What to watch on Showmax in October 2024

Showmax is serving up an exciting lineup of new South African shows and movies this October. From festival-favourites like Brasse Vannie Kaap and The Fix to 2024 SAFTA nominees like Lioness S2 and How To Manifest A Man S1, there’s plenty to dive into. Add to that a mix of international series and movies, and you’ve got the ultimate binge-watch destination this month.

Showmax Originals: South Africa

Brasse Vannie Kaap | Stream from Monday, 7 October

Fresh from its sold-out, standing ovation world premiere at Silwerskerm, Brasse Vannie Kaap is a nostalgic feature documentary about the iconic, game-changing 90s group who helped make hip hop South African. 

Brasse Vannie Kaap’s rappers, scratchers and breakdancers reflect on the group’s remarkable journey from the Cape Flats to Pukkelpop in Belgium – a rise that was cut short by the untimely death of their frontman, Mr Fat, aka Ashley Titus, who passed away in 2007 aged just 36. 

YoungstaCPT and Jack Parow credit the group with inspiring their careers, while the who’s who of the Afrikaans entertainment industry line up to pay tribute to their undeniable impact, from David Isaacs and Oscar Petersen of Joe Barber fame to Early B and Karen Zoid to Kurt Darren and Valiant Swart.

Written and directed by Lauren Scholtz, Brasse Vannie Kaap ends with Ready D and DJ Azuhl getting the group back together for an intimate tribute show at Youngblood Africa in honour of Mr Fat. 

The Fix | Stream from Thursday, 31 October

Set in a dystopian future with toxic air, The Fix follows a model (Grace van Dien, aka Chrissy Cunningham in Stranger Things S4) who takes a new designer drug at a party and suffers a shocking transformation. Pursued by forces with competing interests in the drug’s effects, she discovers that her mutations could save the human race.

The opening night film at MIPAfrica and the closing night film at Chattanooga, The Fix also stars Daniel Sharman (Fear The Walking Dead), Clancy Brown (John Wick 4), and Nicole Fortuin from Heart of the Hunter, the first African film to top the global English-language films charts on Netflix. 

The Fix is written and directed by Kelsey Egan, who made her feature film debut with the Showmax Original Glasshouse, which earned rave reviews globally after its debut at Fantasia; and was the most awarded film at the 2022 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs). 

Showmax Originals: Nigeria

Style Magnate | Fridays  from 4 October

In this high-stakes fashion and design reality competition, 20 designers will embark on a month-long journey that will end with one of them being crowned and receiving a life-changing opportunity to launch their career as a designer for the stars. Contestants will be pushed to their limits, taking on challenges that test their sketching, designing, and sewing skills, all under immense pressure and while racing against the clock. 

Leading Style Magnate is Nigerian fashion designer and icon Mai Atafo, known for his award-winning designs and expertise. As the show’s Maestro, Atafo will be on hand to offer expertise, encouragement, and, of course, his signature tough love. Hosting the show is Joseph Benjamin, bringing his charisma and experience to the Bottega, with Yolanda Okereke, a renowned stylist and costume designer for film and television, who will serve as the Fashion Principal.

2024 SAFTA nominees

Showmax already has the most nominees by far at the 2024 SAFTAs, but there are more on the way. At the SAFTAs on 25 and 26 October, content on Showmax will be competing for a whopping 141 SAFTAs – reaffirming Showmax’s positioning as the best place to stream local content. 

Drama

Lioness S2 | Binge from 21 October

Season 2 of Lioness is up for nine awards at this year’s SAFTAs, including Best TV Drama. 

Shannon Esra is also up for Best Actress again as Sam, a fiercely protective mother who lost her children after being framed for her husband’s fraud. 

Following the first season’s cliffhanger finale, Season 2 picks up with Bianca (Carla Classen) desperately searching for her missing husband, and Sam forced to shield her son Liam (Joshua Eady) at any cost.

How to Manifest a Man S1 | Binge from 25 October

How to Manifest a Man follows Dudu (Africa Movie Academy Awards nominee Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa), who is in an unhappy marriage. When her husband Simphiwe (Mnqobi Kunene from Outlaws) suffers memory loss, Dudu decides to take fate into her own hands and reshape her spouse into the ideal partner.

Produced by Barkers Media, How To Manifest a Man is nominated for Best Achievement in Wardrobe – TV Drama at the 2024 SAFTAs.

