Netflix is one of the premium video streaming services in South Africa, and indeed the world. Not surprisingly, it is home to some of the top movies and series out there. Now, when people hear Netflix, the first things that come to mind are movies and series.
Netflix has content for just about every nation out there, from South Africa to Nigeria to the United States. A subscription opens the subscriber to a world of fresh content, some of which are not available elsewhere.
It is common knowledge that movie watchers and subscribers often rate the movies they watch. The metrics of rating are not cut in stone, people rate based on how appealing they think a movie is, opinions of their friends, picture quality, storyline, and more.
In this post, we’re going to bring you the best 10 South African movies and series on Netflix. Our ideas of best might be different from yours. But then that’s what opinions are made of. Come on.
1. The Siege of Jadotville
Released in 2016, The Siege of Jadotville, which holds the top of the spot, is one for lovers of action. This war/ thriller flick, which plays for exactly 1 hour and 48 minutes, is actually based on Declan Power’s 2005 non-fiction book, “The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army’s Forgotten Battle.”
The siege took place following the standoff between the Kayangese forces and the United Nations Operation in the Congo (Opération des Nations Unies au Congo, ONUC). Cast members for the flick include Jamie Dornan (as Commander Patrick Quilan) and Mark Strong (as Connor Cruise O’Brien).
2. My Octopus Teacher
Advertised as a documentary by Netflix and released in 2020, My Octopus Teacher was directed by Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed. The flick will especially please the nature and animal crowds out there.
This Netflix Original takes the viewer through the swimming adventures of Craig Foster. In one of his swimming adventures in the freezing deep, he had encountered an unlikely water mate, a young octopus from which Foster would learn a thing or two
3. I Am All Girls
Produced by Lucia Meyer-Marais, Jozua Malherbe, Simon Swart, Wayne Fitzjohn, and Jarrod de Jong, I Am All Girls is a thriller that takes the viewer through the world of a partnership between a serial killer and an investigator in an attempt to bring down a global criminal syndicate.
4. Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom
This one is for the fans of the late ANC nationalist leader Nelson Mandela – or those who wouldn’t mind a little background into the great man’s life. Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom takes viewers through the world of Mandela’s childhood, his incarceration by the apartheid government, up to the moment he became the first black president in South Africa.
5. Shepherds and Butchers
With a title like this, Shepherds and Butchers may have it easy getting a set of viewers to at least take a peek. Directed by Oliver Schmitz, this South African drama tells the story of a prison guard who was traumatized by the executions he witnessed, and the lawyer who takes on his case.
6. Catching Feelings
Catching Feelings is a 2017 South African romantic drama film written, co-produced and directed by Kagiso Lediga. It stars Lediga, Pearl Thusi, Andrew Buckland, Akin Omotoso, Precious Makgaretsa, Kate Liquorish, Tessa Jubber and Loyiso Gola. The film was released on March 9, 2018, by United International Pictures and Ster-Kinekor. The film was available to stream worldwide on May 18, 2018, by Netflix.
7. Queen Sono
Queen Sono is very popular, so you might wonder why it holds the 7th spot on this list. The popularity of this series rests in part on the appeal of its cast, most especially the lead actress Pearl Thusi. This spy thriller takes viewers through the world of a spy (Pearl Thusi) on her most dangerous mission amid the changes in her personal life and relationship.
8. Blood & Water
It’s been said that blood is thicker than water. What better way to find out than by actually using your “blood” – in this case your head? In this flick, a Cape Town teen crossed path with another teen during a party.
With a niggling feeling she’s crossed paths with her sister who was kidnapped at birth, she’s determined to find out.
The movie stars Wendy Dlamini (Natasha Thahane), Puleng Khumalo (Ama Qamata), and Karaba Molapo (Thabanh Molaba), among others.
9. Love Jacked
In this flick, love is actually “jacked.” This Netflix movie tells the tale of the conflict between an obdurate millennial (Maya) and her father (Ed). She’s got artistic ambitions, but her father would rather she takes over the family business.
Maya travels to Africa in pursuit of her artistic ambitions and returns with a fiancé…
10. Kandasamys the Wedding
Released in 2019, Kandasamys the Wedding is a comedy entirely Indian. If you want to pick up a thing or two about Indian culture (in South Africa), then there’s the movie for you.
Set in Chatsworth, the movie illuminates the dreams and aspirations of some Indians.
What do you think of our list?