5 series and movies that are worth the subtitles

Are you wary of spending your precious leisure time streaming a show or movie that has subtitles? Don’t be – trust us when we tell you that not all subtitled shows are high brow, artistic fare.

From an incredible adaptation of an Italian novel to South African vernacular comedy and Afrikaans supernatural drama to an award-winning Kenyan superhero movie, these are the series and movies that aren’t in English but are 100% worth the mental effort of reading the subtitles. You’ll find them all on Showmax.

1. My Brilliant Friend S1 (Neapolitan dialect and Italian)

Elena, an elderly woman, has lost her closest friend, Lila, who’s mysteriously disappeared. She recounts their six-decade-long friendship, which began in 1950s Naples, by writing a story about their tumultuous relationship. Based on the Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante. Watch now »

2. Trippin With Skhumba (South African vernacular languages, including Sepedi, Setswana, isiZulu, Afrikaans and isiXhosa)

In a first for vernacular comedy, the Showmax Original Trippin With Skhumba sees one of the country’s favourite comedians travelling the country to visit the hometowns on fellow comedians. The series ends with a grand finale: an hour-long stand-up special, featuring Skhumba and his six guests, as well as one new comedian from each hometown visited. Watch now »

3. Die Spreeus (Afrikaans)

Did you know that South African history is full of ghost stories? In this supernatural series, two investigators take a closer look into the country’s suspected paranormal criminal cases. New episodes land every Tuesday evening, express from kykNET. Watch now »

4. HBO’s Los Espookys (Spanish)

This quirky horror comedy series is emerging as one of the most highly rated TV shows of the year, with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and Salon.com calling it every episode “a dose of unfiltered happiness.” The series revolves on a group of friends who are finding their way in the world and grappling with their own identities while going on a business journey like no other – cashing in on their penchant for the creepy by introducing real horror into people’s lives. Watch now »

5. Kanarie, 2018 (Afrikaans)

Another 100% scorer on Rotten Tomatoes, this beautiful, tear-jerking movie set in apartheid SA in the 80s ticks all the boxes – the set and costume designs capture the era perfectly; Schalk Bezuidenhout’s performance as Johan Niemand, a choir boy in the army who’s learning about his sexual identity, is excellent; and the music, of course, is nothing short of a religious experience. It’s no wonder Kanarie has won multiple awards at home and abroad. The fact that critics overseas were so bowled over when they saw this Afrikaans film is a true testament to its brilliance. Watch now »