{"id":20850,"date":"2024-01-04T14:30:22","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T12:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=20850"},"modified":"2024-01-04T14:30:26","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T12:30:26","slug":"best-international-films-series-and-docs-to-stream-on-showmax-this-january-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2024\/01\/04\/best-international-films-series-and-docs-to-stream-on-showmax-this-january-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Best International Films, Series And Docs To Stream On Showmax This January 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Good Doctor, Star Trek: Prodigy<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | Official Teaser Trailer (2023 Movie)\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WWWDskI46Js?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Transformers: Rise of the Beasts<\/strong> | Stream from 29 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fifth-biggest movie in South Africa in 2023, <em>Transformers: Rise of the Beasts <\/em>centres on ex-military electronics expert Noah Diaz and artefact research intern Elena Wallace as they work with the Maximals and the Beasties to fight an invasion that threatens to consume Earth. It\u2019s both a prequel to 2007\u2019s original <em>Transformers<\/em> and a standalone sequel to 2018\u2019s <em>Bumblebee<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Directed by Black Reel winner Steven Caple Jr (<em>Creed II<\/em>), <em>Transformers: Rise of the Beasts <\/em>stars Emmy nominees Anthony Ramos (<em>In the Heights<\/em>) as Noah and Dominique Fishback (<em>Swarm<\/em>, <em>Judas and the Black Messiah<\/em>) as Elena, with Grammy nominee Tobe Nwigwe as Reek. Also listen out for the likes of Ron Perlman, Michelle Yeoh, Peter Dinklage, Peter Davidson, Colman Domingo and award-winning Zimbabwean actor Tongayi Chirisa as transformers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Screen Rant<\/em> calls it, \u201cThe perfect summer movie,\u201d while <em>Geeks<\/em> hails it as \u201cperhaps the best <em>Transformers <\/em>movie since the first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also watch the first six <em>Transformers<\/em> movies on Showmax, starting (chronologically) with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/movie\/t9gia5id-bumblebee\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/movie\/t9gia5id-bumblebee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Bumblebee<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS - Official Trailer 2\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AIc671o9yCI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shazam! Fury of the Gods<\/strong> | Stream from 22 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Teenager Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and his adult superhero alter-ego, Shazam (Critics&#8217; Choice nominee Zachary Levi, aka <em>Chuck<\/em> and Marvel\u2019s Fandral), have annoyed the wrong people goddesses in the epic #1 box office hit movie <em>Shazam! Fury of the Gods<\/em>. Now, Billy and his foster siblings will have to grow up fast as they face off against the Daughters of Atlas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sequel to 2019 blockbuster <em>Shazam!<\/em>, <em>Fury of the Gods<\/em> also stars the likes of Oscar winner Helen Mirren (<em>Fast <\/em>saga), Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou (Marvel\u2019s <em>Korath<\/em>), Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler (<em>West Side Story<\/em>, <em>The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds &amp; Snakes<\/em>), Emmy nominee Lucy Liu (<em>Charlie&#8217;s Angels<\/em>, <em>Elementary<\/em>), MTV Movie Award winner Jack Dylan Grazer (<em>It)<\/em> and Teen Choice winner Adam Brody (<em>The O.C.<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>IndieWire<\/em> praised the film\u2019s \u201chumour, sweetness, and delightfully human heroes, bright spots in a genre too often obsessed with the dark and the gritty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Libby, Are You Home Yet? | Coming to Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yacBZbd4E-g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Libby, Are You Home Yet? <\/strong>| First on Showmax | Binge from 24 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Winner of Best Factual Series at the 2023 BAFTAs, <em>Libby, Are You Home Yet? <\/em>tells the story of 21-year-old Libby Squire, who wasn\u2019t allowed to enter a nightclub because she was drunk, so was sent home by her friends in a taxi &#8211; but never arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Libby, Are You Home Yet? <\/em>was named Best True Crime Documentary at the Broadcast Digital Awards, who described it as, \u201cA masterclass in true crime storytelling\u201d and \u201ca stark portrait of grief that told a parent\u2019s worst nightmare in a sensitive and moving way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The