The best kids’ shows to stream during school holidays

Showmax has got you covered these school holidays. There’s something for everyone in the extensive kids’ catalogue – from the littlies to the teens and everyone in between. 

The Showmax For The Family Collection also has some fun picks for kids and grown-ups of all ages and tastes. See the Collection here »

The Bad Guys | Stream from 29 June | Ages 6+

The 17th biggest blockbuster of 2022, The Bad Guys follows a gang of notorious animal criminals pretending to seek rehabilitation in a bid to avoid prison … only for their leader to secretly find that he genuinely wants to change his ways.

Directed by Annie Award winner Pierre Perifel (Kung Fu Panda 2), The Bad Guys has an 88% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the Guardian saying: “This is Tarantino for ankle-biters with a bit of Ocean’s 11 thrown in: funny, energetic and just smart enough.” Common Sense Media gives it a 4/5-star rating, recommending it for ages 6+ and saying it’s “so fun, it’s criminal.”

The Bad Guys won the 2023 Annie Award for Outstanding Character Design and was nominated for Favourite Animated Movie at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards. Zazie Beetz was nominated for a 2023 Black Reel Award for Outstanding Voice Performance (as Diane Foxington aka The Crimson Paw), while Awkwafina was up for Favourite Voice From an Animated Movie (as Tarantula) at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards, where the film was also up for Favourite Animated Movie.

Also listen out for the likes of Oscar winner Sam Rockwell (Jojo Rabbit), Emmy winner Alex Borstein (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Emmy nominee Anthony Ramos (In the Heights, Hamilton), and Critics Choice nominee Marc Maron (Super Pets, GLOW).

DC League of Super-Pets | Stream from 26 June | Age 6+

Sit! Stay! Save the world!

In DC League of Super-Pets, Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by side. When Superman and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a rag-tag shelter pack to master their own newfound powers and help him rescue the superheroes.

DC League of Super-Pets was nominated as Best Super-Hero Movie at the 2023 Critics Choice Super Awards and Favourite Animated Movie at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards, where Dwayne Johnson won the Favourite Voice From An Animated Movie Award as Krypto, beating out his co-star Kevin Hart as Ace.

Recommending the film for ages 6+, Common Sense Media says, “DC corrects their history of making superhero stories too dark, violent, and mature for kids with this animated tale focusing on the heroes’ crime-fighting furry friends… It’s definitely the funniest big-screen DC movie.”

The 23rd biggest box office hit of 2022 globally, DC League of Super-Pets also features the likes of Critics Choice Award winner Diego Luna (Andor) as Chip the squirrel and Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face) as PB the potbellied pig and Merton the turtle.

Minions: The Rise of Gru | Age 6+

Minions assemble!

Minions: The Rise of Gru is the untold story of one kid’s dream to become the world’s greatest supervillain. Gru (Oscar nominee Steve Carell) is just a 12-year-old boy in 1970s suburbia, plotting to take over the world from his basement. It’s a lonely pursuit, until Gru crosses paths with Kevin, Stuart, Bob, and Otto, aka the Minions (voiced, as always, by Pierre Coffin, the Oscar-nominated director of the Despicable Me trilogy and Minions).

Recommended for ages 6+ by Common Sense Media, Minions: The Rise of Gru was named Favourite Animated Movie at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards, where Carell and Taraji P. Henson were both up for voice awards. The film was also nominated for three Annie Awards for its animation, among other accolades this year, and was the fifth biggest blockbuster globally in 2022.

From Illumination (The Secret Life of Pets, Sing), Minions: The Rise of Gru also features the voices of Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) and Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins), among others.

You can also watch the BAFTA-nominated Minions and the Oscar-nominated Despicable Me 2 on Showmax.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Age 8+

The world’s favourite blue hedgehog is back for a next-level adventure in Sonic The Hedgehog 2, named Favourite Movie at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards.

After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search of an emerald that has the power to destroy civilisations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

Jim Carrey was nominated for a 2023 Kids Choice Awards as Dr Robotnik, while Idris Elba was up for a 2023 Black Reel Award as the voice of Knuckles.

Common Sense Media recommends Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for ages 8+.

Jurassic World: Dominion | Age 13+

The third-highest-grossing movie of 2022 globally, Jurassic World: Dominion is set four years after Isla Nublar was destroyed. Dinosaurs now live – and hunt – alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.

