10 most-streamed shows by South Africans on Showmax in 2024

African streamer Showmax has revealed its 10 most streamed titles of 2024, based on unique viewers. 

9/10 of these are local, with HBO’s epic fantasy House of the Dragon the exception that proves the rule. 

Half are dramas, alongside three reality shows, a roast, and a record-breaking true-crime documentary series. 

All nine local titles are Showmax Originals. 

Here are the top 10 in alphabetical order: 

Adulting S1-2

Adulting follows four male friends in Johannesburg, whose strong bond has held them together after varsity even as their journeys in life have taken them in very different directions. From hitmakers Tshedza Pictures (Outlaws, The River), the 18LSDVN Showmax Original earned Thembinkosi Mthembu, Nhlanhla Kunene and Nandi Nyembe SAFTA nominations as Bonga, Eric (aka Tsiki Tsiki) and MaGetty respectively. The third and final season starts on 25 January 2025, with new episodes every Saturday.

Watch the trailer for Adulting

Empini S1

At The National Film and TV Awards South Africa, Nambitha Ben-Mazwi won Best Actress for her roles in Savage Beauty and the Showmax Original Empini, where she plays a private security bodyguard investigating her father’s death.

Watch the trailer for Empini

House of the Dragon S1-2

Based on George RR Martin’s Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and tells the story of House Targaryen. Following King Aegon Il’s coronation, at the start of Season 2, Alicent and Rhaenyra cling to fading memories of their old friendship as their opposing factions gear up for civil war. The epic HBO series was IMDb’s fifth most popular series of 2024 overall, with Emma d’Arcy nominated for the Golden Globe as Rhaenyra.

Watch the trailer for House of the Dragon

Laugh Africa Presents: The Showmax Roast of Minnie Dlamini

Roastmasters Tumi Morake and Jason Goliath led a star-studded line-up unleashing their wrath on media personality Minnie Dlamini, who gave as good as she got. Panelists included Celeste Ntuli, Da L.E.S, Lasizwe, Penny Lebyane, Shahan Ramkissoon, Siv Ngesi, Robert Marawa and Trevor Gumbi. 

Watch the trailer for Laugh Africa Presents: The Showmax Roast of Minnie Dlamini

Red Ink

Adapted from Angela Makholwa’s bestseller, Red Ink follows journalist turned publicist Lucy Khambule (Nqobile Nunu Khumalo), who is approached by an imprisoned serial killer to tell his story. At The National Film and TV Awards South Africa, Bonko Khoza won Best Actor as Napoleon Dingiswayo, aka The Butcher, with Lorcia Cooper taking home Best Supporting Actress as Detective Morapedi.

Watch the trailer for Red Ink

The Mommy Club S1-2

Reality TV phenomenon The Mommy Club follows glamorous Jozi momfluencers navigating the challenges of parenting – and the cutthroat world of “it” moms. The record-breaking Showmax Original won Best Non-Scripted TV Series at The National Film and TV Awards South Africa and also launched its first spinoff last year: The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice, set in Durban’s Indian community.

Watch the trailer for The Mommy Club 

The Real Housewives of Durban S1-4

The longest-running version of the franchise in Africa, The Real Housewives of Durban follows the glamorous but drama-filled lives of affluent women in Durban. Season 4 kept everyone talking all the way to the reunion, where OG Sorisha Naidoo walked out in tears.

Watch the trailer for The Real Housewives of Durban S4

The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip – South Africa

At The National Film and TV Awards South Africa, The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip – South Africa took home Best Reality Series, as well as Best Female TV Personality for Lethabo LeJoy. The spinoff South Africa had been waiting for, Ultimate Girls Trip took eight of the most iconic Housewives to Jamaica.

Watch the trailer for The Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip – SA

Tracking Thabo Bester

Tracking Thabo Bester is the true-crime documentary South Africa had been asking for ever since GroundUp first broke the news that the convicted murderer and rapist did not die in Cell 35 after all and was instead shopping at Woolworths in Sandton City. Alongside lawsuits and rave reviews, the true-crime series racked up the most first-day views of any documentary on Showmax ever in March 2024. It’s produced by true-crime pioneers IdeaCandy (Devilsdorp, Rosemary’s Hitlist).

Watch the trailer for Tracking Thabo Bester

Youngins S1-2

Teen drama Youngins was named Best South African Streaming Series at the 2024 Behind The Scenes Awards – and had the most first day views of any title on Showmax this year. When a teen flees from a family tragedy in rural KZN to a boarding school in Jozi, she gets entangled in a scandal of epic proportions. Produced by Tshedza Pictures (Adulting), new episodes of S2 come out every Friday.

Watch the trailer for Youngins

See everything coming to Showmax in January here.