Comedy

Magaeng S1 | Binge from 2 October

SAFTA winner Khabonina Qubeka (Shaka iLembe) stars in Magaeng as Zama Ndaba, the glamorous wife of a vengeful crime boss, who is forced to go into witness protection in a small rural town, with her estranged teenage kids in tow. 

Produced by Burnt Onion Productions (How to Ruin Christmas), the Mzansi Magic series co-stars SAFTA winner Themba Ndaba (Brutus Khoza in The Queen) as Zama’s manipulative husband Bheki; Thato Molamu (Losing Lerato, The Queen) as Thabang, the local police captain; and Tinah Mnumzana (Flora on The River), who is up for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy at this year’s SAFTAs as Koko. 

Kagiso Malefane is also nominated for Art Direction at the SAFTAs. 

Roomies S1 | Binge from 17 October

Nominated at the 2024 SAFTAs for both Best Wardrobe and Best Make-up and Hairstyling in a TV Comedy, Roomies follows housemates Naledi, Tsholo, Ntsika, Abza and Them, five millennials trying to navigate adulthood and the challenges that come with it.

Nomalanga Shozi (Botle in Adulting), Ishmauel Songo (Mpande in The Wife), Unathi Mkhize (Nkanyiso in The River), Mbasa Msongelo (Zola in Grootboom & Sons) and newcomer Felicia Mlangeni star as the housemates. 

Roomies is created by Sihle Mthembu (The Queen), who also heads up the writing team and co-directs. 

Telenovelas

My Brother’s Keeper S1 | Binge from 22 October 

My Brother’s Keeper is nominated for four SAFTAs this year, including Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela, Best Actor (Lindani Nkosi) and Supporting Actress (Hlengiwe Lushaba-Madlala).

The Mzansi Magic telenovela tells the story of a family thrown into a deadly succession battle, as Nqubeko, the headstrong and overambitious son of a mistress breaks the rules of “ukungena” by going after his brother’s widow, Fakazile.

The star-studded cast includes SAFTA winners Wiseman Mncube (Shaka iLembe, The Wife), Zola Nombona (Lockdown), and Sdumo Mtshali (Isibaya), as well as rising star Mnqobi Kunene (Outlaws). 

My Brother’s Keeper is produced by Rhythm World Productions, who are also behind massive hits like Sibongile & the Dlaminis and Umkhokha the Curse. 

Diepe Waters S2 | Binge from 3 October

A new season brimming with intrigue awaits the Swartmarlyne in Diepe Waters. Who will sink and who will swim?

Season 1 of the popular kykNET telenovela won a SAFTA for its editing, and this year it’s up for Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela (as voted for by the public) as well as Best Directing, Cinematography, and Sound.

At the 2024 Silwerskerm Festival Awards, Nadia Valvekens was nominated for Best Actress in a Telenovela or Soap as Sanet Swarts, with Justin Strydom up for Best Actor as Gys, Werner Coetser up for Best Supporting Actor as Jacques, and Diandra Slabbert up for Best Newcomer as Mari.

In Season 2, Zelda and Gys’ war continues; there’s new love on the horizon for Sanet; and everyone is left reeling following a sudden death. Look out for Vinette Ebrahim (Koek) and Eric Bouwer (Spoorloos, Binnelanders) joining the cast this season. 

Documentaries

Great African Mysteries S1 | Binge 21 October 

Nominated for Best Cinematography in the Documentary category at this year’s SAFTAs, Great African Mysteries explores some of South Africa’s most fascinating and enduring mysteries.

Hosted by Talk Radio 702’s John Robbie, the series delves into the events surrounding the ill-fated Helderberg flight in 1987, the hunt for the Kruger millions, and the discovery of Homo naledi at the Cradle of Humankind, among other topics.  

The History Channel has already renewed Great African Mysteries for a second season.

Series

Hacks S3 | First On Showmax | Binge from Friday, 11 October

Winner of this year’s Emmy for Best Comedy, Hacks S3 picks up with Deborah Vance riding high off the success of her standup special while Ava pursues new opportunities back in Los Angeles.

As Deborah Vance, Jean Smart has won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for all three seasons, with HBO’s comedy about comedians also taking home Best Writing this year, for the second time, bringing its Emmy count to nine wins overall. As Ava, Hanna Einbeinder has been nominated every season. 

S3 is at #8 on Rotten Tomatoes’ Best TV Shows of 2024 (So Far) list, with a 98% critics rating. Hacks has already been renewed for a fourth season, expected in 2025. 

All American S6 | Binge from 18 October

In All American, two worlds collide when a star high school football player from South LA is recruited to play for Beverly Hills High. 

