights at Freddy's on Showmax

Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023)

When a troubled security guard begins a night job in an abandoned theme restaurant, he learns that nothing is as it appears in this fan-favourite horror.

Thanksgiving on Showmax

Thanksgiving (2023)

A serial killer embarks on a murder spree in Plymouth following a tragic Black Friday riot at the town’s superstore. 

The Blackening on Showmax

The Blackening (2023)

Seven friends must rely on their street smarts and horror movie knowledge when trapped in a cabin with a vindictive killer. 

Talk To Me on Showmax

Talk to Me (2022)

In this terrifying horror movie, a group of teens discover they are able to contact spirits using a mysterious embalmed hand…

Evil Dead Rise on Showmax

Evil Dead Rise (2023)

A chilling, twisted addition to the Evil Dead franchise. Two estranged sisters’ reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a battle for survival. 

Chucky Season 3 is on Showmax

Chucky S3

Based on the popular horror movies: a vintage doll turns up at a yard sale and soon the tone faces a series of horrifying murders.

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Margaux is on Showmax

Margaux (2022)

A group of college friends rent a mansion for a party but soon realise that Margaux, the house’s AI system, has sinister designs for them.

Showmax is the home of HBO in Africa

The Last of Us S2 is on Showmax

The Last of Us S1-2

Joel and Ellie, a pair connected through the harshness of the world they live in, are forced to endure brutal circumstances and ruthless killers on a trek across post-pandemic America.

Bella Ramsey as Ellie in The Last Of US S2 on Showmax

The Last of Us co-creator on why we all feel so protective of Ellie

Emmy winner Craig Mazin, co-creator and executive producer of The Last of Us, discusses why audiences feel so protective of Ellie. The new season premieres on M-Net and Showmax from 14 April 2025.

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night on Showmax

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night S1

SNL creator Lorne Michaels commemorates the show’s 50th anniversary. Featuring a look into the audition and writing processes, a deep dive into the ‘More Cowbell’ sketch, and an exploration of SNL’s 11th season.

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The Golden Boy: Oscar De La Hoya on Showmax

The Golden Boy: Oscar De La Hoya (2023)

This explosive two-part sports documentary peels back the layers of this celebrated yet complicated figure.

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Being Mary Tyler Moore on Showmax

Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)

This intriguing documentary, with unprecedented access to the Mary Tyler Moore’s estate, friends and family, creates a mosaic of Mary’s 60-year career in show business.

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Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple on Showmax

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple (2024)

Stevie Van Zandt, New Jersey’s most famous right-hand-man to Bruce Springsteen, takes centre stage. This documentary traces Van Zandt’s career with never-before-seen footage.

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Its Florida, Man on Showmax

Behind the headlines on It’s Florida, Man

Six unbelievable headlines, six even more shocking cases. Come meet the real-life men and women behind incredible Florida Man sightings in the comedy series It’s Florida, Man.

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Its Florida, Man on Showmax

It’s Florida, Man S1

This outrageous HBO comedy is a love letter to the beaches, backwaters and people of a misunderstood yet magical American state. 

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The best movies to stream

Boy Kills World and 5 more deliciously deadly action flicks

Boy Kills World and 5 more deliciously deadly action flicks

Looking for some blood-soaked action, gun-fu, laughs and hit-the-replay fight scenes? We’ve got you. Come try Boy Kills World and 5 more films that are just killing it!

Venom: The Last Dance on Showmax

10 inspiring villain origin stories on Showmax

If you want to become a superhero just get bitten by a spider or find some tacky magic jewellery, loser! If you want to become a villain, though, that takes hard work – just ask Knull in Venom: The Last Dance.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes on Showmax

The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, plus 10 real-life revolutionaries

Discover the origins of The Hunger Games in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and then stream 10 more shows and movies about real-life revolutionaries. 

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes on Showmax

7 iconic Gen Z characters in series and movies on Showmax

Documentary series The Habits of Gen Z asks defining questions about South Africa’s youth. So we’ve turned to 7 series and movies to place Gen Z in a global context.

Perfect Match on Showmax

Showmax and Joburg Film Festival support emerging filmmakers

7 films from the first-time director slate will have their world premieres at this year’s Joburg Film Festival, from 11-16 March 2025, before streaming on Showmax from April.

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Girls Trip on Showmax

11 Galentine’s Day movies

Love? Whatever. Friends forever! Gather your girl gang and get ready to celebrate the people who’ll be in your corner for the rest of your life with these 11 movies.

Wonka is on Showmax

10 book-to-screen adaptations for kids

These series and movies for kids of all ages bring imagination to life as characters step off the page and onto the screen in Wonka, Tabby McTat, His Dark Materials and more.

Grace van Dien stars as Ella in The Fix

Welcome to dystopia: 7 sci-fi movies that feel close to home

From The Fix to Civil War, 7 dystopian sci-fi films are now streaming on Showmax, ready to transport you to a world that’s more recognisable than you’d like.