Let’s be honest: as much as we love our kids, the last week of the school holidays is always the hardest. Their besties are all away on holiday, they’ve played all their favourite games, finished their book, and are making you wonder if that extra 30-minute sleep-in without the school run is worth it after all. If they say, ‘I’m bored’ one more time, you might crack. Even if they just call your name from across the house one more time, you might crack.
Luckily, Showmax is here with reinforcements: 7 titles for 7 days, all so good you can let them watch guilt-free.
WICKED
Stream now on Showmax
Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were nominated for Oscars as two wizarding students who become reluctant roommates and journey together to meet the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Wicked was nominated for 10 Oscars, including Motion Picture of the Year, winning Best Costume Design and Production Design, as well as more than 100 other awards.
The highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time, Wicked set the record for the most first-week views of any family film on Showmax since the African streamer’s relaunch last year.
Age recommendation:
FPB: PG | Common Sense Media: 10+
Watch the trailer, which has over 22m views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 3
Stream now on Showmax
The #10 biggest box office hit of 2024, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 sees Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails faced with a powerful new adversary, Shadow. Outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance to protect the planet.
The movie has an 85% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the highest yet for the franchise. As the critics’ consensus says, “With a double helping of Jim Carrey’s antics and a quicksilver pace befitting its hero, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the best entry in this amiable series yet.”
Ben Schwartz, Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves voice Sonic, Knuckles and Shadow respectively.
Age recommendation:
FPB: 10-12 PG | Common Sense Media: 8+
Watch the trailer, which has over 28m views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
IYANU S1
Binge now on Showmax
Drawing on Nigerian culture, music, and mythology, Iyanu follows a teenage orphan who discovers her divine powers and her destiny to save the ancient kingdom of Yorubaland.
Produced by Oscar winners Lion Forge Entertainment (Hair Love), the epic fantasy animation series is created by Nigeria’s Roy Okupe, based on his graphic novel series, Iyanu: Child of Wonder.
Cartoon Network and Max have already greenlit Season 2 and two linked feature films, after Iyanu ranked as the #1 series on Cartoon Network, in the top 10 kids’ and family series on Max, and as the most watched kids’ series on Showmax at launch.
Screenrant hails it as “The Last Airbender and Black Panther hybrid you didn’t know you needed.”
Age recommendation:
FPB: 7-9 PG | Common Sense Media: 8+
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
TIDDLER
Stream now on Showmax
Adapted from the bestselling picture book by Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, Tiddler tells the story of a little fish with a big imagination who gets lost in the deep, wide ocean – until he’s saved by his own storytelling.
From multi-Oscar-nominated producers Magic Light Pictures, Tiddler is co-directed by South African Alex Bain and narrated by Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso’s Rebecca Welton).
Tiddler was the 9th most watched title on BBC on Christmas Day, attracting over eight million viewers. The 23-minute short has already won the Audience Award, ages 3-6, at New York International Children’s Film Festival and the Animation: Preschool award at the BANFF World Media Festival’s Rockie Awards 2025.
Age recommendation:
FPB: A
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE
Stream now on Showmax
Looney Tunes’ first animated character, Porky Pig, turned 90 this year! To celebrate, Warner Bros. and Ketchup Entertainment bring us the first fully animated feature-length film in Looney Tunes history: The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie!
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck become unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. The two are determined to save their town (and the world!) – if they don’t drive each other totally looney in the process.
The animation has an 85% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with The Hollywood Reporter hailing the film as “a delight for kids and adults alike.”
Watch the trailer, which has over 7m views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Age recommendation:
FPB: 7-9 PG | Common Sense Media: 7+
TAKALANI SESAME S12-13
Binge now on Showmax
Takalani Sesame follows the adventures of Elmo and Zuzu, two best friends exploring their world and having adventures packed with fun, laughter, and learning. The series is a local spinoff of Sesame Street, arguably the most impactful children’s series in TV history.
Previous seasons of Takalani Sesame have won SAFTA and Peabody Awards, with S13 nominated for the International Emmy for Kids: Factual and Entertainment.
Available in Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, and Zulu, the series promotes early childhood education while supporting South Africa’s mother-tongue education policy.
Showmax is adding a wealth of Sesame Workshop content this July, including Takalani Sesame S14 on 18 July, Sesame Street S50 on 21 July, Takalani Sesame S15 on 25 July, and Emmy-nominated spinoff Sesame Street Mecha Builders S1 on 30 July.
Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Age recommendation:
FPB: PG
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Stream on Showmax now
Directed by Tim Burton (Wednesday, Beetlejuice), Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was last year’s best-reviewed fantasy movie on Rotten Tomatoes and the 13th biggest box office hit globally.
After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife. With trouble brewing in both realms, it’s only a matter of time until the mischievous demon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.
Oscar nominees Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder are back as Beetlejuice and Lydia, as is Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara as Delia. Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) joins the cast as Astrid. Also look out for Oscar nominees Willem Dafoe and Danny DeVito, as well as Emmy winner Justin Theroux (The Leftovers).
Watch the trailer, which has over 21m views:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Age recommendation:
FPB: 13 H L V | Common Sense Media: 13+
THE BOMB SQUAD
There’s plenty more waiting on the bench, including:
• Children’s and Family Emmy-winning documentary 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed. Rated 7-9 PG. Trailer.
• Critically acclaimed family adventure My Penguin Friend. Rated 7-9 PG. Trailer.
• 2025 Kidscreen nominee The Famous Five, based on Enid Blyton’s classic novels. PG. Trailer.
• The 4th biggest box office hit of 2024, Despicable Me 4. Rated 7-9 PG. Trailer.
• The Wild Robot, Rotten Tomatoes’ best animation of 2024. Rated 7-9 PG. Trailer.
• #1 box office hit animation Transformers One. Rated 10-12 PG V. Trailer.