three-part series was the second highest-performing original on Sky Crime last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Savior Complex | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QKSxtrzZHDM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Savior Complex<\/strong> | First on Showmax | Binge from 19 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Savior Complex<\/em> follows Renee Bach, a young American missionary who felt called by God &#8211; and was then called a killer. After Renee set up a charity for malnourished children in Jinja, Uganda, allegations arose that she was treating the sick children herself, without medical qualifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Detailing Renee\u2019s divisive journey, the three-part HBO documentary series addresses the wider questions around \u201cwhite saviourism\u201d and the ethics of foreign aid work done in the name of humanitarian and religious ideals. With extraordinary access to Renee herself, as well as her accusers, lawyers, activists, and the mothers who seek to hold her accountable, <em>Savior Complex<\/em> addresses the timely and provocative issues at the intersection of religion, race, and power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Directed by Emmy winner Jackie Jesko (<em>Vice<\/em>) and executive produced by Oscar winner Roger Ross Williams (<em>God Loves Uganda<\/em>, <em>Love to Love You, Donna Summer<\/em>), <em>Savior Complex<\/em> has a 100% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>. As <em>TIME Magazine<\/em> says, \u201cWhat Jesko uncovers isn\u2019t the individual malice of a typical true-crime psychopath. It\u2019s something more frightening in its tenacity: the collective, racially charged hubris of well-meaning, white, often evangelical Americans in Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Good Doctor S6 | Coming to Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/F-LV1UtWp9I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Good Doctor S6<\/strong> | Binge from 15 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check your heart rate! Season 6 of <em>The Good Doctor<\/em> picks up after last season\u2019s cliffhanger ending on the rooftop of the St Bonaventure Hospital. Shaun and Glassman go head to head as the lives of Lim (Christina Chang) and Villanueva (Elfina Luk) hang in the balance. Asher (Noah Galvin) and Morgan (Fiona Gubelmann) find themselves in peril, along with a patient in need of emergency surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the brilliant autistic surgeon Dr Shaun Murphy, Freddie Highmore has racked up Best Actor nominations at the likes of the Critics Choice, Golden Globes, People\u2019s Choice and Teen Choice awards, while Emmy winner Richard Schiff (<em>The West Wing<\/em>\u2019s Toby Ziegler) was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Critics Choice Awards as Dr Aaron Glassman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created by Emmy-winning showrunner David Shore (<em>House M.D.<\/em>), <em>The Good Doctor<\/em> has an 8\/10 rating on <em>IMDb<\/em> and has won multiple awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Star Trek Prodigy | Official Trailer | Paramount+ Australia\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FxMRhpW_ny8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Star Trek: Prodigy S1<\/strong> | Binge from 11 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Star Trek: Prodigy<\/em> invites younger viewers (and grown-up fans) to boldly go alongside an intrepid group of enslaved teenagers who hijack the Protostar, a derelict Starfleet vessel, to escape and explore the galaxy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The animated series has already won a Children&#8217;s and Family Emmy Award, with a further four nominations, including for Outstanding Animated Series. It has a 94% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em> and a 4\/5-star rating from <em>Common Sense Media<\/em>, where they recommend it for ages 7+, saying<em> <\/em>\u201c<em>Star Trek: Prodigy<\/em> is a treat for the eyes\u2026 entertaining, fun, and fast-paced\u2026 bringing new life to the beloved franchise for the next generation\u2026 Although intended for a younger audience, this new take on a treasured series can be enjoyed by the whole family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The star-studded voice cast includes the likes of Annie Award winner Ella Purnell (Jinx in <em>Arcane<\/em>), <em>Star Trek: Voyager<\/em> alums Kate Mulgrew and Robert Beltran, Daveed Diggs (<em>Hamilton<\/em>), Jason Alexander (<em>Seinfeld<\/em>), People\u2019s Choice nominee Jameela Jamil (<em>The Good Place<\/em>), Emmy nominee Jimmi Simpson (<em>Westworld<\/em>), and <em>Looney Tunes <\/em>royalty Eric Bauza (whose voice credits include Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Blindspotting S2 | Coming to Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zCgGPskeNCY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Blindspotting