This Christmas, Showmax has put together its biggest ever pile of presents with eight local films; Christmas specials from HBO and Adult Swim; and over 30 international films, including Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding in the 2019 blockbuster Last Christmas. 

South African Christmas movies

Somerkersfees 

In Somerkersfees, a dysfunctional family’s Christmas beach holiday forces them to come to terms with their flaws, differences, hate and love for each other. Directed by multi-award-winning theatre director and SAFTA nominee Jaco Bouwer (Die Spreeus), Somerkersfees stars Milan Murray (Die Waterfront) and more. Watch now »

Posbus 1 

In Posbus 1, when Ben (Carel Trichardt) and his wife’s address is given out as Santa’s, they get thousands of letters from hopeful children. When Ben’s wife dies, he burns every letter except one, which sends him on a journey of healing. Posbus 1 is directed by Nico Scheepers, who won Best Director at Silwerskerm 2017 for Die Maan Val Bewusteloos. Watch now »

Herb & Moon

In Herb & Moon, Herbert Brenner (SAFTA winner Robert Whitehead) may be losing his marbles but he’s not prepared to lose his granddaughter. Can an outspoken man with rusty joints break out of his old age home, make his way across town, overcome his daughter and son-in-law’s attempts to keep him from his granddaughter, and give Gemma her Christmas gift? Watch now »

A Boere-Krismis 

In A Boere-Krismis, Lara Toselli (Tali’s Wedding Diary) stars as Claire, a failed comic-actor-director-screenwriter-producer-playwright-presenter who uses her Afrikaans fiancé’s family to further her career by documenting their disastrous Christmas Day. Johann Vermaak (Swaaibraai) co-stars as her fiancé. Watch now »

Home Affairs: A Christmas Tale 

A feuding family is forced to spend Christmas under the same roof. Will they end up killing each other before the turkey is served? Or will they overcome their past issues and realise the reason for the season? Directed by Lizé Vosloo, it stars rising stars like Hilton Pelser (The Kissing Booth, Moffie), David Viviers (Rage) and Shamilla Miller (The Girl From St Agnes). Watch now »

A Zulu Christmas

In A Zulu Christmas, a young boy who’s used to city life, being spoiled by his mother and getting his way has to spend Christmas with his grandmother on her farm in KZN. Will he rediscover his heritage and find a deeper meaning in Christmas?

Directed by Thabo Ntsako Mashaila (Uhambo), A Zulu Christmas stars Deli Malinga (Imbewu), Thembinkosi Mthembu (The River), SAFTA winner Nomsa Buthelezi (Lockdown) and more. Watch from 25 December.

A Christmas Chorus

When the Covid-19 pandemic shuts down all theatres, a group of actor friends decide to come together and create a unique Christmas Eve performance. The directorial debut of SAFTA-winning Kanarie screenwriter and composer Charl-Johan Lingenfelder, A Christmas Chorus is a musical about awakening hope and passion during dark times. 

A Christmas Chorus was filmed at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town while it was closed for lockdown. Watch from 25 December. 

A Twisted Christmas 

A wealthy family loses everything just before Christmas and the only person willing to take them in is their long-time Muslim gardener and his family. Together, they celebrate a ‘Mubarak’ Christmas and learn the meaning of real family. 

Directed by Muneera Sallies, co-writer of Encounters Audience Award winner Action Kommandant, A Twisted Christmas stars Kate Liquorish (Still Breathing, Queen Sono), Euodia Samson (Arendsvlei) and Abduragman Adams (Suidooster). Watch from 26 December.

International Christmas movies and specials

Robot Chicken: Santa’s Dead (Spoiler Alert) Holiday Murder Thing Special 

Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken was one of three nominees for Best Short Animated Program at the 2020 Emmys, for its Christmas special, Santa’s Dead (Spoiler Alert) Holiday Murder Thing Special – think Murder of the North Pole Express, with Inspector Jesus on the case and a train full of fairytale suspects.   

Listen out for the voices of Robot Chicken co-creator and three-time Emmy winner Seth Green as Santa, four-time Golden Globe nominee Jason Alexander (George in Seinfeld) as Krampus; and Golden Globe winner Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin) as Ginger. 

Warning: This isn’t really in the Christmas spirit… 

Euphoria Christmas Specials

Zendaya became the youngest-ever best actress Emmy winner this year for her performance in Euphoria as Rue, a 17-year-old who returns home from rehab with no plans to stay clean, and falls for the new girl in town. Now the hit HBO drama is back with Trouble Don’t Last Always, which follows Rue as she celebrates Christmas, in the aftermath of being left by Jules at the train station and falling back into old habits. Watch Part 1 now. Part 2 comes express from the US on 25 January »

Joe Pera Helps You Find The Perfect Christmas Tree

Comedian Joe Pera’s breakout Adult Swim special was called Joe Pera Talks You To Sleep: he just has that kind of voice – in a good way.  

This Christmas, let his deadpan comedy get you into the Christmas spirit as he helps you find the perfect Christmas tree. As Decider says, “This Adult Swim classic is about so much more than finding the perfect Christmas tree. Pera’s folksy charm and aw-shucks sincerity combine to make his outstanding holiday special a treat that can be enjoyed by the entire family… Insanely funny.” Watch now »

Last Christmas

Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians), Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Emma Thompson (Years and Years) star for director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) in the romantic comedy Last Christmas. 

Kate harrumphs around London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence from her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. Tom seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate’s barriers. As London transforms for the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two. But sometimes, you gotta let the snow fall where it may; you gotta listen to your heart.

Last Christmas features new music from Grammy winner George Michael, as well as his bittersweet holiday classic of the film’s title. The film was the 62nd biggest box office hit of 2019. Watch now »

For a smorgasbord more fun Christmas movies for the whole family, check out the Christmas Countdown Collection »

But there’s even more in your stocking

Showmax will be counting down to Christmas by releasing a new Christmas movie every day from today. Check out all the movies in the Christmas Countdown Collection.

And if that doesn’t have you overflowing with Christmas spirit, Showmax also offers you the classic Senegalese short film, Dyana Gaye’s Deweneti, which won the Special Jury Award: International at Clermont-Ferrand, the world’s most prestigious short film festival, among other awards for its story about Ousmane, a beggar on the streets of Dakar, who decides to write a letter to Santa. 

Or rewatch favourites, like the Annecy-winning Julia Donaldson animation Stick Man, animated in South Africa by Triggerfish; Golden Globe-nominated animation Arthur Christmas; box office hit A Bad Moms Christmas, with Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn; or with the kids, Peppa Pig’s Christmas Party special or A Garfield Christmas. And we haven’t even started on Christmas episodes of your favourite shows: this year, we especially recommend Santa, Schmanta from the Emmy-nominated animation American Dad!, where Roger the alien converts to Judaism and tries to make Hanukkah more popular than Christmas. DM/ML