This exclusive event, held at Ster-Kinekor Eastgate, that offered attendees an early glimpse into the film’s richly imagined universe, delivered all the sparkle of a major premiere, blending spectacle and anticipation as guests experienced the film ahead of its national release in cinemas on Friday 21 November 2025.

A positively spellbinding guest list

The yellow brick road arrivals carpet buzzed with a show-stopping line-up of South Africa’s most recognisable personalities, each adding their own touch of magic to the Wicked For Good celebration. Among the many farmiliar faces were Bontle Modiselle, Mrs SA Verushka Singh, Tamara Day, Hope Ramafalo and others. 

Kim Jayde took the spotlight as the official host, guiding the event with her signature charm and vibrant presence. Her energy kept the crowd enchanted as she welcomed guests on the carpet and in cinema, celebrating the magic, the emotion and the cinematic spectacle that define Wicked for Good.

Guests were also treated to a live rendition of the film’s beloved song “For Good” by the Johannesburg Queer Chorus, whose heartfelt harmonies filled the room with emotion and added a beautifully poignant touch to the celebration.

More Wicked For Good magic to come

Wicked For Good tells the untold story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba and Glinda as they navigate love, rivalry and the forces that will shape their destinies, long before Dorothy ever arrives in Oz. With ticket bookings now open, local cinemagoers are encouraged to secure their seats for the nationwide release this Friday, 21 November. Not one to be missed, we can safely and confidently declare that after seeing the movie. Whilst you wait, check out the official trailer below:

I Am Here is now showing at Cinema Nouveau Rosebank, and, in response to popular demand, will release at Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront today (Friday, 10 February).

Despite surviving one of history’s darkest systematic genocides during WWII, Ella has reclaimed her life and inspires others with her tenacity and bubbly personality. As one of the last remaining survivors in South Africa, her message of love and tolerance could not be more relevant in a world still plagued with xenophobia and discrimination.

In I Am Here, we meet Ella Blumenthal (now 101) at her 98th birthday celebration, where she opens up to close friends and family about her journey of survival, in a way she has never done before. This documentary contrasts Ella’s vibrant day-to-day life with stories of her survival. These memories are depicted through dynamic 2D animation, innovatively bringing her storytelling to life and resonating with audiences across generations.

Ella recalls bearing witness to losing her family, being a prisoner of three concentration camps, and narrowly escaping death in a gas chamber. However, she is not your average nonagenarian. This grandmother has joie de vivre, a zest for life, like no other, a characteristic that is unexpected, given her traumatic past. Ella perfectly encapsulates a strong willed, unwavering woman, who will stop at nothing to live life to the fullest and cherish every single moment.

Never afraid to express her mind, to joke around or to spontaneously speak about extremely dark moments from her past, Ella captures attention and lights up the screen. This has led to the film connecting with audiences around the world, with multiple awards already secured.  Most recently I Am Here, won three prestigious Golden Horns at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) for Best Documentary, Best Achievement in Editing and Best Achievement in Cinematography. This documentary is no stranger to winning awards. I Am Here won Best South African Documentary at the Durban International Film Festival and has received four Audience Choice Awards and two Awards for Best Director during its extensive film festival run.  Additionally, the film will feature at the Rapid Lion South African International Film Festival in 2023.

“Ella’s feisty, upbeat personality makes her a fantastic raconteur and wonderful character to follow in this film” said Benjamin Cowley, CEO Gravel Road Distribution Group. “I Am Here not only shines a light on her remarkable life, but also pays tribute to the power of the human spirit. Her vivacious personality and her positive outlook on life is truly inspiring,” he added.

I Am Here was directed by Jordy Sank, produced by Gabriella Blumberg and was supported by a grant from The Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany. To book tickets, click here.

The festival offers a six-day screening programme from 26 – 28 November and 3 – 5 December and takes place concurrently at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Johannesburg (Rosebank Mall), Pretoria (Brooklyn Mall) and Ster-Kinekor cinemas in Cape Town (Somerset & Blue Route) and Durban (Gateway).

The 7 internationally acclaimed films lined up for the Reel Art Film Festival – include:

• House of Gucci: an upcoming American epic biographical crime drama directed by Ridley Scott. It is based on the 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden. The film stars Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek and Al Pacino.

• King Richard:  The 2021 American biographical drama film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin. The film follows the life of Richard Williams, the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams and stars Will Smith in the title role.

• Parallel Mothers: The 2021 Spanish drama film written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. The film stars Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit.

• The French Dispatch: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in “The French Dispatch”. Directed by Wes Anderson and stars Benicio Del Toro, Adam Brody, Bill Murray, Tilda Swindon, Francis McDormand and Timothée Chalamet.

