Best new movies and TV shows to stream this holiday

South Africans who plan to spend time in front of their TVs at home or a holiday destination have a wide range of new series and movies to watch across the five major subscription streaming services.

MultiChoice’s Showmax is ending 2024 on a high, with a packaged December line-up of new titles, including several blockbusters and much-hyped TV shows.

The home-grown service potentially achieved a major milestone in South Africa in 2024 — surpassing Netflix in subscribers.

A previous report from Omdia found the service’s subscribers had likely already surpassed Netflix across Africa by late 2023.

MyBroadband’s analysis of Showmax’s most recent stated subscriber additions suggests it is now also the biggest service when only counting subscribers within our borders.

A part of Showmax’s significant success can no doubt be attributed to its Premier League mobile-only subscription, which offers a very affordable way for Africans to watch the world’s most popular football tournament.

However, the service’s main R99 subscription also offers good value for money on the non-sport front, considering its strong catalogue of local and international content.

Among its standout additions for December is the third instalment in the Quiet Place series, the second season of Based on a True Story, and John Krasinski’s family movie IF.

Netflix is also rolling out some big titles in December, including the second season of its hit Korean TV series Squid Game and action-thriller Carry-On.

The other three major video streaming services in South Africa — Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and Apple TV+ — have more modest holiday lineups.

However, there are a few noteworthy titles, including Disney+’s Skeleton Crew, which is considered a rare recent win for the company’s Star Wars franchise.

Among Amazon Prime Video’s biggest December releases are dark heist comedy The Sticky and Beast Games, a reality competition show hosted by YouTube star Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson.

Below are 20 of the best movies and TV shows to catch on major video streaming services in South Africa this coming holiday.

Where Rotten Tomatoes scores are given, the first is from critics and the second from audiences.

A Quiet Place: Day One

When New York City is attacked by an alien invasion, a woman and other survivors learn that they must remain absolutely silent, as the mysterious creatures are drawn to the slightest sound.

• Streaming service: Showmax
• Release date: 20 December 2024
• Genre: Horror/Thriller
• Age restriction: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 87% | 72%

Squid Game — Season 2

Hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children’s games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly.

• Streaming service: Netflix
• Release date: 26 December 2024
• Genre: Thriller drama
• Age restriction: 16
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Not yet rated

The Sticky — Season 1

Ruth Landry, a syrup farmer, turns to crime when the bureaucratic authorities threaten to take away everything she loves.

• Streaming service: Amazon Prime Video
• Release date: 6 December 2024
• Genre: Heist dark comedy
• Age restriction: 16
• Rotten Tomatoes score: 82% (Critics only)

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew — Season 1

In the New Republic era, a group of kids lost in the Star Wars galaxy desperately try to find their way home.

• Streaming service: Disney+
• Release date: 2 December to 31 December 2024
• Genre: Space fantasy
• Age restriction: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 96% | 81%

Sweetpea — Season 1

Rhiannon Lewis doesn’t make much of an impression — people walk past her in the street without a second glance. That is until she is pushed over the edge and loses control.

• Streaming service: Showmax
• Release date: 12 December 2024
• Genre: Dark comedy
• Age restriction: 16
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 86% | 64%

Carry-on

An airport security officer races to outsmart a mysterious traveler forcing him to let a dangerous item slip onto a Christmas Eve flight.

• Streaming service: Netflix
• Release date: 13 December
• Genre: Action thriller
• Age restriction: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Not yet rated

Secret Level

Secret Level is an animated anthology series from the creators of Love, Death + Robots with stories inspired by 15 video games from around the globe.

• Streaming service: Amazon Prime Video
• Release date: 10 December 2024
• Genre: Adult animation anthology
• Age restriction: 13
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Not yet rated

Beast Games

1,000 players compete in nail-biting, physical, mental, and social challenges, for a chance to win a whopping $5-million dollar cash prize. Hosted by YouTube star MrBeast himself.

• Streaming service: Amazon Prime Video
• Release date: 19 December 2024
• Genre: Reality
• Age restriction: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Not yet rated

Blink

After three of their children are diagnosed with an incurable eye condition, one family embarks on an epic journey to show them the beauty of the world before it vanishes for good.

• Streaming service: Disney+
• Release date:
• Genre: Documentary
• Age restriction: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 87% (critics only)

IF

After discovering she can see everyone’s imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten imaginary friends with their kids.

• Streaming service: Showmax
• Release date: 9 December 2024
• Genre: Kids
• Age restriction: PG
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 50% | 86%

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — Season 1 and 2

Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock and Number One explore new worlds around the galaxy on the U.S.S. Enterprise.

• Streaming service: Showmax
• Release date: 14 December 2024
• Genre: Sci-Fi
• Age restriction: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 98% | 79%

Ferry Season 2

After losing his drug empire, Ferry Bouman has found a measure of peace away from Brabant’s criminal underworld — until his past catches up to him.

• Streaming service: Netflix
• Release date: 20 December 2024
• Genre: Crime Drama
• Age restriction: 18
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Not yet rated

Based on a True Story Season 2

Three strangers join forces to capitalise on America’s obsession with true crime and make their dreams come true.

• Streaming service: Showmax
• Release date: 5 December 2024
• Genre: Dark comedy thriller
• Age restriction: 16
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 79% | 77%

Maria

Starring Angelina Jolie as legendary opera singer Maria Callas, the film follows the American Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye.

• Streaming service: Netflix
• Release date: 11 December 2024
• Genre: Biographical psychological drama
• Age restriction: 16
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 75% | 78%

Jack in Time for Christmas

Jack Whitehall races against time to get from the US to the UK for Christmas, in a frantic four-day journey involving various modes of transport and encounters with celebrity friends.

• Streaming service: Prime Video
• Release date: 3 December 2024
• Genre: Comedy special
• Age restriction: Not yet rated
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Not yet rated

Fly Me to the Moon

Sparks fly between a marketing executive and a Nasa official as he makes preparations for the Apollo 11 Moon landing.

• Streaming service: Apple TV+
• Release date: 6 December 2024
• Genre: Romance
• Age restriction: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 65% | 90%

Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die

In the shadows of Korea’s rugby world, seven teams engage in a fierce battle of strength, strategy, and teamwork — all vying to be crowned champion.

• Streaming service: Netflix
• Release date: 10 December 2024
• Genre: Reality
• Age restriction: Not yet rated
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: Not yet rated

Juror #2

A juror for a high-profile murder trial finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma that could influence the verdict and potentially convict, or free, the accused killer.

• Streaming service: Apple TV+
• Release date: 2 December 2024
• Genre: Reality
• Age restriction: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 93% | 91%

Back to Black

Singer Amy Winehouse’s tumultuous relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil inspires her to write and record the groundbreaking album Back to Black.

• Streaming service: Showmax
• Release date: 30 December
• Genre: Biographical drama
• Age restriction:
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 35% | 85%

The Color Purple

A musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel about the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s.

• Streaming service: Showmax
• Release date: 23 December 2024
• Genre: Musical
• Age restriction: PG-13
• Rotten Tomatoes scores: 81% | 95%