23 January 2018
5 shows that stir up tension
These thrilling, addictive series on Showmax are for those with nerves of steel and a few hours to kill – because you won’t be able to stop after just one episode.
1. HBO’s The Sopranos – full boxset
Tony Soprano is a mob boss. He took over from his uncle before him, who took over from Tony’s father before that. The family have their fingers in a lot of dirty pies, and they’ll do whatever it takes not to get caught. Tony has the legacy of his father to live up to, a nephew to mentor, a mistress to hide, a wife to keep in jewels, the Feds to evade, and a pair of kids to raise. Soon, the pressure gets too much, and Tony starts to see a shrink – something no Soprano has ever done before. Watch now »
2. HBO’s True Detective, Seasons 1-3
The grisly murder scenes and disturbing plotlines of True Detective are absolutely not for the faint-hearted. In Season 1, it’s 2012, and Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) are former detectives being separately investigated about their most famous case, when the gruesome murder of a prostitute led them to uncover an occult network of chilling proportions in 1995. In Season 2, a bizarre murder investigation brings together three law-enforcement officers and a career criminal, starring Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Taylor Kitsch. And Season 3, starring Mahershala Ali as a detective who, over the decades, remains obsessed with the one missing-children’s case he could never solve, is TV gold. Watch now »
3. Harlots, S1-2 – FIRST on Showmax
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpE48eh59tI&t=33s
In 18th-Century London, sex is everywhere – but brothel owner Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) wants to rise above her sordid situation and transplant her house and “her girls” to Greek Street in Soho, where her longtime rival Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville) runs a lavishly luxurious brothel, frequented by only by noblemen and the most esteemed gentlemen of London society. Quigley will do whatever it takes to keep Wells and her girls away, including some dirty dealings with the men of influence she keeps in her back pocket. Meanwhile, Wells’s beautiful daughters are destined to be signed over to become the property of wealthy lords, whether they want to be kept as their personal harlots or not. Watch now »
4. Ray Donovan, S1-6
As a fixer to LA’s most powerful, Ray Donovan’s actions have caught up with him, sending him to New York where he’s attempting to rebuild his shattered life. How did he get here? Binge-watch Seasons 1 to 5 on Showmax to recap. Watch now »
5. HBO’s Strike Back, Seasons 1-6
Based on the novel by real-life former SAS soldier Sam Ryan, this British spy adventure follows the military operatives in Section 20, a covert branch of the Defence Intelligence service. John Porter resigned from the SAS seven years ago, after an ill-fated operation in Iraq left two of his fellow soldiers dead at the hands of a teenaged insurgent – who Porter was supposed to have killed. It’s now 2010, and Porter has been called in to rescue a journalist kidnapped by a band of insurgents led by the same young boy, who has grown into an even more dangerous terrorist. Watch now »
Don’t have Showmax yet?
Original African stories by local talent
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
Stream the new Kenyan romcom series Big Girl Small World from 8 May, with new episodes every week.
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.
Ekhaya Backpackers S1
Stream the Showmax Original comedy series Ekhaya Backpackers. All the episodes are now streaming.
RHONairobi S2: Your favourite queens plus 3 new faces
Big Girl Small World, coming soon
The best movies to stream
10 Rotten Tomatoes-approved movies on Showmax: ranked
From Jaws and Kanarie, to Get Out and Minari, these are the freshest movies on Showmax according to Rotten Tomatoes.
10 movies everyone’s watching on Showmax now
Stream these 10 fun, eye-popping movies that your fellow Showmax fans are loving, including Queen & Slim, Babylon, Equalizer 3 and more.
Transformers movies on Showmax: ranked
All seven Transformers movies are ready to stream on Showmax, including the 2007 original and the latest, Rise of the Beasts.
DC superhero movies on Showmax: ranked
See the ranked list of DC superhero movies now streaming on Showmax, including the feel-good Shazam! Fury of the Gods.