• C’mon C’mon: Johnny and his young nephew forge a tenuous but transformational relationship when they are unexpectedly thrown together in this delicate and deeply moving story about the connections between adults and children, the past and the future. From writer-director Mike Mills starring Academy Award Winner® Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman.

• Spencer: During her Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham estate, Diana decides to leave her marriage to Prince Charles. Directed by Pablo Larraín and starring Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall and Jack Nielen.

• Silent Night: From producers Matthew Vaughn, Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray (The Kids Are Alright), Silent Night follows a group of old friends who, in true British fashion and while the rest of the world faces impending doom, reunite to celebrate Christmas in the comfort of an idyllic country home. Starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, and Roman Griffin Davis.

To find out more information including screening times and ticketing, check here.

Over 1.3 million customers in South Africa have visited the cinema since reopening at the end of August, and this new closure will have a devasting blow especially at a time when cinemas are starting to experience an encouraging increase in attendances.  

Ster-Kinekor is currently in Business Rescue and the impact of the currently lockdown will have a devastating impact on the business.  As an industry we employ thousands of people and create employment for thousands of others in related industries. 

Ster-Kinekor is compliant with all COVID-19 protocols, and the cinema remains one of the safest forms of entertainment due to access control, the ability to distance patrons accordingly, strict management of cleaning, and no-touch points for purchase (tickets and confectionery can be purchased online).  The Health and Safety of our staff and customers is our highest priority and we have been operating been under strict Covid-19 protocols and even exceeding governmental requirements.  Cinemas remain a safe indoor venue with no infections traced back to cinema globally.

Ster-Kinekor is massively excited for the upcoming slate of Hollywood blockbusters whilst cinemas continue to dole out much-needed doses of escapism. You can still book your tickets at www.sterkinekor.com or download the SK App on your smartphone.

The movie is about the power of love, family and community in the face of hardship. It is also about the magic that can happen when someone who cannot speak with words finds people who can listen with their hearts. The musical drama feature film, directed by nine-time Grammy nominee Sia, was only going to release as a cinema premiere on Dstv Box Office on Friday 12 February 2021. However, due to popular demand, the film will now also release at Ster-Kinekor cinemas nationwide on the same day.

The story begins with a young girl on the autism spectrum who experiences the world through music. Sharing an apartment with her grandmother Millie (Mary Kay Place), Music (Maddie Ziegler) lives in a community brimming with love and support. When her grandmother dies, Music’s safe and structured world is turned upside down and she is left in the care of her estranged half-sister Zu (Kate Hudson).

As a recovering addict on parole, Zu is barely coping with her own issues when she finds herself thrust into the role of Music’s guardian and caregiver. Broke and barely sober, Zu is forced to accept that Music’s neighbours Ebo (Leslie Odom Jnr) and George (Héctor Elizondo) have a lot to teach her about how to care for her sister and the strength that can be found in a loving community.

“Deeply felt, MUSIC is a bold and compelling reinvention of the screen musical and a moving story of how individuals struggle and then come together and create community” said Benjamin Cowley, CEO Gravel Road Distribution Group. “The film is uplifting, light and soulful at the same time” he added.

Roxanne Manuel, Marketing Manager at Reach for a Dream Foundation says “Many of our children are suffering from cancer or cancer related diseases and with the global pandemic, our dreamers are left more vulnerable than ever before. In light of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the passing of Chadwick Boseman, we encourage everyone to get involved and help raise awareness by supporting this initiative with Ster-Kinekor and Reach for A Dream. Every bit will help to make a difference in the life of a child fighting cancer.”

21 Bridges (one we reviewed not too long ago) follows an embattled NYPD detective (Chadwick Boseman), who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. As the night unfolds, lines become blurred on who he is pursuing, and who is in pursuit of him. When the search intensifies, extreme measures are taken to prevent the killers from escaping Manhattan as the authorities close all 21 bridges to prevent any entry or exit from the iconic island.

Screenings will take place from 24 September to 27 September 2020 for 1 show per day at select Ster-Kinekor cinemas: Mall of Africa, Sterland, Eastgate, The Zone, Carnival City, Maponya, Sandton, Newtown Junction in Gauteng, Baywest in the Eastern Cape; Cape Gate, Parow and Promenade in the Western Cape; Gateway in KZN and Mall of the North in Polokwane.

To book your tickets go to www.sterkinekor.com or download the SK App on your smartphone. Remember it’s not only for a worthy cause but also in celebration of a movie legend.

Ava (Jessica Chastain) is a deadly mercenary who works for a black ops organisation, travelling the globe and specialising in high profile hits. Ava’s career takes a sudden, bad turn when a high profile job goes wrong due to faulty information provided to her. She is told to take a break until the heat blows over, but secretly, someone, has ordered a hit on her to ensure nothing traces back to the company.