S2<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge from 12&nbsp;January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nominated for a 2023 Emmy Award for its Choreography, Season 2 of <em>Blindspotting<\/em> has a 100% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The spin-off sequel to the award-winning 2018 film of the same name, <em>Blindspotting<\/em> picks up the story of Miles\u2019 long-time girlfriend Ashley, who was forced to move herself and their son, Sean, in with Miles&#8217;s mom and half-sister after he was sent to prison. The final season picks up nine months later, with Ashley feeling the stress as Sean\u2019s birthday and Miles\u2019 first family visitation weekend are both coming up fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Ashley, Emmy and Grammy winner Jasmine Cephas Jones (<em>Hamilton<\/em>, <em>The Photograph<\/em>, <em>Mrs. Fletcher<\/em>) was nominated for a 2023 Black Reel award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series, as well as Best Actress, Comedy at the 2023 Hollywood Critics\u2019 Association Awards, where the show was up for Best Cable Series, Comedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Blindspotting<\/em> also stars Oscar winner Helen Hunt (<em>Mad About You<\/em>, <em>As Good As It Gets<\/em>), with Kaitlynn Simone (Treasure in <em>Empire<\/em>) and Tamera Tomakili (Cookie Keely in <em>Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty<\/em>) joining the cast this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>AVClub <\/em>praises the series for continuing \u201cto shine a light on the ludicrous, beautiful, and often harsh realities of life, while celebrating the power of music and dance,\u201d adding, \u201cThere\u2019s just nothing like it on TV.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Heels S2 | Coming to Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GiRhZd68ri4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Heels S2<\/strong> | Binge from 19 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Teen Choice winners Stephen Amell (the Arrowverse\u2019s Oliver Queen\/Green Arrow) and Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn Ironside in <em>Vikings<\/em> and Cato in <em>The Hunger Games<\/em>) return in Season 2 of <em>Heels<\/em>, which brings us back to rural Georgia and the family-owned, small-town wrestling organisation, Duffy Wrestling League (DWL). As they work to find their own identities as a \u201cface\u201d (good guy) or a \u201cheel\u201d (villain), brothers and rivals Jack and Ace Spade continue to fight over their late father\u2019s legacy and their individual versions of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Heels<\/em> has an 8\/10 rating on <em>IMDb<\/em> and a 93% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>. As the critics\u2019 consensus there says, \u201cThere are no jobbers in <em>Heels<\/em>&#8216; second season, which utilises the full breadth of its ensemble to show-stopping effect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created by Emmy winner Michael Waldron (the producer of <em>Rick and Morty<\/em> and the writer of <em>Loki<\/em> and <em>Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness<\/em>), <em>Heels<\/em> was nominated for three Critics Choice Super Awards: Best Action Series, Best Actor in an Action Series (for Ludwig) and Best Actress in an Action Series (Mary McCormack from <em>The West Wing<\/em> and <em>The Kids Are Alright<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AJ Mendez (aka WWE\u2019s AJ Lee) joins the cast as Elle Dorado this season, with Teen Choice nominee Josh Segarra (Danny Brackett in <em>Scream VI<\/em>, Adrian Chase in <em>Arrow<\/em>) coming in as Brooks Rizzo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bumper in Berlin | Official Trailer | Peacock Original\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rIbx-Rj0MpY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin<\/strong> | First on Showmax | Two eps every Monday from 8 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Peacock comedy series <em>Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin <\/em>sees Adam Devine (<em>The Righteous Gemstones<\/em>\u2019 Kelvin) return in his Teen Choice- and MTV Movie Award-winning <em>Pitch Perfect <\/em>role as Bumper Allen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ten years after college, singing a cappella has become just a hobby for the former Treblemaker, who\u2019s now working as a security guard at his alma mater. But when a surprise phone call from his old acquaintance Pieter Kr\u00e4mer (Flula Borg, aka <em>The Suicide Squad<\/em>\u2019s Javelin) reveals that one of Bumper\u2019s songs has gone viral in Berlin, he decides to drop everything and move to Germany for a shot at pop stardom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Critics Choice nominee Sarah Hyland (<em>Modern Family<\/em>\u2019s Haley) co-stars, alongside People\u2019s Choice nominee Jameela Jamil (Tahani in <em>The Good Place<\/em>), multi-award winner