Dominion unites two generations of Jurassic stars for the first time: Teen Choice winners Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are joined by Oscar winner Laura Dern, Oscar nominee Jeff Goldblum and Emmy nominee Sam Neill.

From director Colin Trevorrow (who smashed seven Guinness World Records with Jurassic World) and Oscar-winning franchise creator and executive producer Steven Spielberg, Dominion was up for Favourite Movie and Actor (Pratt) at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards, as well as Visual Effects Society and Annie Awards this year.

Common Sense Media recommends Jurassic World: Dominion for ages 13+.

You can also watch the box office phenomenon Jurassic World on Showmax.

Abominable and the Invisible City S1 | First on Showmax | Age 5+

The winner of the 2023 Annie Award for Best Animated Television Production for Children’s Audience, Abominable and the Invisible City is a wild and woolly follow-up to DreamWorks Animation’s 2019 movie, Abominable.

Set in modern-day Shanghai, the animated series sees Yi, Jin, Peng and their lovable yeti friend, Everest, discover that there is a whole magical world out there – and it’s closer than they think, teeming with magical creatures who all seem to need the kids’ help, leading them to embark on extraordinary, hilarious and heartfelt adventures throughout their city and beyond.

Common Sense Media recommends the series for ages 5+, saying, “young viewers are in for a visually stunning experience with suspenseful scenes that will keep them engaged, excited, and eager for more of the fun crew that is helping in their community.”

The show’s voice cast includes Kids’ and Teen Choice Award nominee Chloe Bennet (Daisy ‘Skye’ Johnson from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Annie Award nominee Tenzing Norgay Trainor (Liv and Maddie’s Parker Rooney) reprising their roles as Yi and Jin from the movie, along with the likes of multiple-Emmy nominee Alan Cumming (The Good Wife, Schmigadoon!).

You can also watch the multi-award-winning original film, Abominable, on Showmax.

Dragons: The Nine Realms S1 | First on Showmax | Age 8+

The future of dragons is here, with the Emmy-nominated animated adventure series Dragons: The Nine Realms.

Set 1 300 years after the events of DreamWorks Animation’s How To Train Your Dragon, dragons are now just a legend to the modern world. When a geological anomaly opens up an immense, miles-deep fissure in the Earth’s surface, scientists from all over the world gather at a new research facility to study the mysterious phenomenon. But it’s not long before a group of misfit kids uncovers the truth about dragons and where they’ve been hiding – a secret they must keep to themselves to protect what they’ve discovered.

Recommending the series for ages 8+, Common Sense Media gives Dragons: The Nine Realms a 4/5-star rating, saying, “super fun for kids and grown-ups alike… Dragons: The Nine Realms has a great mixture of awesome dragon scenes, teenage friendships, and scientific mystery,” and adding that, “Families who enjoyed the original movies will have a great time watching this series together.”

You can also watch the Oscar-nominated How To Train Your Dragon 2 on Showmax.

Paw Patrol S1-8, Paw Patrol: The Movie, Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Special and Ready, Race, Rescue! | All ages 

Hey, pup-fans! Ryder and his playful rescue dogs are back on duty in the seaside town of Adventure Bay. That’s right – the brand-new season of kids’ mega-favourite show Paw Patrol is now on Showmax (along with season 1-5), and it’s set to have little ones barking for joy! 

Paw Patrol has a 4/5-star rating on Common Sense Media. It’s been nominated at the Emmys and the Annie Awards, and won multiple Joey Awards, but the biggest praise comes from the toughest critics – just ask any kid!

Blaze and the Monster Machines S1-6 | All ages

Nickelodeon’s Blaze and the Monster Machines has been nominated for four Emmy Awards, and has a 5/5-star rating on Common Sense Media.

Join monster truck Blaze and his human friend AJ for another season of exciting challenges and adventures in Axle City. Along with their friends – fearless Darington and his sidekick, Stunt Kitty, cowgirl truck Starla, racer Stripes, dino-truck Zeg, and their trusty mechanic, Gabby – they’ll engage preschoolers in fun challenges that help build skills from number sense and colour recognition to the basics of measurement, motion, friction, and simple machines.

Season 6 is packed with thrilling races like the Dino Derby and the Gold Medal Games, brain-bending challenges like a construction contest and a big cargo problem, and missions that range from a daring snow rescue to saving a puppy to helping a unicorn stuck in an unpoppable bubble.