Inspired by the life of pro footballer Spencer Paysinger, All American was nominated as Outstanding Drama Series at both the Black Reel and Image Awards. As Spencer, Daniel Ezra earned an Image Award nomination. 

All American reaches its 100th episode this season (in Episode 9, directed by Ezra). The show’s already launched a spinoff, All American: Homecoming, and been renewed for a seventh season. 

Julia S2 | Thursdays from 17 October at 21:30

Based on the true story of trailblazing TV chef Julia Child, Julia enters its second and final season with Julia returning from France to discover that her success has changed everything, and the kitchen just got a whole lot bigger.

Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) returns in her BAFTA-nominated title role alongside the likes of David Hyde Pierce (Frasier’s Dr Niles Crane), Bebe Neuwirth (Cheers’ and Frasier’s Dr Lilith Sternin) and Judith Light (Transparent, Who’s the Boss?), Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet), and Nigerian-American award winner Tosin Morohunfola (Lawmen: Bass Reeves).

The series has an 8.2/10 score on IMDb, and on Rotten Tomatoes, Season 2 has a rare 100% critics’ rating, with the critics’ consensus saying, “Julia’s deuxième cours is a delectable trifle that viewers will savour.”

Straat S1 | Binge from 17 October

How well do you really know your neighbours? 

The residents of Aarbei Straat are debating whether to build a wall around themselves to keep the danger out. Little do they know that a whistleblower in witness protection has just moved in.

Straat’s all-star cast includes SAFTA winners Morné Visser (Dis Ek, Anna) and Frank Opperman (Trompoppie), SAFTA nominees Nico Panagio (Survivor SA) and Marisa Drummond (Getroud met Rugby), and 2024 Silwerskerm nominee Amalia Uys (Die Byl). 

Njoro Wa Uba S14 | Thursdays from 17 October

Njoro wa Uba follows Joe Kinyua (How to Find a Husband, Sue na Jonnie) in a Kalasha Best Actor-winning performance as Njoro, a man who’s forced to become a taxi driver to make ends meet after losing a lucrative job due to allegations of fraud.

Named Best Comedy at last year’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards, the Kenyan comedy series takes Njoro around the city in his day-to-day hustle as a taxi driver, where he meets all kinds of characters that are way too familiar in a city as hectic as Nairobi.

Produced by MoonBeam Productions (Vashita) for Maisha Magic, the fourteenth season promises to give you another hilarious dose of what Nairobi taxi drivers go through everyday.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter | Binge from Monday, 14 October

The Victorian period drama Belgravia: The Next Chapter picks up in 1871, three decades after the events of Julian Fellowes’ 2020 limited series.

Belgravia: The Next Chapter tells the love story of Frederick Trenchard (Benjamin Wainwright), the third Lord Trenchard, and his new love interest, Clara Dunn (Harriet Slater from Pennyworth), who is a newcomer to London society. 

Unaware that his birth was the product of an affair between his mother, Susan, and the scoundrel John Bellasis (Alice Eve and Adam James from the original Belgravia), a troubled childhood has left Frederick deeply insecure, which challenges his courtship of, and marriage to, Clara.

Extended Family | Mondays from 14 October

Emmy winner Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Teen Choice nominee Donald Faison (Scrubs, Clueless), and Critics Choice nominee Abigail Spencer (Rectify) star in Extended Family. 

Following an amicable divorce, Jim and Julia decide to continue to raise their kids at the family home while taking turns to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated for Jim when Trey, the owner of the Boston Celtics, enters the picture and wins Julia’s heart.

Calling it “genuinely funny” and a “subversive split from sitcom tropes,” Wall Street Journal said, “the domestic comedy… has traditionally been about a happy family beset by outside forces… In Extended Family the calls are coming from inside the house.”

Movies

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | Stream from Monday, 28 October

The #15 biggest blockbuster movie of this year (so far), Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire brings the Spengler family back to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. When the discovery of an ancient artefact unleashes an army of ghosts that casts a death chill upon the city, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Once again written by Oscar nominees Gil Kenan and Jason Reitman, with Kenan also directing, Frozen Empire is the fifth film in the mega-hit franchise, picking up three years after the events of 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife. 

Returning Afterlife cast include Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace and Kenya-born Celeste O’Connor, while Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and Annie Potts are all back in their original Ghostbusters roles. Oscar nominee Kumail Nanjiani and Emmy winner Patton Oswalt also join the cast this go round. 

