Documentaries
Eye-opening homegrown documentaries to stream
These unmissable South African shows and movies deliver surprising insights on the country we’re living in today.
Made in South Africa
Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music (2023)
An epic documentary about Taylor Mac’s flamboyant 24-hour-long musical odyssey covering 24 decades of American popular music.
The Golden Boy: Oscar De La Hoya (2023)
This explosive two-part sports documentary peels back the layers of this celebrated yet complicated figure.
Director Richard Gregory on how he nearly turned down Steinheist
Showmax is now streaming two new episodes of Steinheist, which go even deeper into unpacking SA’s biggest corporate scam and how the net tightened around former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste.
Made in South Africa
Steinheist
Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste got caught pulling the scam of the century. Follow the money in this Showmax Original documentary series that investigates the events leading to his suicide in 2024.
Made in South Africa
The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring (2023)
Rachel Lee was the “teenage mastermind” behind high-profile celebrity robberies in 2008. This candid documentary reveals her motivations.
The Habits of Gen Z
A captivating South African documentary series that follows the lives and challenges of being a Gen Z.
Made in South AfricaTime Bomb: The Incredible Story of Phillip Ndou
This 6-part docuseries follows former world boxing champion Phillip Ndou on a journey to reunite with boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather in Michigan.
Made in South Africa
Must-watch trailer: Showmax to release new Steinheist episodes
Watch the explosive trailer for the second instalment of Steinheist, unpacking the biggest corporate scam in South African history.
Made in South Africa
Being Mary Tyler Moore (2023)
This intriguing documentary, with unprecedented access to the Mary Tyler Moore’s estate, friends and family, creates a mosaic of Mary’s 60-year career in show business.
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple (2024)
Stevie Van Zandt, New Jersey’s most famous right-hand-man to Bruce Springsteen, takes centre stage. This documentary traces Van Zandt’s career with never-before-seen footage.
5 moments from Tiek Tok Boem! that will leave you speechless
The new Showmax Original documentary Tiek Tok Boem! premieres with shocking and terrifying extremes of TikTok culture that will leave you speechless.
Made in South Africa
Tiek Tok Boem! (2025)
An explosive and in-depth 90-minute documentary exploring the good, the bad, and the outrageous side of South Africa’s Afrikaans TikTok.
Made in South Africa
Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy
This sensational documentary delves into the rise and fall of Diddy, offering insight into his childhood, his meteoric rise, and his arrest.
Must-watch trailer: Tiek Tok Boem!, a doccie on Afrikaans TikTok
Watch the explosive trailer for Tiek Tok Boem!, an explosive Showmax Original documentary set to premiere on 18 February 2025.
Made in South Africa
5 eye-openers from Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos
Here are five of the most eye-opening things we saw in the new HBO documentary, Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos.
Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos S1
An illuminating two-part documentary film exploring the life of David Chase and his role as the creator of The Sopranos.
9 reasons that 2024 was the best year yet for local TV
Stream the best local content on Showmax in 2024, featuring iEmmy winners, record-breaking documentaries, SAFTA winners, and globally acclaimed hits.
Made in South Africa
Crush
This award-nominated two-part docuseries unravels the events of the deadly 2022 Halloween crowd crush in Seoul, South Korea.
Huisgenoot Ware Lewensdramas: Vlees en Bloed S2
A gripping new true-crime series that focusses on the most shocking cases of familicide in South Africa.
Outopsie S1-3
Senior forensic pathologist Dr Hestelle van Staden reveals what really happens behind closed doors in captivating cases where forensic pathology played a central role.
Made in South Africa
Great African Crimes with Mandy Wiener (2024)
This one-off special explores three dramatic cases that left South Africa stunned: Daisy de Melker, the so-called Sea Cottage incident, and the Krugersdorp bank robbery.
Made in South Africa
Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero
A remarkably intimate portrait of Lil Nas on tour as he navigates identity, family, expectations, and acceptance, all while reflecting on his place within the legacy of Black, queer performers.
Vergeet Van My (2023)
A musical documentary following a group of renegades living their dream in a colourful world of touring musicians. A Silwerskermfees 2024 documentary.
Made in South Africa