Superworm | All ages

Superworm is super-long and super-strong, and always saves the day. But who can save him when he gets too full of himself and is captured by the evil Wizard Lizard?

Directed by South Africans Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, Superworm won Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie at the 2023 Kidscreen Awards, where it was competing against Luck and Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas. It was also nominated for Best Special Production at the Annie Awards.

An animated adaptation of the bestselling picture-book of the same name by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Superworm was hailed as “an instant classic” by The Sun; “one of Christmas TV’s greatest delights” by The Daily Telegraph; and “the BBC’s standout offering” by The Guardian.

Superworm’s voice cast includes Oscar winner Olivia Colman (The Crown) as the narrator, Emmy nominee Matt Smith (House of the Dragon) as Superworm, and Ghanaian-British actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Paddington 2, Mary Poppins Returns) as the Wizard Lizard.

The Smeds and the Smoos | All ages

South Africans Daniel Snaddon and Samantha Cutler direct The Smeds and the Smoos, adapted by South African Julia Smuts Louw from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling picture-book of the same name. Snaddon was previously a director on the 2021 Annie Award winner The Snail and the Whale, 2020 International Emmy-winning Zog, and the BAFTA-nominated and Annecy-winning Stick Man – all of which you can also watch on Showmax.

The Smeds and The Smoos tells the story of two warring families whose children, Bill and Janet, fall in love and run away together. Hotly pursued by their grandparents, Grandfather Smed (comedian Bill Bailey) and Grandmother Smoo (Adjoa Andoh from Bridgerton), the two young aliens lead their families on a chase across space, giving them the opportunity to find out they have more in common than they think.

Rounding out the cast are Ashna Rabheru (Sex Education) as Janet, Daniel Ezra (All American) as Bill, Rob Brydon (Gavin and Stacey) as Uncle Smoo, Meera Syal (Roar) as Aunt Smed and Oscar nominee Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) as the narrator.

Mia’s Magic Playground S1 | First on Showmax | All ages

Join Mia, Tilde, and Oskar on their animated adventures in Mia’s Magic Playground, the colourful show that’s heaps of fun for little ones, and teaches creative problem-solving and social-emotional skills along the way.

The series has 4/5 stars on Common Sense Media, where they say, “This vibrantly animated series is inspired by preschoolers’ sense of imagination, and it’s all kinds of fun to see how the characters’ creativity comes to life in the magical world they visit.”

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates S1-2 | PG

Ten-year-old Tom Gates has loads of brilliant skills – looking busy in class when really he’s doodling a picture of his teacher; writing songs for his band (Dog Zombies); annoying his grumpy sister Delia; thinking of excellent excuses (so many!) if he forgets his homework; and doodling pictures of his friends and monsters (sometimes both).

Named Best Mixed-Media Series at the 2023 Kidscreen Awards, The Brilliant World of Tom Gates comes to (animated) life in a brilliant show, with brilliant drawing tutorials, catchy songs to sing, epic things to make and do, and, of course, hilarious stories with Tom’s friends and family.

The show is based on the multi-award-winning book series by Liz Pinchon (which has sold over 11 million copies worldwide and been translated into 44 languages!), who pops up in each episode with crazy-clever craft projects and doodles you can doodle too. Also listen out for likes of multiple-BAFTA nominee Catherine Tate (Doctor Who, The Catherine Tate Show) among the voice cast.

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years | Ages 6+

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years takes us back in time to meet 10-year-old SpongeBob and his pals as they spend their summer building underwater campfires, catching wild jellyfish, and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck at the craziest camp in the kelp forest!

Common Sense Media says this prequel to the multi-award winning hit series has “humour, antics, and tone… very reminiscent of the original, which makes Kamp Koral similarly appropriate for an elementary-aged group.”

“Like the original SpongeBob, there’s a lot to love,” they say. “The CG animation updates the series from the 1999 O.G. and… there are some real laugh-out-loud moments for both kid and adult viewers.” Plus, they add, “The plots are absolutely absurd, and truly wonderful in their weirdness.”

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway | Ages 7+

Based on Beatrix Potter’s beloved stories, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway picks up the story of Peter Rabbit (once again voiced by multiple-Emmy winner James Corden) and his human animal friends Bea and Thomas (Emmy nominee Rose Byrne and Critics Choice nominee Domhnall Gleeson).

Bored of life in the garden, Peter heads for the big city, where he meets shady characters and ends up creating chaos for the whole family.

