The best drama series and movies to stream on Showmax
These tearjerking drama series and movies will bring on all the feels – stream them all on Showmax, but be sure to keep the tissues handy, and bring along your nerves of steel.
We’ve got heart-pounding crime dramas, psychological thrillers where we know things aren’t all going to be okay, romantic dramas that clutch at our hearts, and devastating stories that unfold in emergency rooms, on the streets, in troubled homes and in workplaces of all kinds.
A Very Royal Scandal
This compelling British miniseries driven by Michael Sheen explores Emily Maitlis’s journey as a Newsnight journalist and Prince Andrew’s disastrous interview with her.
Shaka iLembe S1
Set in the 1700s, Shaka iLembe tells the story of the making of the iconic African king.
Made in South Africa
It Ends With Us (2024)
In this compelling, emotional film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, a woman finds herself reliving her childhood trauma when she falls for a charming neurosurgeon.
Suits LA S1
Ted Black, a former New York prosecutor, moves to LA to build a new law firm specialising in criminal and entertainment law in this spin-off of Suits.
The White Lotus S1-3
Follow the outrageous exploits of the employees and guests of an exclusive resort in this buzz-worthy HBO comedy drama.
Champions S1
Stakes are high in this fast-paced sports telenovela about Sne Modise as she battles life and work challenges while leading the Soshanguve Giants FC to success.
Made in South Africa
Transplant S1-4
Syrian refugee Dr Bashir Hamed and his sister Amira settle in Canada, where Bash uses his battle-tested ER medical skills at York Memorial Hospital.
Adulting S1-3
Adulting follows four varsity friends on their journey to find love and success in modern-day South Africa. New episodes land every Saturday on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
Power Book III: Raising Kanan S3
Teenaged Kanan Stark works to join the family drug business in Queens in the prequel series to the hit show Power.
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023)
The late Oscar-winning director William Friedkin adapts Herman Wouk’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. A young lieutenant is accused of a mutiny against his captain
Sullivan’s Crossing S1-2
A riveting and emotional romantic drama series based on Robyn Carr’s bestselling novel. Follow Neurosurgeon Maggie Sullivan as her life is upended, leading her to return home to Sullivan’s Crossing.
The Last Rifleman (2023)
A WWII veteran escapes his nursing home in Northern Ireland to attend the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France.
One Life (2023)
A London broker helps save hundreds of predominantly Jewish children from the Nazis just before the start of WWII.
Back to Black (2024)
Marisa Abela becomes the musical titan in this extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame and her tumultuous personal life.
The Color Purple (2023)
A woman faces hardships in her life, but finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.
Chicago Med S9
Another compelling instalment of the pulse-pounding medical drama about the courageous team of doctors at a trauma centre in Chicago.
Die Skynwerper (2024)
After Nelis’s audition for the reality show The Spotlight fails, he starts suspecting the manipulative presenter. A Silwerskermfees 2024 short film.
Made in South Africa
Selah (2024)
A sleep-deprived mother struggling with a colicky baby finds herself unable to handle her new harsh reality. A Silwerskermfees 2024 short film.
Emperor of Ocean Park S1
When a Black candidate for the Supreme Court dies of a heart attack, his daughter, a former journalist, believes his death was foul play.
Spooksoeker S1
When he is suddenly thrust into the supernatural realm, a teenage boy must quickly learn how to banish ghosts and save his town, friends, and family.
Made in South AfricaLooking for something lighter?
Showmax and Laugh Africa Comedy Festival are proud to announce headline act Deon Cole
Get ready for the return of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, featuring headliner Deon Cole. The event will take place from Friday, 2 May to Sunday, 4 May 2025 at the Sandton Convention Center.
Made in South Africa
The Righteous Gemstones and 5 more Danny McBride hustles
As The Righteous Gemstones returns for its final season, we look at 5 of writer-creator-actor Danny McBride’s best side hustles, from Eastbound & Down, to Halloween.
Danny McBride on how Bradley Cooper became the first Gemstone
Creator and star Danny McBride talks about the final season of the HBO comedy series The Righteous Gemstones, now streaming on Showmax.
The Righteous Gemstones S1-4
Danny McBride created this outlandish, star-studded HBO comedy about a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work.
Laugh Africa Comedy Festival returns – bigger, bolder, funnier!
The Laugh Africa Comedy Festival returns in May 2025 with a stellar lineup including Felix Hlophe, Nina Hastie and more. The 13-part series will stream exclusively on Showmax.
Made in South Africa
Party Down S1-3
A group of struggling actors and dysfunctional dreamers wait for their big break while they are stuck working at a Hollywood catering company.
Party Down stars’ jobs before they were famous
Comedy series Party Down Seasons 1-3 takes us inside an LA-based catering company staffed by struggling entertainers. It was flashback time for stars like Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Megan Mullally, Jane Lynch and Jennifer Garner.
Frasier S1-11
The iconic comedy series that took the world by storm. After years spent at the Cheers bar, Frasier moves home to Seattle to become a radio psychiatrist.
These shows are out of this world
Breathe (2024)
Air-supply is scarce in the near future, forcing a mother and daughter to fight to survive when two strangers arrive desperate for an oxygenated haven.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
The second instalment in an epic two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed novel. Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge.
Dune: Part Two – what lies ahead for Paul and Chani?
Dune: Part Two’s leads Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, and director Denis Villeneuve discuss their fates and the nitty-gritty of riding a sandworm across the desert.
Showrunner Alison Schapker on Dune: Prophecy
The Dune: Prophecy showrunner talks about creating the HBO series, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Monday until 23 December.
We rate 11 aliens from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is bringing wonder back to space exploration. But with each new alien encounter comes the possibility of getting eggs laid in you!
Meet the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds crew
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is bringing wonder back to space exploration as a crew of familiar friends and new characters join a five-year mission to explore the universe.
Jodhi May on playing Empress Natalya in Dune: Prophecy
Jodhi May tells us about playing “fearless” Empress in Dune: Prophecy. New episodes land on Showmax express from the US at 21:30 every Monday.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S1-2
Venture into the unknown with Captain Pike, Spock, Number One and the USS Enterprise crew a decade before Captain Kirk’s legendary five-year mission.
Showmax is the home of HBO in 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.
Danny McBride on how Bradley Cooper became the first Gemstone
Creator and star Danny McBride talks about the final season of the HBO comedy series The Righteous Gemstones, now streaming on Showmax.
The Righteous Gemstones S1-4
Danny McBride created this outlandish, star-studded HBO comedy about a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work.