The Wife, the most hotly anticipated new telenovela in South Africa, leads the pack of new entertainment coming to Showmax in November. Read more about what’s on Showmax, and subscribe from R39 per month.
SHOWMAX ORIGINAL
The Wife S1
Inspired by Dudu Busani-Dube’s bestselling novel Hlomu the Wife, The Wife follows a journalist (Skeem Saam’s Mbalenhle Mavimbela) who falls in love with a taxi driver (Necktie Youth’s Bonko Khoza), not realising that when you marry a man, you marry his secrets.
The Wife is being produced by Stained Glass, the company behind SAFTA-winning shows like eHostela and Uzalo, South Africa’s most-watched soap opera. First on Showmax from 11 November, with three episodes coming every Thursday.
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Hacks S1
The #2 show on Rotten Tomatoes’ Best TV of 2021 (So Far), comedy-drama series Hacks centres on legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance, who takes on an entitled, down-on-her-luck Gen Z comedy writer in a bid to find fresh material and remain relevant as her performance dates start to dwindle.
Hacks was up for 15 Emmys this year, with Jean Smart taking home her fourth Emmy as Deborah. It has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Binge from 1 November.
Love Life S2
The journey from first love to a lasting relationship is back in the spotlight with the hit romantic comedy anthology series Love Life, which Guardian called “the perfect balm for troubled times”.
Anna Kendrick led the last season and cameos in this one. The new cast is led by William Jackson Harper (The Good Place) as Marcus Watkins, who enters his 30s freshly divorced and as lost as ever. Binge from 15 November, first on Showmax.
Mayans M.C. S3
Sons of Anarchy spinoff Mayans M.C. follows the life of Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (JD Pardo), a newly patched member of the Mayans M.C. biker gang on the California/Mexico border.
Once the golden boy with the American Dream in his grasp, EZ and his brother Angel are closer than ever after uncovering the truth behind their mother’s murder, while their father struggles to reconcile the choices he and his sons have made. Mayans M.C. has an 86% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Binge from 1 November, first on Showmax »
I Hate Suzie S1
Suzie Pickles, a star on the wane, has her whole life upended when her phone is hacked and a photo of her in an extremely compromising position is released for the whole world to see. This excruciatingly honest show follows the various stages of Suzie’s trauma episode by episode.
I Hate Suzie was nominated for three 2021 BAFTAs and has a 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In their five-star reviews, The Guardian praised Piper’s “truly astonishing performance” and called the show “exhilarating” and “scabrously funny”. Binge from 1 November.
The Pursuit of Love
Set in Europe between the two World Wars, BBC miniseries The Pursuit of Love follows the adventures and misadventures of the fearless Linda Radlett and her best friend and cousin, Fanny Logan, as they seek out the ideal husband.
An adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s celebrated 1945 novel, the romantic comedy-drama stars
Lily James, Emily Beecham (Berlin), Andrew Scott (Fleabag’s Hot Priest) and Dominic West (The Affair). It was directed by Emily Mortimer and has 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Binge from 1 November.
For Life S2
Season 2 of the drama series For Life picks up the story of once wrongfully accused prisoner Aaron Wallace, now a free man and hard-working lawyer trying to piece his life back together and find justice for those the system has failed. It’s executive produced by Grammy winner Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson, and the first season scored 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. From 12 November.
MOVIES
Palm Springs
The wonderful indie romantic comedy Palm Springs follows two strangers who meet at a wedding in Palm Springs, only to get stuck in a time loop.
It stars Andy Samberg (Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Jake) and Cristin Milioti (How I Met Your Mother), and won the 2021 Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy. It scored 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, with IndieWire calling it “sweet, funny and demented.” Watch from 15 November, first on Showmax.
Charm City Kings
Torn between the straight path and gang life, fourteen-year-old Mouse is desperate to join the Midnight Clique, an infamous group of dirt-bike riders who rule the streets of West Baltimore. During one eventful summer, Mouse must steer his way through two father figures, a first girlfriend, and the illegal but irresistible thrill of stunt-riding. It’s exec produced by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and RogerEbert.com called it “an incredible triumph from a slew of fresh talent.” From 18 November.