Recommended for ages 7+, the sequel is better – and more fun – than its predecessor (2018’s Peter Rabbit), critics say, with The Australian calling it, “a school holiday treat that also delivers a kick or two for older viewers.”

Emmy nominee David Oyelowo (the voice of Scar in The Lion Guard) co-stars, with Oscar nominee Margot Robbie (aka Harley Quinn, and Barbie in next year’s live-action Barbie movie) as the voice of Flopsy and Critics Choice Award nominee Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown’s Princess Diana) voicing Mopsy.

The Addams Family 2 | Ages 7+

Everyone’s favourite spooky family is back in The Addams Family 2, which finds Morticia (South African Oscar winner Charlize Theron) and Gomez (Emmy nominee Oscar Isaac) distraught that their children are growing up, skipping family dinners, and are totally consumed with “scream time.”

To reclaim their bond, they decide to cram Wednesday (Critics Choice nominee Chloë Grace Moretz), Pugsley (Javon Walton from Euphoria), Uncle Fester (Emmy nominee Nick Kroll) and the crew into their haunted camper for one last marvellously miserable family road trip. Their adventure across America to see Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon and of course, Death Valley, takes them out of their element and into hilarious run-ins with their iconic cousin, It (Emmy winner Snoop Dogg), as well as many new kooky characters. What could possibly go wrong?

As Morticia, Theron was nominated for a Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite Voice From An Animated Movie.

Rumble | Ages 7+

From WWE Studios and Paramount Animation, the animated comedy Rumble is set in a world where monster wrestling is a global sport and monsters are superstar athletes. Looking to follow in her father’s footsteps, human teenager Winnie sets out to turn a loveable monster underdog into a champion.

The voice cast includes the likes of Emmy nominees Will Arnett (the voice of Batman in the LEGO movies), Terry Crews (the voice of Earl Devereaux in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, and Terry in Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and Tony Danza (Who’s the Boss?); Emmy winners Tony Shalhoub (Monk, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Ben Schwartz (who voices Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog, Parks and Recreation), as well as WWE stars Joe Anoa’i (aka Roman Reigns) and Becky Lynch.

Rumble has a 4/5-star rating on Common Sense Media, where they say this “charming WWE-produced wrestling comedy is a champ.”

Fireheart | Ages 7+

The animated family film Fireheart is set in 1930s New York, where girls can’t be firefighters. But 16-year-old Georgia Nolan (Teen Choice nominee Olivia Cooke from Ready Player One) dreams of changing that.

When Broadway is hit by a series of mysterious arson attacks and firemen start disappearing, Georgia’s former-firefighter dad, Shawn (Oscar winner Kenneth Branagh, who played Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), is brought out of retirement to lead the investigation. Desperate to help her father and save her city, Georgia disguises herself as a young man called “Joe” and joins a group of misfit firefighters determined to save the day.

Also listen out for the voices of Emmy winner William Shatner (Star Trek’s Captain James T Kirk) and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Laurie Holden (The Americans).

In its 4/5-star review, Common Sense Media recommends Fireheart for kids aged 7+, saying, “A celebration of courage, teamwork, family, and empathy, this splendid animated adventure is a roaring success.”

Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter | Ages 7+

Narrated by two-time Emmy winner Gillian Anderson (Sex Education, The Crown, The X-Files), Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter is an epic, Emmy-winning animated series from Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro), based on the bestselling book by Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking).

Ronja is a 10-year-old girl born into a band of robbers. Over the course of 26 episodes, she befriends the son of her father’s rival and explores the beautiful but frightening forest, which is full of strange creatures.

Collider calls the show “a masterful, magical exploration of life itself”, praising the central relationship as “amazing to watch, especially for an animated kids’ show. It ranges from childlike curiosity, to immature rivalry, to outright hostility and distrust, to mutual friendship, to young love; every step along the way is masterfully handled and every bit as complicated as real-life relationships.”

The Astronauts | Ages 8+

When a group of kids are accidentally launched into space, they embark on an adventure of a lifetime to get back home.

The Nickelodeon series was nominated as Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series at the 2022 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, among other accolades, including Daytime Emmy and Directors Gulid of America nominations.

