These movies made the most money in South Africa in 2015
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has released statistical data for the South African box office for 2015, revealing which films – both international and local – made the most money.
According to the data, South Africa’s box office showed astounding growth in 2015, up 36% to R1.2 billion for the year – a new record.
The year was big for both international and local releases in the country, with 243 movies released, of which 22 were locally made.
Action movies dominated the charts, raking in the biggest portion of earnings (20%) – including major international releases such as Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Fast and Furious 7, and Jurassic World. The return of the much-loves Star Wars franchise also released in December 2015 – to much acclaim.
SA films accounted for a mere R69.2 million (6%) of the the box office gross, however, this was up from R55 million in 2014 – with Leon Schuster’s Shucks! Pay Back The Money taking the top spot.
Shucks was the only South African movie to rank among the top 25 films overall.
These are the biggest releases in the country (including 3D and IMAX) to 1 February 2016.

Top 25 movies in South Africa
| # | Movie | Gross (ZAR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast & Furious 7 | R 89 781 503 |
| 2 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens* | R 51 541 139 |
| 3 | Minions | R 49 991 165 |
| 4 | Avengers: Age of Ultron | R 47 181 912 |
| 5 | Jurassic World | R 46 867 371 |
| 6 | Fifty Shades of Grey | R 46 632 499 |
| 7 | 007: Spectre* | R 40 724 046 |
| 8 | Pitch Perfect 2 | R 30 946 311 |
| 9 | Taken 3 | R 24 703 010 |
| 10 | Inside Out | R 23 580 460 |
| 11 | Home | R 21 853 527 |
| 12 | The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 | R 21 253 172 |
| 13 | Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation | R 21 009 665 |
| 14 | Spongebob Squarepants 2 | R 18 654 290 |
| 15 | Hotel Transylvania 2 | R 18 108 508 |
| 16 | Shucks! Pay Back the Money | R 17 608 083 |
| 17 | The Divergent Series: Insurgent | R 17 412 160 |
| 18 | Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials | R 17 327 456 |
| 19 | San Andreas | R 17 197 228 |
| 20 | Cinderella | R 16 982 875 |
| 21 | Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip* | R 16 951 691 |
| 22 | Mad Max: Fury Road | R 16 752 366 |
| 23 | Spy | R 15 910 228 |
| 24 | Terminator Genisys | R 14 807 862 |
| 25 | Point Break* | R 14 025 254 |
* Movies still on circuit after 01 February 2016

Top South African movies in 2015
| # | Movie | Gross (ZAR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shucks! Pay Back the Money | R 17 608 083 |
| 2 | Ballade vir ‘n Enkeling | R 9 988 579 |
| 3 | Mooirivier | R 7 242 213 |
| 4 | Strikdas | R 5 357 865 |
| 5 | Hollywood in my Huis | R 5 085 370 |
| 6 | Dis Ek Anna | R 4 353 322 |
| 7 | Treurgrond | R 2 861 582 |
| 8 | Tell Me Sweet Something | R 2 824 433 |
| 9 | French Toast | R 2 452 344 |
| 10 | Somer Son | R 1 879 451 |
One of the biggest contributing factors of the box office success can be attributed to a steep hike in ticket costs.
According to the NFVF, Ster-Kinekor increased its movie ticket price by a range of 5% to 16%, while price changes at Nu Metro varied between 0% and
10.5% depending on which cinema you visit.
However, despite the price hikes – which are a barrier to many less affluent areas in the country – the South African box office is expected to see steady growth year-on-year in 2016.