Chicago Sun-Times says Frozen Empire “carries the same endearingly goofy, science-nerd spirit of the first film and delivers a delightful balance of slimy ghost stuff, sharp one-liners, terrific VFX and a steady stream of callbacks to various characters, human and otherwise, from the 1984 movie.”

Five Nights at Freddy’s | Stream from Monday, 14 October 

The terrifying horror game phenomenon Five Nights at Freddy’s comes to life as last year’s highest-grossing horror of the year globally. 

Produced by Blumhouse (M3GAN, Get Out), Five Nights at Freddy’s follows Mike (Josh Hutcherson from The Hunger Games), a troubled young man caring for his 10-year-old sister, Abby. Recently fired and desperate for work so that he can keep custody of Abby, Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. But Mike soon discovers that nothing at Freddy’s is what it seems as he is dragged into the black heart of an unspeakable nightmare. 

Nominated for Drama Movie of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards and for Best Creature FX for Jim Henson’s Creature Shop at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, Five Nights at Freddy’s already has a sequel in production. 

The Nun II | Stream from Thursday, 31 October

The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun – the greatest evil in The Conjuring universe.  

The #1 US box office hit stars Taissa Farmiga (American Horror Story) as Sister Irene and Emmy winner Storm Reid (The Last of Us) as Sister Debra, with Bonnie Aarons reprising her role as the demon nun. 

The Nun II was nominated for ten Golden Scythe Horror Awards this year.

Monkey Man | Stream from Monday, 28 October

Winner of the Audience Award at SXSW 2024, Monkey Man stars Dev Patel (Lion, Slumdog Millionaire) as Kid, a man seeking vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother.

Patel makes his feature film directorial debut with Monkey Man, which has an 89% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is the 49th biggest box office hit of 2024 so far. It has been hailed by Time Out as “possibly the most ferocious mainstream action movie since The Raid.”

Look out for South African star Sharlto Copley (District 9) in all the Mumbai mayhem. 

The Exorcist: Believer | Stream from Thursday, 17 October

It’s been a little over 50 years since the most terrifying horror film in history landed on screens, shocking audiences around the world and becoming the first horror nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture. 

Now Blumhouse (Get Out) and director David Gordon Green (who resurrected the Halloween franchise) deliver The Exorcist: Believer.   

Since the death of his wife, Victor Fielding (Hamilton’s Leslie Odom, Jr) has raised their daughter, Angela, on his own. When Angela and her friend Katherine disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn).  

SAW X | Stream from Thursday, 31 October

Between the events of SAW I and II, a sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, the infamous serial killer returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature way. 

As John, Tobin Bell was nominated for a Critics Choice Super Award this year as Best Actor in a Horror Movie. 

A #1 box office hit, SAW X has an 80% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus says, “SAW X might be the best sequel in the series so far.”

The Last Voyage of the Demeter | 3 October

The Last Voyage of the Demeter chronicles the doomed journey of a merchant ship ferrying 50 mysterious wooden crates from Carpathia to London. The crew soon discover they are not alone on board: at night they are stalked by a hidden passenger whose monstrous thirst for blood turns the trip into a harrowing nightmare.

Based on a single chilling chapter from Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula, the film has been praised by horror icons like Guillermo del Toro, who called it “gorgeous, lavish and savage,” and Stephen King, who called it “a throat-ripping good time.”. 

Golda | Stream from Monday, 7 October 

Golda is a ticking-clock thriller set during the tense 19 days of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. 

Oscar winner Helen Mirren stars as Israeli prime minister Golda Meir. Faced with the potential of Israel’s complete destruction, she must navigate overwhelming odds, a sceptical cabinet, and a complex relationship with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (Liev Schreiber). 

Arthur the King | Stream from Monday, 14 October

Arthur the King tells the story of the unbreakable bond forged between pro adventure racer Michael Light (Mark Wahlberg) and a scrappy street dog, Arthur, who followed the team over 700 km on a gruelling ten-day endurance race. 

It’s based on the book Arthur – The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home by real-life adventure racer Mikael Lindnord.

Look out for Bear Grylls, Simu Liu (Barbie), Nathalie Emmanuel (Fast X), and Juliet Rylance (Perry Mason). 

In their 4/5-star review, Common Sense Media recommends Arthur the King for ages 13+, saying, “There’s nothing better than a good story about a great dog, and Arthur’s tale warms the soul.”  

Classics on the couch

Showmax is also bringing back a host of classics this October, including: 

• No Country For Old Men (from 3 October): Set in the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong, No Country For Old Men won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Directing and Writing for the Coen brothers, and Best Actor for Javier Bardem.
• The Crow (from 17 October): 30 years before the Bill Skarsgard version, Brandon Lee starred as The Crow, tragically dying on the set of what became a cult classic.
• Ip Man (from 28 October) Set during the Japanese invasion of China, Ip Man is inspired by the story of Bruce Lee’s real-life teacher. The multi-award-winning martial arts classic has a 84% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Documentaries

The Hitman: Ricky Hatton | Stream from Wednesday, 16 October

The Hitman: Ricky Hatton is the definitive documentary portrait of a unique boxing hero. Ricky Hatton was an unbeaten world boxing champion by the age of 27. He went on to Las Vegas to battle against two of the greatest fighters of all time: Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. 

From an estate in Manchester – the city that made him – to the lights of Las Vegas – the city that (almost) destroyed him – The Hitman: Ricky Hatton features the raw testimonies of the family and friends he once lost and the celebrities whose paths he crossed, including 11-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya. 

The Hitman: Ricky Hatton was nominated for Best Documentary at this year’s BAFTAs. 

The Truth vs Alex Jones | Stream from Wednesday, 2 October

The Truth vs Alex Jones centres on families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting, who sued radio host Alex Jones for spreading lies about the event being a hoax.

The documentary has a 100% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the Guardian’s 4/5-star review calling it “dizzying” and its subject, “so viscerally wrong it will fry your mind.” The New York Times adds, “The Truth vs. Alex Jones offers a lesson in just how vicious and pervasive conspiracy theories can become and a chilling portrait of how little they may trouble their purveyors.”

Filmed over four years, with unprecedented access, The Truth vs Alex Jones is directed by Dan Reed, who won Emmy and BAFTA awards for Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson and Me. 

Reality TV

Mnakwethu S4| Binge from 24 October

Mnakwethu returns for its fourth season with host Musa Mseleku, a proud polygamist, still acting as counsel and mediator as men ask their wives to allow them to marry a second wife. With success not always guaranteed, Mseleku assists the men in pleading their cases to their wives, helping them come to terms with the request and, sometimes, facilitating the meeting between the first and potential second wives.

Our Perfect Wedding Kenya S17 | Saturdays from 26 October

Get ready to be swept away by the magic and splendour of Kenyan weddings with the latest season of Our Perfect Wedding Kenya. This beloved reality show continues to offer viewers an intimate look into the lives of couples as they embark on the journey to plan their dream weddings.

Produced by the talented team at D&R Studios, the makers of the hit series The Real Housewives of Nairobi, Our Perfect Wedding Kenya captures the essence of Kenyan culture and tradition through the lens of love and celebration. Each episode showcases the intricate details, heartfelt moments, and unique challenges that couples face as they strive to create a perfect wedding day.

Our Perfect Wedding was up for Best TV Show at the 2024 Kalasha Awards, having been named Best Reality TV Show in 2019.

Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard S2 Reunion | First On Showmax | Stream from 23 October

Anything can happen in the clubhouse…

With all the drama on Season 2 of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard, there was just way too much left unresolved by the season finale. Lucky for us, the cast petitioned Bravo for a much-needed get-together to spill the tea, dish the dirt and clear the air.

Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard follows a group of young Black professionals and entrepreneurs as they head to Martha’s Vineyard, an island south of Cape Cod that was one of the first beach destinations where African-Americans could vacation and purchase property. But as they band together to escape their worries and have an epic summer, it becomes clear that some of their friendships are fractured while others are in full bloom.

As the reunion kicks off, Alex, Summer and Noelle address their love triangle, while Amir discusses his relationship with Natalie, and Jasmine tries to get to the bottom of why she’s always left out.

Also watch

1 October

Aquarium: An Aquatic Life | Free State | Hightown S1-2 | Huisgenoot Ware Lewensdramas S1-9 | Kom Ons Braai S11-15 | Outopsie | Skaapboer | The Rhino Orphanage | Wild and Alive

2 October

The Real Housewives of Cape Town S1

3 October

eHostela S3

6 October

Big Brother Naija finale

7 October

Cash Out | One Lane Bridge

9 October

Yvonne Orji: A Whole Me

10 October

Night of the Hunted | The Inseparables

17 October

Dangerous Game: The Legacy Murders

21 October

Sympathy for the Devil | The Real Housewives of Miami S3

24 October

Helen’s Dead