Due to a family tragedy, Ava decides to go back home to Boston and attempt to mend her relationship with her mother (Geena Davis who ironically also played a female assassin in Long Kiss Goodnight) and sister, Judy, though the homecoming proves to be far from happy as the years of estrangement have created resentment.

To complicate things further, Ava discovers that her ex-fiancé is involved with an underground gambling ring that Ava knows all too well from her younger days. Ava has to save her family and herself from multiple threats, while battling her own demons.

We love movies here (a known fact) especially when they’re rendered and shown on the big screen, so we can’t wait to checkout this one. Catch AVA next week Friday, 28 August.

The biggest one is without a doubt, the adventures of Harley Quin in Birds of Prey which is set to feature in IMAX and all its beautiful immersive splendor. And if you are in the mood for something more cultured then Little Women and Jojo Rabbit that have both scored Oscar nominations for Best Film will perhaps be more your pace.

One thing is for sure, whether it’s insane comedy, romance, drama or lashings of horror you’re after, there’s a movie headed your way in Feb from Ster-Kinekor. Let’s checkout the full line-up below:

Birds of Prey

After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord. Releasing 7 February in 2D and IMAX – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Jojo Rabbit

A young boy in Hitler’s army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home, Nominated for several Oscars including Best Film, Jojo Rabbit is releasing on 7 February. Watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 1h48m

Age Restriction: 16

Fantasy Island

A horror adaptation of the popular ’70s TV show about a magical island resort. Releasing 14 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Queen & Slim

A couple’s first date takes an unexpected turn when a police officer pulls them over. Releasing 14 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 2h13m

Age Restriction: 16

Little Women

Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War. Nominated for the Best Film Oscar, Little Women releases on 21 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 2h15m

Age Restriction: TBC

Sonic the Hedgehog

A cop in the rural town of Green Hills will help Sonic escape from the government, who are looking to capture him. Releasing 21 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Gretel and Hansel

A long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil. Releasing 21 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

The Photograph

A series of intertwining love stories set in the past and in the present. Releasing 28 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Call of the Wild

A sled dog struggles for survival in the Alaskan wild. Releasing 28 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Brahms the Boy 2

After a family moves into the Heelshire Mansion, their young son soon makes friends with a life-like doll called Brahms, and terror follows. Releasing 28 February– watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

The Informer

An ex-convict working undercover intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum-security prison. Releasing 28 February – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Unplanned

All Abby Johnson ever wanted to do was help women. As one of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors in the nation, she believed in a woman’s right to choose. Until the day she saw something that changed everything. Releasing 28 February– watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 1h49m

Age Restriction: TBC

To book tickets and to find out more remember to visit www.sterkinekor.com or the Ster-Kinekor app.

• The idea behind Ster-Kinekor’s annual Oscar Buzz annual event
• The Cinema Nouveau offering
• Her views on the movie 1917
• This year’s Oscar Awards
• Foreign films with a specific focus on the hottest prospect currently, the movie Parasite
• What to expect from Ster-Kinekor this year as well

Listen to our interview with her below:

Our thanks to Ster-Kinekor for the awesome screening as well as Lynne for taking the time to chat to us. Always great to mix it up with this bunch and we look forward to more going forward.

Frozen 2

Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf are going far in the forest to learn the truth about an ancient mystery of their kingdom. Releasing on 6 December

Jumanji: The Next Level

A team of friends return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own but discover that nothing is as they expect. The players need to brave parts unknown, from arid deserts to snowy mountains, in order to escape the world’s most dangerous game. Releasing 12 December – watch the trailer here.

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

The surviving Resistance faces the First Order once more in the final chapter of the Skywalker saga. Releasing 20 December

Spies in Disguise

When the world’s best spy is turned into a pigeon, he must rely on his nerdy tech officer to save the world. Releasing 25 December

Dolittle

Robert Downey Jr. stars as the physician who discovers that he can talk to animals. Releasing 10 January

#WishYouWereHere

So we touched on this a little earlier, Ster-Kinekor have a fresh new campaign, aimed at dishing out all kinds of cool prizes, and it’s called #WishYouWereHere that involves an easy mechanic: 

• Take a photo in the “worlds of the imagination” found at selected malls and Ster-Kinekor cinemas
• Submit your photo using the hashtag #WishYouWereHere
• Tag Ster-Kinekor on social media and just like that you stand a chance to win great prizes

#WishYouWereHere will take place in cinemas from 6 December 2019 – 13 January 2020 at Eastgate, Greenstone, Centurion, Gateway, Shelly Beach, Garden Route Mall, I’langa, Blue Route, CapeGate, Baywest and Carnival City.

