10 game-changing shows to celebrate Showmax turning 10

Showmax was launched in South Africa 10 years ago today, getting a headstart on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video (2016), Apple TV+ (2019), and Disney Plus (2022). The streaming service has since expanded to 44 African countries.

To celebrate, here are 10 Showmax Originals that changed the game.

Tali’s Wedding Diary (2017)

Showmax’s first Original follows Joburg princess Tali as she plans her Cape Town wedding. Before Tali, Showmax was best known for HBO imports. The mockumentary’s local flavour changed that, setting a first-day views record and winning five SAFTAs, including Best Comedy and Best Actress (Julia Anastasopoulos). This paved the way for Showmax’s first scripted drama, The Girl From St. Agnes (2019). Two sequels - Tali’s Baby Diary (2021) and Tali’s Joburg Diary (2022) - went on to win nine more SAFTAs. Showmax is now adapting the most famous mockumentary of all, The Office.

Life With Kelly Khumalo S1 (2020)

An intimate portrait of the controversial singer as she juggled motherhood, music and business during Covid-19, Showmax’s first reality series became its fastest to 1m views and won a SAFTA. Building on the success of the Somizi & Mohale: The Union wedding special, this opened the door for all the award-winning reality TV that followed, from The Real Housewives to The Mommy Club franchises.

Devilsdorp (2021)

Showmax’s first true-crime documentary series dissected the bizarre story behind the Krugersdorp Killings. It set a four-day hours-watched record, won Best TV Documentary at the SAFTAs, and sold internationally. It also paved the way for the true-crime hits that followed, like Steinheist, Rosemary’s Hitlist, and Tracking Thabo Bester.

The Wife (2021)

Adapted from Dudu Busani-Dube’s novels, Showmax’s first telenovela follows the Zulu brothers’ crime family, through the eyes of their wives. The 18LNSV series became the most-watched Showmax Original ever, racking up 50m+ hours and trending almost every Thursday. The isiZulu show made Bonko Khoza and Kwenzo Ngcobo household names: Khoza won the Best Actor SAFTA and Ngcobo won at the DStv Mzansi Viewers Choice and GQ Men of the Year Awards. The Wife’s success paved the way for Outlaws, named Best Telenovela at last year’s SAFTAs. 

Fifa World Cup Qatar (2022)

Showmax streamed all 64 matches in up to 4K, with the Argentina–France final breaking live concurrent viewing records. This success led to Showmax Premier League in 2024, a mobile-only live sports service covering every Premier League and PSL match.

Adulting (2023)

The first Showmax Original from International Emmy nominees Tshedza Pictures, Adulting follows four male friends trying to find love and success in Joburg. The most-watched title since the relaunch by unique profile views, the 18-rated series earned three SAFTA nominations, including for Thembinkosi Mthembu in his first lead role, a performance that saw him named Hunk of the Year at The Feather Awards and taking home the People’s Choice Award at the GQ Men of the Year Awards.

Spinners (2023)

In Spinners, a Kaaps teen tries to escape gang life through spinning, an extreme motorsport. Spinners became the first African series selected for Canneseries, won Best Foreign TV Series at China’s Magnolia Awards (over Emmy winner Succession), and charted in CANAL+’s top 10 in France and French Africa. Season 2 arrives in 2026.

Youngins (2024)

Showmax’s top-viewed series since relaunch in terms of hours watched, Youngins follows the new girl at a Jozi boarding school, who is caught up in a scandal of epic proportions. The teen drama won Best South African Streaming Series at the Behind the Scenes Awards and earned nominations for LGBTQIA+ representation at both The Feather and Inclusive Lens awards.

Tyla: Live on Showmax (2025)

In January, Showmax live-streamed Tyla’s sold-out Pretoria concert across 44 African countries – a first for an African streamer. The Grammy, BET, and MTV Award winner celebrated over 1.5bn streams for her record-breaking debut album in what she called, “My fav show yet.”

Iyanu (2025)

This Nigerian fantasy animation, from Oscar winners Lion Forge Entertainment and creator Roye Okupe, follows an orphan discovering her powers to save Yorubaland. Based on the graphic novel Iyanu: Child of Wonder, the Showmax Original topped Cartoon Network, broke into HBO Max’s top 10 kids’ shows, and was Showmax’s most-watched kids’ title at launch. Season 2 and two feature films are already greenlit.

What’s your favourite Showmax Original? 

Showmies, let us know what your favourite Showmax Original has been by using the hashtag #10yearsofShowmax. Other contenders include:

 
• Fan favourites like Empini, Soft Life, Red Ink, The Showmax Roast of Minnie Dlamini, One Weeks, Law, Love and Betrayal, The ABC Killer, Lockdown, Living The Dream With Somizi, and more  
• Catch Me A Killer, the first SA series at SeriesMania 
• Rose d’Or nominee Wyfie 
• Berlinale Series Market Selects pick Donkerbos 
• SAFTA category winners Sex in Afrikaans and Loving Thokoza 
• Fantasia pick Glasshouse, the joint most awarded film at the SAFTAs for its year 
• MIPAfrica Inclusive Lens winner Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap 
• Kalasha Awards category winners like The Real Housewives of Nairobi (Best TV Show) and Pepeta (Best TV Drama, Viewers Choice)  
• AMVCA category winners like Wa Milele? (Best Unscripted Series) and Crime and Justice (Best TV Series) 
• Subterranea, named Best TV Drama Series: East Africa at Zanzibar International Film Festival 
• Death in the Heartlands, from Dark Side of Glory, shortlisted as Sports Documentary of the Year – Over 60 Minutes at the 2024 Broadcast Sports Awards 
• Original Sin: My Son The Killer,  a finalist in the Documentary category at the 2024 Venice TV Awards