In their four-star review, Common Sense Media says, “The Astronauts stands out for its dynamic characters, smart storylines, and movie-like production quality. The kid actors are wonderful and their characters are multi-dimensional. Kids will love seeing aspirational characters being pushed to their limits and succeeding. They also will love living vicariously as the kids get to do cool space things like float around and use sci-fi gadgets. Adults may find themselves getting sucked into the compelling story too, making The Astronauts great for whole-family viewing.”

The Loud House | Ages 8+

The latest season of The Loud House brings even more fun with 11-year-old Lincoln Loud and his right-hand man Clyde, as they try to survive Lincoln’s 10 sisters and the craziness of life in the Loud house.

The winner of two Emmy Awards and a Young Artist Award, the show has also been nominated for six further Emmys, an Annie Award, three Kids’ Choice Awards, and four GLAAD Media Awards.

In their four-star review, Common Sense Media says, “Kids will come to The Loud House for the laughs, but they’ll return for the excellent ensemble cast and the surprisingly heartwarming themes.”

The Croods: A New Age | Ages 8+

The #10 biggest movie of 2020, with a worldwide gross of $215 million, DreamWorks Animation’s “Croodaceous” adventure The Croods: A New Age follows the prehistoric Croods pack as they try keep up with their new neighbours, the Bettermans – emphasis on “better”… more evolved. 

Nominated for a 2021 Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture, six Annie Awards and two Kids’ Choice Awards, The Croods: A New Age is recommended for ages 8+ by Common Sense Media, with Empire Magazine praising its “vibrant animation and a wackadoodle sense of humour,” and Times (UK) calling it a “raucous, nakedly commercial but also wickedly funny sequel.”

Oscar winners Nicolas Cage (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Teen Titans GO! to the Movies, Leaving Las Vegas), Emma Stone (Cruella, La La Land), legend Cloris Leachman (Phineas and Ferb, Young Frankenstein), Oscar nominee Catherine Keener (Where the Wild Things Are, Being John Malkovich), MTV Movie Award winner Ryan Reynolds (Pokémon Detective Pikachu, Deadpool), and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Clark Duke (Veronica Mars, The Office) reprise their voice roles from the first film, while Teen Choice nominees Leslie Mann (Rio, Knocked Up) and Kelly Marie Tran (Raya, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, The Angry Birds Movie) join the voice cast as the Bettermans.

Also catch the Oscar-nominated original film The Croods on Showmax.

Endlings S1 | Only on Showmax | Ages 8+

Set 20 years in the future, this heartwarming family sci-fi drama series follows a foster family on their missions to protect the extraterrestrial beings and endangered creatures the four teens discover.

The show won a 2021 Emmy for ​​Outstanding Art Direction, and was nominated for a further three Emmy Awards. The cast includes Michela Luci (Agent Orchid from Odd Squad, and the voice of Dana in Dino Dana and True in True and the Rainbow Kingdom) and Oyin Oladejo (Star Trek: Discovery’s Lt. Joann Owosekun).

Endlings is recommended for ages 8+, and has already been renewed for Season 2.

Teen Titans Go & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse | Ages 9+

Nominated for a 2023 Annie Award, Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse sees Lex Luthor unite the world’s super-villains to capture all of Earth’s super heroes, until only the DC Super Hero Girls are left to stop the Legion of Doom.

Our heroes must cross dimensions to rescue their fellow super heroes from the Phantom Zone, but a fortuitous wrong turn leads them to Titans Tower – where they find much-needed allies in the Teen Titans! The young super heroes discover their combined strength – and sense of humour– are essential to save the day.

Common Sense Media says, “This meta crossover movie is silly fun with lots of adventure.”

Young Rock S2 | Ages 10+

Young Rock, the popular sitcom based on the life of Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock, aka Black Adam), is back for a second season, with the 2032 timeline (in which Dwayne is running for President) far more prominent this go-around, which means we’ll be seeing more of Dwayne himself.

Season 2 was nominated for a 2023 Kids’ Choice Award for Favourite Family TV Show and was also up for three People’s Choice Awards: The Comedy Show of 2022, Comedy TV Star of 2022 and Favourite Male TV Star (both for Johnson himself).

Uli Latukefu (The Champion in Black Adam) steps into the spotlight early in the season to bring Dwayne’s doomed football career to a close, and look out for Oscar nominee Sean Astin (Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings) and Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (Star Wars’ Saw Gerrera, Bumpy Johnson in Godfather of Harlem) among the cast this season.

Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan | PG10-12

Nominated for a 2021 Kids’ Choice Award, Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan follows aspiring hip-hop artist Dylan, whose grandmother decides to send him to live indefinitely with her wealthy son’s family. The Wilson family household is soon turned upside-down as lifestyles clash between the aspiring hip-hop star and his straight-laced cousins.

The series stars child rapping sensation Dylan Gilmer (America’s Got Talent, The Ellen DeGeneres Show) aka Young Dylan, alongside co-stars Aloma Wright (Scrubs, Suits, Private Practice), and Image Award nominee Carl Anthony Payne II (Zulu Wedding, Martin), along with Celina Smith, whose performance earned her the 2021 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series.

Common Sense Media recommends the show for ages 9+, calling it, “a positive, family-themed comedy series aimed towards tweens,” and comparing it to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Young Dylan has also already been renewed for a third season.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore | Ages 12+

Co-written by JK Rowling and directed by David Yates (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was the 12th biggest box office hit of 2022.

The third instalment in the Harry Potter prequel series, the film is set several years after the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald and follows Newt Scamander and his partners, who are tasked by Professor Albus Dumbledore with a mission that takes them into the heart of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald’s army.

The film stars Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne (The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Theory of Everything) as Newt Scamander and Oscar nominee Jude Law (Captain Marvel, Sherlock Holmes) as Professor Albus Dumbledore, with the role of Grindelwald now played by BAFTA nominee Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal).

The New York Times calls The Secrets of Dumbledore “the most absorbing and well-paced film in the trilogy to date.” It’s been nominated for two 2023 Visual Effects Society Awards, among other honours.

There’s also the entire boxset of Harry Potter movies on Showmax.

Wonder Woman 1984 | Ages 12+  

With director Patty Jenkins back at the helm and Teen Choice Award winner Gal Gadot returning in the title role, Wonder Woman 1984 fast forwards to the 1980s as the DC superhero faces two all-new foes: Max Lord (Critics Choice nominee Pedro Pascal from The Mandalorian) and The Cheetah (Oscar nominee Kristen Wiig from Bridesmaids).
 
The 13th biggest box office hit of 2020, Wonder Woman 1984 also stars Emmy nominees Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus, Insecure), Robin Wright (House of Cards) and Chris Pine (Star Trek), and was named Favourite Movie at the 2021 Kids Choice Awards.

His Dark Materials S1-3 | Ages 13+

The third and final season of the HBO and BBC One fantasy epic, His Dark Materials, is based on The Amber Spyglass, the final novel in Philip Pullman’s Carnegie-winning book trilogy, which was listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time.

Season 3 follows Lyra (MTV Movie Award winner Dafne Keen from Logan) and Will (Emmy nominee Amir Wilson from The Secret Garden) as they journey to a dark place from which no one has ever returned. As her father’s great war against the Authority edges closer, they will learn that saving the worlds comes at a terrible price.

Oscar nominee Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, tick, tick… BOOM!) returns as Lee Scoresby, with BAFTA winner Ruth Wilson (Saving Mr. Banks, Luther) as Mrs Coulter, and BAFTA nominee James McAvoy (X-Men’s Charles Xavier) as Lord Asriel. British-Nigerian Black Reel nominee Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Thor: The Dark World, Lost) joins the cast this season, along with the likes of Emmy nominee Sian Clifford (Fleabag) and Ghanaian-British actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Superworm and Mary Poppins Returns).

Season 3 ended with a series high rating of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Radio Times hailing it as “a stunning end… a thrilling, immersive treat… crammed with fist-pumping and eye-moistening moments.

Alex Rider S1-2 | 13VL

With both seasons now streaming on Showmax, this is the perfect time to join the teens on the couch for the debut season of the show The Guardian calls “The teen James Bond”. 

The family action series is adapted from Foyle’s War creator Anthony Horowitz’s beloved teen spy novels, which have sold over 20 million copies in 30 countries, and stars Otto Farrant (War & Peace, The White Queen), Brenock O’Connor (Game of Thrones’ Olly), Ronke Adekoluejo (Christopher Robin), Emmy nominee and BAFTA winner Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones’ Stannis Baratheon), and BAFTA winner Vicky McClure (Line of Duty, Broadchurch) 

The eight-episode first season holds an 85% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with Daily Telegraph saying it’s, “A junior version of the Bourne franchise… that can also keep adults entertained,” and The Times UK calling it, “Doctor Who-level family stuff”. 

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