Top 5 Fan-Favourite Movies as Voted by South Africa

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This October, M-Net Movies 2 is presenting a special Fan Favourites festival, and you chose the movies! It’s interesting to see what viewers enjoy, and this selection shows South Africans were craving exciting, big-budget films and uplifting stories. Here are the top 5 films that received the most votes!

1. Bean

I’ve been a fan of Rowan Atkinson for years – he *is* Mr. Bean! He’s that hilariously clumsy, uniquely British character who always makes me laugh. It’s amazing how his comedy works – it’s all about what happens *in the moment* and those brilliant visual jokes. That’s why I think he’s funny no matter where you are in the world; it just transcends language. His adventures are always so delightfully peculiar.

In the family comedy adventure, simply called Bean, the main character goes to America to take a job at an art gallery in Los Angeles. He’s given a very important task: to reveal one of America’s most famous paintings, Whistler’s Mother, after his position at the Royal National Gallery is put at risk.

2. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King is an incredible accomplishment. As the perfect ending to the trilogy, this four-hour fantasy film reintroduced the idea of a break in the middle. This masterpiece vividly brings J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous fantasy world to life with state-of-the-art visual effects, creating a visually stunning and captivating experience. It’s truly enthralling.

Having won 11 Academy Awards and currently ranked #6 on IMDb’s Top 250, Return of the King is widely considered the greatest fantasy film ever made. It’s a movie filled with incredible emotion, wonder, and strength, and it will be hard for any other film to surpass it.

3. Sonic the Hedgehog

Sonic the Hedgehog is Sega’s iconic character who became famous as a rival to Nintendo’s Mario Bros. Energetic, persistent, and spirited, this fast hedgehog’s quest to collect rings was a popular feature on K-TV in the 1990s. Viewers could even participate by calling in and giving instructions like “forward” and “grab” to control the character.

Although the character designs for the long-awaited video game movie were first met with some complaints, the film itself is a really fun and exciting action adventure. This fast-paced animated story follows Sonic, who has to hide out on Earth after his special powers attract the attention of his arch-enemy, Dr. Robotnik – brilliantly portrayed by Jim Carrey.

4. The Matrix

If I want to look like I stepped out of a futuristic movie, I always think about grabbing a black trench coat and some sunglasses! The Matrix totally changed action films, you know? It’s this amazing cyberpunk sci-fi adventure with a really cool anime vibe, and honestly, it reminds me of Alice in Wonderland in a weird way. The Wachowskis clearly drew inspiration from things like Ghost in the Shell, and they built this incredibly trippy world where a regular office worker suddenly realizes… well, everything might not be what it seems, like waking up from a dream.

Joining forces with Trinity and Morpheus, Neo learns he might be the final chance for humanity to survive the war against the machines. This visually striking and groundbreaking sci-fi film is full of style, with incredible martial arts, intense gun battles, and the power to manipulate what’s real. It’s a captivating and intellectually stimulating experience that established Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Laurence Fishburne as legendary figures in film.

5. Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians is a delightful romantic comedy-drama that’s different from most, thanks to its emphasis on Asian culture, its portrayal of modern relationships, and its entirely Asian cast. Although the story follows the familiar formula of a Hollywood “rom-com”, it offers a fresh perspective with its lively Asian backdrop and strong female characters.

I just finished watching this movie, and it’s a delightful story about Rachel Chu, a young Economics professor who gets a serious culture shock when she meets her boyfriend’s family. He’s incredibly wealthy, and from Singapore, and let me tell you, his mother isn’t thrilled with Rachel! She faces a lot of judgment and jealousy from other women too. But it’s a really feel-good film, largely thanks to the amazing cast. Constance Wu is absolutely charming, Henry Golding is effortlessly dapper, and Michelle Yeoh is, as always, completely indomitable. They deliver a truly sparkling and satisfying love story – it’s a bit different from what you usually see, and I highly recommend it.

Here are the runners-up: Shrek Forever After, Godzilla, Batman Begins, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, and Dennis the Menace.

Catch all of these movies on M-NET Movies 2 this month or on DStv catch up.

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2025-09-30 16:43