The Marksman
Oscar nominee Liam Neeson stars in The Marksman as a rancher (and former US Marine) living on the Arizona border who becomes the unlikely defender of a young Mexican boy fleeing cartel assassins. Directed by triple-Oscar nominee and Clint Eastwood-collaborator Robert Lorenz (Mystic River). From 29 November.
Alone
Jules Willcox (10,000 Days) stars in Alone as a recently widowed traveller who is pursued through the wilderness by a ruthless killer. The gripping survival thriller holds a 90% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics consensus says, “Alone’s minimalistic approach makes this heightened thriller a gripping and suspenseful experience.” From 1 November, first on Showmax.
Also watch:
8 November: Oscar nominee Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy starring Gary Oldman and more.
11 November: The hilarious black comedy Horrible Bosses broke the record for the highest-grossing comedy film of all time upon its release in 2011. Watch the original and the sequel.
11 November: Russell Crowe and SA-born Caren Pistorius star in road rage thriller Unhinged.
15 November: Rush chronicles the 1970s rivalry between Formula One legends James Hunt and Niki Lauda.
18 November: The Iron Lady won Meryl Streep her third Oscar, and more accolades besides.
25 November: Tim Burton’s biographical drama Big Eyes is based on a true story and earned Amy Adams a Golden Globe.
29 November: Midnight Sun chronicles the love story of a teen girl who can’t stand the sun.
LOCAL
The Edge of Existence
Filmed in Tanzania over three years, The Edge of Existence takes viewers into the heart of the growing human-wildlife conflict in the western corridor of the Serengeti. It’s directed by South Africans James Suter and Charlie Luckock.
While the urgent need for conservation has been widely publicised, there’s been less awareness about its cost to the neighbouring communities. As The Guardian said in their review, “If you thought your commute was stressful, imagine sharing it with an elephant herd.” Watch from 12 November.
Elders: Namibie S1
Award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and everyone’s favourite travel guide, Erns Grundling, takes us on a journey to the epic landscapes of Namibia, where he’ll share our neighbouring country’s endless vistas, breathtaking natural beauty, wildlife and, of course, the oldest desert in the world.
Also escape with Erns in Elders: Die Camino, Elders: Japan and Elders: Pelgrimstog Van Hoop. Stream from 29 November.
Survivor SA: Immunity Island
In a year where conversations about survivors, immunity and even buffs got wa-a-ay too real for most of us, the ultimate escapist reality show, Survivor SA, survived the pandemic delay to lock down 20 brand-new islanders on the Wild Coast in a bid to outwit, outplay and outlast one another for the title of Sole Survivor. Binge from 4 November.
Also watch:
11 November: Mnakwethu S2 brings back Musa Mseleku in this popular show in which married men introduce polygamy into their relationships. Binge the boxset.
NON-FICTION
The United Way
Manchester United is one of the most iconic sports teams in the world. Told by football legend Eric Cantona and featuring previously unseen footage, the doccie looks at the club’s roots, tracing its historical journey before the turn of the century through candid conversations with stars like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and others. From 20 November.
Influence
Who decides what you think? Who decides how you vote? This globe-trotting documentary charts the recent advancements in weaponised communication by investigating Lord Tim Bell and the rise and fall of the world’s most notorious PR firm: the British multinational Bell Pottinger. Vulture calls Influence “the kind of story that makes you question everything.” Watch it from 18 November.
KIDS
Roald Dahl’s The Witches
A young mouse boy and his grandmother go up against a coven of witches and their leader in The Witches, a delightfully dastardly reimagining of the Roald Dahl classic. It stars Oscar winners Anne Hathaway and Octavia Spencer, alongside Stanley Tucci, Chris Rock and newcomer Jahzir Kadeem as the mouse child hero of the tale. From 22 November.
Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!
Scooby-Doo and the gang gather again to solve a mystery of gigantic proportions and save Crystal Cove, joining forces with Bill Nye (The Science Guy) and Elvira to defeat an army of monstrous pumpkins. Along the way, Fred, Velma, Daphne and, of course, the snack-mad Shaggy and Scooby might just find themselves wandering into DC’s Gotham universe… From 1 November.
Plus, there’s more fun to be had in the spooky adventure Scoob!