The Woman King (2022)
Shot in South Africa and Ghana with Moonlighting, The Woman King follows the epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits in preparation for battle against colonialists determined to destroy their way of life.
Davis won Best Actress in an Action Movie at the 2023 Critics Choice Super Awards, while The Woman King took home six wins at this year’s Black Reel Awards, including Outstanding Film, Director (Gina Prince-Bythewood from The Old Guard), Ensemble Cast, Score (five-time Grammy winner Terence Blanchard) and Outstanding Breakthrough Actress for Pietermaritzburg-born South African actress Thuso Mbedu (Is'Thunzi, The Underground Railroad).
The epic cast includes BAFTA and Critics Choice Award winner John Boyega (Star Wars’ Finn, Small Axe, Attack the Block); Uganda-born BAFTA nominee Sheila Atim (The Underground Railroad, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness); BAFTA winner Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die, Captain Marvel, Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical); Teen Choice winner Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Hardin Scott in the After film series); Beninese-French superstar and five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo; rising South African star Masali Baduza (Noughts + Crosses), SAFTA winners Siv Ngesi (Dam, Tali’s Baby Diary, Still Breathing) and Seputla Sebogodi (The River, The Republic, Generations), and South African Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi in her debut film role.
The Woman King has a 94% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus simply says: “All hail Viola Davis! The Woman King rules.”
Want more action movies? Check out our bumper list here »
More like this
Touch (2024)
A deeply moving love story. A man sets out to find his first love from 50 years ago before it's too late.
Smurfs (2025)
When Papa Smurf is abducted by the evil wizard siblings, Smurfette and the other Smurfs travel to the real world to rescue him.
How to Train Your Dragon: Bringing Hiccup and Astrid to life
Mason Thames and Nico Parker talk about playing the leads in the 2025 live-action adaptation of the fantasy classic How To Train Your Dragon.
How To Train Your Dragon (2025)
In this live-action adaptation, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future for dragons and Vikings.
Maria (2024)
In this biopic. Maria Callas, the world's greatest opera singer, confronts her identity as she lives the last days of her life in 1970s Paris.
Dear Santa (2024)
When a boy mistakenly writes to Satan instead of Santa Claus, he summons the devil (Jack Black), who offers him three wishes for his soul.
The King of Kings (2025)
A devoted father vividly recalls Jesus' life through storytelling while guiding his son on a transformative journey.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s South African stunts
Tom Cruise, director Christopher McQuarrie, and Durban-born stunt co-ordinator Wade Eastwood unpack the Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’s death-defying biplane stunts.
Single Kiasi S4, now streaming
Reckless S1, now streaming
More West African excellence
Where to watch The Real Housewives franchise online
Showmax is the home of The Real Housewives, giving an inside look at the lives of these glam women from Durban, Abuja, Lagos, Joburg, Nairobi and more. Plus, go on vacation with The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip!
Wizkid: Long Live Lagos (2025)
This intimate and uplifting documentary explores Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Wizkid's rise to superstardom as one of the biggest Afrobeats artists.
Dr. Catherine speaks on flying the Kenyan flag and reuniting with Zena on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip - Africa
Dr C opens up about representing Kenya in RHUGT–Africa, reuniting with Zena in Brazil, healing through therapy, and revealing a fun new side.
Ship wars, schemers and shock moves: BBNaija S10 is unhinged
Missed any of the drama in the first two weeks of BBNaija S10? Here's a quick refresher. Catch all the non-stop chaos and shockers live on Showmax.
Latest Stories
From Poverty to Purpose: The Redemption of Emmanuel Adebayor: Why Saving Lives Trumps Scoring Goals
Christall on The Ultimate Girls Trip, Evodia and more
Manchester City vs Liverpool: The Rivalry Reignites
What to watch on Showmax in Kenya in November 2025
Annie Mthembu opens up about The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Africa
Can LFC rediscover the form that saw them crowned champions?
Conor Bradley on Liverpool's difficult run and the path back
Must-watch trailer: The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa
Creating The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
From The Office to The Paper
Dexter's deadly to-do list in Dexter: Resurrection
Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe
Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break
Inside spy movie Black Bag
The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red
What to watch on Showmax in Kenya in October 2025
Godfrey Odhiambo on Reckless, his career, and the evolution of Kenyan film
The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade
June Squibb wins Best Actress award at age 95 for Thelma
Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend
Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue
Minne Kariuki on Single Kiasi, motherhood and being a “gold digger”
Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr chat about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham
