30 April 2020
What’s new on Showmax in West Africa in May 2020
If you haven’t discovered the Showmax mobile option yet, don’t miss out! You could be paying as little as N1450 per month to binge-watch on your phone. Find out more.
The month of May is packed with five-star movies and series for you to enjoy. Here are the editor’s picks for Showmax in Nigeria and Ghana, for May 2020:
Best International Series
I’m Sorry S2 | First on Showmax | 1 May
Comedy writer, wife, and mom Andrea is back with a new season of zero-filter, acid-sharp and usually totally inappropriate humour, putting her foot in it in cringeworthy everyday situations that are at once laugh-out-loud funny and bitingly true. Binge-watch S1 and 2.
The Magicians S5 | First on Showmax | 1 May
Based on the bestselling novels by Lev Grossman, The Magicians follows a group of New York magic students who discover a fantasy world that threatens our own. Spoiler alert: The fifth and final season finds Julia, Alice, Eliot, Margo, Penny and the rest of the gang coping with the tragic loss of Quentin as they navigate the return of magic. However, not only is magic back, but now there is way too much of it. The magicians must deal with the repercussions of this new magical surplus as they fight to prevent the literal end of the world. Watch all five seasons.
Run S1 | First on Showmax | Mondays from 4 May
From the team behind Fleabag comes the brand-new series Run, a romantic comedy thriller about a woman, Ruby Richardson (Emmy winner Merritt Wever), who walks away from her ordinary life in the suburbs to revisit her past with her college boyfriend, Billy Johnson (Domhnall Gleeson). They made a pact 17 years earlier that if either one of them texted the word “RUN” and the other replied with the same, they would drop everything to meet in Grand Central Station and travel across America together.
The Plot Against America S1 | Mondays at 23:30 from 11 May | Same day as M-Net
From the award-winning creators of The Wire comes The Plot Against America, an alternate history story in which Franklin D Roosevelt loses the US presidential election of 1940 to Nazi sympathiser Charles Lindbergh. What follows is the terrifying and tension-building tale of the country’s turn to fascism, told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey in the build-up to World War 2.
Deadly Class S1 | First on Showmax | 11 May
King’s Dominion is an exclusive private school with a focus on special skills: specifically, the art of assasination and all the skills required to become the young heirs of the world’s most prominent crime families. Like any school, there’s a brutal curriculum and hectic social cliques, and it’s these that newbie Marcus will need to survive if he’s to prove his worth. It’s based on the comic book series by Rick Remender and Wesley Craig.
Best Movies
Bad Education (2019) | First On Showmax | 1 May
Bad Education is based on the real-life scandal that went down at writer Mike Makowsky’s high school, where a student journalist uncovered the single largest public school embezzlement scheme in America’s history. The movie follows Frank Tassone (Oscar nominee Hugh Jackman) and Pam Gluckin (Oscar winner Allison Janney), whose reign over a prestigious school district is threatened by the embezzlement scandal, forcing Frank to take drastic steps to maintain order and secrecy.
Dumplin’ (2018)| 7 May
Willowdean (‘Dumplin’), the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen, signs up for her mom’s Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow in her footsteps, revolutionising the pageant and their small Texas town. Danielle MacDonald (Unbelievable) stars as Dumplin’, with Jennifer Aniston as her mother.
Boy Erased (2018) | 7 May
Jared Hedges is the son of a Baptist preacher in a small town, who is confronted with an ultimatum after being forcibly outed to his parents: attend a church-sponsored conversion therapy programme, or lose his family, friends, and faith.
Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) | 14 May
Hobbs & Shaw sees Diplomatic Security Service agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and British military elite operative-turned-outlaw Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) forced into an unlikely alliance when anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) threatens to unleash a deadly virus on humanity.
But that’s not all …
From 14 May 2010, you can also binge the entire nine-movie Fast Saga, from its street racing beginnings to the most recent heist adventures. Stars include MTV Movie Award winners Vin Diesel and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), the late Paul Walker, and our very own Oscar winner Charlize Theron.
And why stop your action-fest there? From 21 May, Showmax will also have the entire Bourne Series: The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Bourne Legacy, and Jason Bourne.
Good Boys (2019) | 28 May
Three sixth grade boys ditch school and embark on an epic journey that includes carrying accidentally stolen drugs, being hunted by teenage girls, and trying to make their way home in time for a long-awaited party. This blast of an adventure comedy stars kids, but it gets pretty crude, and with a 16 age restriction, it’s very much not for kids – though it might take you back to some of the insane stuff you got up to at that mad age.
Best of Kids
Dora and the Lost City of Gold | 10 May
Dora has grown up in the jungle with her explorer parents, but now she faces a new challenge unlike any she’s survived before: high school! After a sudden, dangerous turn of events, Dora soon finds herself back on familiar ground as she and her best friend, Boots the monkey, must lead Diego, a mysterious jungle dweller, and a group of kids from her school on a perilous trek through the jungle to rescue her parents and uncover the truth behind the legend of the lost city of gold.
Pokémon Detective Pikachu | 24 May
21-year-old insurance adjuster Tim Goodman lives in Ryme City, a place where humans and Pokémon co-exist in harmony. As a kid, Tim wanted to become a Pokémon trainer, but things didn’t work out that way. Then his dad, ace private eye Harry Goodman, goes missing, and Tim teams up with Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu – a wise-cracking detective who’s lost his memory. Golden Globe nominee Ryan Reynolds voices Pikachu, while Justice Smith (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) plays Tim.
Best of Local
The Johnsons S9 | Starting 11 May | Mon-Fri at 20:00 | Same day as Africa Magic
The first family of Lagos is back for a new season of hilarity. One of Nigeria’s firm faves, Mr Lucky and his wife Emu Johnson (played by veterans Charles Inojie and Ada Ameh) have their hands full, with their kids Jennifer, Efe (who narrates each episode), Tari and Blessing all figuring out who they are and what they want in life. Then there’s the hilarious Spiff (Samuel Ajibolo, who won an AMVCA for his role) who has been adopted into the Johnson household, and his dad Pablo (Kunle Bamtefa), who’s always looking to make money.
Tinsel S13 | Starting 21 May | Mon-Fri at 20:30 | Same day as Africa Magic
Tinsel is one of Nigeria’s longest-running TV shows and has had audiences enthralled with its high production value and daily dose of drama, scandals and intrigues. Set against the backdrop of the Nigerian film business, it tells the story of Fred Ade-Williams who owns REEL Studios, and his daughter Brenda Nana Mensah who owns Odyssey Pictures. The two go head to head, shaking up the whole industry.
Also on Showmax in May:
1 May
The L-Word: Generation Q | Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce S1-5 | I Don’t Know How She Does It | Lego City Adventures | LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu S10
2 May
Heist* | Pages in Between*
3 May
She Devil*
7 May
Everest | Kidnap | Khanyisa Bunu Comedy Special | S(he)
8 May
Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes | Women of Troy
9 May
The Mr and the Mistress* | Enemy Within*
10 May
A Mother’s Love*
11 May
Girl in Progress | The Loft House | Warcraft
14 May
Come and Find Me | Rage of a Lioness | Uthando Nes’Thembu S3
16 May
Wheel of Fate* | Up and Down*
17 May
Seed of Lust*
18 May
Auction Wild | Stratton: First into Action
21 May
Dillan Oliphant: Good Kid | M.A.A.D Witty | The First Purge
23 May
Smoke* | A Boss Lady’s Nightmare*
24 May
Wife Material*
25 May
The Journey
30 May
Music Republic*
31 May
Burnt*
* Nollywood titles
Original African stories by local talent
The ABC Killer
The ABC Killer is a twisty true-crime documentary series about serial killer Moses Sithole. Stream from 22 July on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
What if we believed the best can come from here?
Let’s rewrite the rules of what it means to be local.
Untied S1
Untied explores the deeply personal and often complex experience of divorce, told through the voices of women who have lived it. Stream now, with new episodes every Tuesday.
Made in South Africa
Reckless S1
Reckless follows a pair of young brothers who find themselves at a crossroads when a tragic accident changes their lives forever. Stream now, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday.
Made in Kenya
The Mommy Club NBO
The Mommy Club NBO is the fifth instalment of the record-breaking Mommy Club franchise. Stream now, with new episodes every Friday.
Made in Kenya
Empini S1-2
Empini is a high-stakes, action-packed drama set in the ruthless, corrupt world of private security. Season 2 is now streaming, with new episodes every Tuesday.
Made in South Africa
Youngins S1-2
Stream Tshedza Pictures’s first teen drama, Showmax Original Youngins. S1 and S2 are ready to binge.
Made in South Africa
The Real Housewives of Durban Seasons 1-5
Our eThekwini queens are back with a brand-new season. Stream Season 5 now, with new episodes every Friday.
Made in South AfricaThe Mommy Club NBO now streaming
The Chocolate Empire, now streaming
The best movies to stream
Elphaba and Glinda’s Wicked little guide
Find out what Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have to say about Wicked, pick up 10 magical behind-the-scenes facts, and explore 7 more schools of witchcraft and wizardry.
Push play on Father’s Day: Dads just want to have fun
If you’re trying to figure out what the mystery man known as dad really wants this Father’s Day, promise him one-on-one time with our Dads Just Wanna Have Fun collection.
James McAvoy and James Watkins on Speak No Evil
Speak No Evil director James Watkins and star James McAvoy explain “host” Paddy’s creepy charisma, and we check out 6 more roles that prove you never know what to expect with James McAvoy.
Celebrate World Oceans Day with My Penguin Friend
My Penguin Friend director David Schurmann and actor Jean Reno explain how you shoot a penguin. Plus, explore our World Oceans Day watchlist of 25 wet and wild movies and series.