29 June 2021
Gravity (2013)
It’s action time, space fans! But this is realistic movie magic – Sandra Bullock plays astronaut Dr Ryan Stone, with George Clooney as her mission commander Lieutenant Matt Kowalski in this 7-time Oscar winner. A miscalculation by the Russian Space Agency sends them into a world of terror when their ship is smashed into by Soviet equipment and their return to Earth is near-impossible.
But that’s the thing about astronauts: they don’t fear things like being stuck in space, spinning out of control hundreds of kilometres above Earth, with their death almost guaranteed. Instead, they find solutions and make their way home safely … or they die trying to get their crewmates home.
For a movie made in 2013, Gravity more than holds up against anything recent in terms of CGI trickery. You’d think that Sandra and George filmed the action up in space. It’s super-realistic for most moviegoers. If you’re one of those sciency folk, like Neil deGrasse Tyson, watch it, enjoy it, and try not to shout about the handful of inaccuracies like the fact that the Hubble Telescope was in a high orbit and the International Space Station in a low orbit so their collision was highly unlikely.
Original African stories by local talent
Mince Jou Hare S1
Shimmy Isaacs’s laugh-out-loud sitcom about a factory worker who opens a hair salon in her home lands on Showmax on 20 May 2024.
Untying Kantai
Untying Kantai follows King Kantai, a man who has spent 30 years of his life working hard to provide for his family, only to be conned out of his life savings. Stream from 9 May, with new episodes weekly.
Big Girl Small World
Big Girl Small World follows Ciku, a plus-size woman who stumbles through a journey of self-discovery after a humiliating scandal. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Empini S1
Stream the Showmax Original drama series Empini from 23 May 2024.
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. All episodes now streaming.
Koek S1
The crime comedy Koek, starring Cindy Swanepoel. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
What will be the cost of vengeance? Empini S1, coming soon
The Roast Of Minnie Dlamini, now streaming
More Mzansi gold
Mince Jou Hare: Shimmy Isaacs on her Showmax Original sitcom
Watch the trailer for Mince Jou Hare, a feel-good, small-town sitcom, premiering 20 May 2024 on Showmax.
The Real Housewives of Durban on the upcoming reunion
The RHODurban cast share their thoughts ahead of The Real Housewives of Durban S4 reunion, hosted by MaBlerh. The reunion will air on Showmax on 15 and 22 May 2024.
The Mommy Club Season 2 episode 12 recap: Lines in the sand
In episode 12 of Showmax’s The Mommy Club, Nozipho goes to see a medium, and Hermajesty wants closure for her husband’s death.
Kristen Raath on her funniest, and most humiliating moment, on the set of Wyfie
Kristen Raath talks about her funniest and most humiliating moment on the university drama Wyfie, now streaming on Showmax.