This is our list of the best South African movies ever made. They will make you laugh, make you cry but more than that they’ll educate you about our beloved country. Poet Don Mattera calls it the only country in Africa without a name, but a direction.

1. Tsotsi

Six days in the violent life of a young Johannesburg gang leader.

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Rating: 7.2 (31701 ratings)
Content Rating: 12
Genre: Crime, Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468565/

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2. Jerusalema

A young hoodlum rise from a small-time criminal to a powerful crime entrepreneur during the turbulent years before and after the fall of apartheid.

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Rating: 7.3 (10944 ratings)
Content Rating: 16
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783532/

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3. Max and Mona

Max Bua leaves his country life behind in hopes of becoming a doctor in Johannesburg, though the big city has different plans for him.

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Rating: 5.8 (167 ratings)
Content Rating: N/A
Genre: Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382839/

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4. Zulu

Outnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.

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Rating: 7.7 (43219 ratings)
Content Rating: 12
Genre: Drama, History, War
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058777/

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5. Blood Diamond

A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond.

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Rating: 8 (591785 ratings)
Content Rating: 16
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450259/

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6. Cry Freedom

South African journalist Donald Woods is forced to flee the country after attempting to investigate the death in custody of his friend, the Black anti-Apartheid activist Steve Biko.

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Rating: 7.4 (14594 ratings)
Content Rating: 12
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092804/

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7. Stander

The life and career of Andre Stander, a South African police officer turned bank robber.

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Rating: 7 (9298 ratings)
Content Rating: 12
Genre: Action, Biography, Crime
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326208/

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8. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

A chronicle of Nelson Mandela's life journey from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa.

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Rating: 7.1 (29325 ratings)
Content Rating: 12
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2304771/

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9. Cry, the Beloved Country

A South African preacher goes to search for his wayward son, who has committed a crime in the big city.

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Rating: 6.8 (2059 ratings)
Content Rating: 6
Genre: Drama, Thriller
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112749/

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10. Invictus

Nelson Mandela, in his first term as President of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

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Rating: 7.3 (168707 ratings)
Content Rating: AL
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1057500/

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11. The Gods Must Be Crazy

A comic allegory about a traveling Bushman who encounters modern civilization and its stranger aspects, including a clumsy scientist and a band of revolutionaries.

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Rating: 7.3 (59991 ratings)
Content Rating: 12
Genre: Adventure, Comedy
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080801/

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12. Disgrace

After having an affair with a student, a Cape Town professor moves to the Eastern Cape, where he gets caught up in a mess of post-apartheid politics.

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Rating: 6.5 (5849 ratings)
Content Rating: 12
Genre: Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445953/

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13. Skin

Based on the true story of a black girl who was born to two white Afrikaner parents in South Africa during the apartheid era.

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Rating: 6.9 (3738 ratings)
Content Rating: PG-13
Genre: Biography, Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964586/

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14. District 9

Violence ensues after an extraterrestrial race forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth finds a kindred spirit in a government agent exposed to their biotechnology.

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Rating: 7.9 (722097 ratings)
Content Rating: 16
Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1136608/

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15. Mr. Bones

A medicine man is sent looking for the son of his tribal king, and brings back an American golfer and a host of goons intent on keeping him in the golf tournament.

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Rating: 4.7 (2942 ratings)
Content Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Family
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0302819/

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16. Material

Cassim is a young Muslim man who works in his father's fabric shop in Johannesburg. However, Cassim wants to be a stand-up comedian, which his father disproves of. When he gets a gig at a local bar, he has to find a way of keeping…

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Rating: 7.1 (1163 ratings)
Content Rating: Unrated
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899240/

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17. Fiela se Kind

A coloured woman in South Africa finds a white baby on her doorstep and raises him as her own. Nine years later, he is discovered and taken away.

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Rating: 7.5 (211 ratings)
Content Rating: N/A
Genre: Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144200/

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18. Yankee Zulu

Childhood friends Rhino and Zulu reunite as adults. Zulu, a wanted criminal after years in the US, drags Rhino into a wild chase with racist group T. U. R. D and lots of money.

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Rating: 6.4 (1963 ratings)
Content Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111787/

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19. Forever Young, Forever Free

When the chips are down and everything seems lost, it's good to have a best friend.

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Rating: 6.8 (231 ratings)
Content Rating: G
Genre: Drama, Family
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074542/

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20. Breaker Morant

Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers.

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Rating: 7.8 (14565 ratings)
Content Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, History, War
IMDb Link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080310/