Udo Kier (<em>Swan Song<\/em>, <em>Hunters<\/em>), and Emmy nominee Jason Jones (<em>The Flight Attendant<\/em>) as Tonehanger Jason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developed and executive produced by multiple-Emmy nominees Elizabeth Banks (<em>Cocaine Bear<\/em>) and Megan Amram (<em>The Good Place<\/em>, <em>Silicon Valley<\/em>), <em>Bumper in Berlin<\/em> also boasts a get-up-and-dance soundtrack with hits from the likes of Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Shaggy, Aha, and Guns N&#8217; Roses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Fantasy Football Movie Official Trailer! | Nickelodeon\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YBYL63SKwUA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Fantasy Football<\/strong> | Stream from 11 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <em>Fantasy Football<\/em>, teenager Callie A Coleman discovers she can magically control her father\u2019s performance on the American football field through her gaming console, transforming him from a fumblitis-plagued journeyman to a star running back bound for superstardom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Fantasy Football<\/em> stars four-time BET Award winner Marsai Martin (Diane Johnson in <em>Black-ish<\/em>, Little Jordan Sanders in <em>Little<\/em>), who also gets a producer credit, at just 19 years old. Black Reel winner Omari Hardwick (<em>Power<\/em>\u2019s James \u201cGhost\u201d St Patrick) plays her dad, opposite the likes of four-time Grammy winner Kelly Rowland of Destiny\u2019s Child fame and Emmy winner Rome Flynn (Gabriel Maddox in <em>How to Get Away with Murder <\/em>and Zende Forrester Dominguez in <em>The Bold and the Beautiful<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anton Cropper (<em>Black-ish<\/em>, <em>Suits<\/em>) won the 2023 Image Award for Outstanding Directing in a TV Movie for <em>Fantasy Football.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Essex County S1 | Coming to Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OIB9R0r3vIs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Essex County S1<\/strong> | Binge from 29 January<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Directed by Emmy winner Andrew Cividino (<em>Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/em>), <em>Essex County<\/em> follows two interconnected families in rural Canada. The five-part series is adapted\u00a0 from the acclaimed <em>Essex County Trilogy<\/em> graphic novel by <em>Sweet Tooth<\/em> creator and <em>Moon Knight <\/em>writer Jeff Lemire, who is the showrunner here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emmy nominee Molly Parker (Mrs. Darling in <em>Peter Pan &amp; Wendy<\/em> and Jackie Sharp in <em>House of Cards<\/em>) plays country nurse Anne, who\u2019s caring for her uncle, Lou (award winner Stephen McHattie from <em>A History of Violence<\/em>). Child actor Finlay Wojtak-Hissong plays Lester, who has to go live with his uncle Ken (Brian J Smith from <em>World on Fire<\/em>, <em>The Matrix Resurrections<\/em>), a stoic farmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Toronto Guardian<\/em> praises the show\u2019s \u201cbrilliant writing,\u201d calling it \u201cbeautifully executed and perfectly cast\u2026 truly an event to watch.\u201d <em>Essex County<\/em> was nominated as Best TV Series at the 2023 Venice TV Awards and picked up Directors Guild of Canada awards for its editing and production design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Everything on Showmax in January<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>To see everything on Showmax in January 2024, including SAFTA Best Drama winner <em>Lavish<\/em>, SAFTA Best Variety Show winner <em>Sunday Sexy Love<\/em>, and Tshedza Pictures\u2019 telenovela, <em>Gqeberha: The Empire<\/em>, click here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/stories.showmax.com\/za\/whats-new-on-showmax-in-january-2024\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stories.showmax.com\/za\/whats-new-on-showmax-in-january-2024<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Good Doctor, Star Trek: Prodigy Transformers: Rise of the Beasts | Stream from 29 January The fifth-biggest movie in South Africa in 2023, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts centres on ex-military electronics expert Noah Diaz and artefact research intern Elena Wallace as they work&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2024\/01\/04\/best-international-films-series-and-docs-to-stream-on-showmax-this-january-2024\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Best International Films, Series And Docs To Stream On Showmax This January 2024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19063,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[110],"class_list":["post-20850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online","tag-showmax","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/showmax.png?fit=400%2C71&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}