It doesn’t end there as the SK Club has partnered with Silverstone Solutions to give moviegoers yet another chance to win fantastic prizes during the festive season, including movie tickets, free popcorn, restaurant vouchers, movie merchandise, retail discount vouchers, apparel and a grand prize trip for 4 to Mauritius!

Enjoy the interactive games, complete the challenges and stand to win daily instant prizes and weekly prizes by climbing up the leaderboard. One grand prize awaits the person at the top of the leaderboard at the end of the campaign!

You can join the #WishYouWereHere community here.

Away from the scary stuff are fantastic titles to also look forward to such as Terminator: Dark Fate, Charlie’s Angels, 21 Bridges and Ford vs Ferrari, the epic story of the 1966 showdown between the two icons at Le Mans, all of which are coming out in IMAX, Ster-Kinekor’s larger-than-life immersive film experience – as well as in in D-BOX, where high-tech seating ensures that you’re moved in more ways than one.

We have the full list below, check it out:

Terminator: Dark Fate 

Sarah Connor and a hybrid cyborg human must protect a young girl from a liquid Terminator from the future. Releasing 1 November 2019 in 2D, IMAX and D-BOX – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Black & Blue

A rookie cop (Naomie Harris) inadvertently captures the murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. Realizing that the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the one person who is willing to help her (Tyrese Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge and police desperate to destroy the incriminating footage. Releasing 8 November 2019 – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC 

City of Lies 

Russell Poole and Jack Jackson investigate the murders of rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. City of Lies releases on 1 November 2019.

Run Time: 1h52m

Age Restriction: 16

 The Wedding Year

A commitment-phobic 27 year old’s relationship is put to the test when she and her new boyfriend go to 7 weddings in the same year. Releasing 1 November 2019 – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 1h31m

Age Restriction: TBC

We belong together 

A recovering alcoholic college professor trying to put his life back together meets a seductive student. She offers him a sensual escape from reality until he realizes she may be insane. Releasing 8 November 2019 – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Doctor Sleep 

Years after the events of “The Shining”; a now-adult Dan Torrence meets a young girl with similar powers as his and tries to protect her from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal. Releasing 8 November in 2D.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Countdown

When a nurse downloads an app that claims to predict the moment a person will die, it tells her she only has three days to live. With the clock ticking and a figure haunting her, she must find a way to save her life before time runs out. Countdown releases on 15 November 2019 in 2D – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 1h30m

Age Restriction: TBC

Motherless Brooklyn

Set against the backdrop of 1950s New York, Motherless Brooklyn follows Lionel Essrog, a lonely private detective afflicted with Tourette’s syndrome, as he ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend, Frank Minna. Releasing 15 November 2019 – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 2h26m

Age Restriction: TBC

Charlie’s Angels 

Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska star as the Angels working for the mysterious Charles Townsend. The world’s smartest, bravest, and most highly trained women all over the globe, are now teams of Angels guided by multiple Bosleys taking on the toughest jobs everywhere. Releasing 15 November 2019 in 2D, IMAX and D-BOX.

Run Time: 1h58m

Age Restriction: 13

Swift

The little swift Manou grows up believing he is a seagull. Learning to fly he finds out he never will be. Shocked, he runs away from home. He meets birds of his own species and finds out who he really is. When both seagulls and swifts face a dangerous threat, Manou becomes the hero of the day. Releasing 15 November – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: 1h30m

Age Restriction: TBC

Ford vs Ferrari

The true story of the battle between Ford and Ferrari to win Le Mans in 1966. Releasing 22 November in 2D, IMAX and D-BOX – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Cut-Out Girls

Six young women’s lives are altered by the actions of two aspiring sportsmen. Kevin and Mike are trying to get ahead in the competitive world of tennis. When one of them discovers a dangerous key that can unlock their potential, things go wrong. Releasing 22 November.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Jexi

A comedy about what can happen when you love your phone more than anything else in your life. Jexi releases on 22 November – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Playing with Fire

A crew of rugged firefighters meet their match when attempting to rescue three rambunctious kids. Playing with fire releases on 29 November – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

21 Bridges

A disgraced detective in the NYPD is given a shot at redemption. An action thriller starring Chadwick Boseman, J. K. Simmons, Sienna Miller, Taylor Kitsch, Stephan James, and Keith David, 21 Bridges is releasing 29 November in 2D, IMAX and D-BOX.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Knives Out

A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family. Starring Daniel Craig and Chris Evans, Knives Out is releasing on 29 November 2019 – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

Couples Night

A mid-western couple is transferred to Washington DC for work and meet the neighbours, a super-intense couple. As their friendships develop, confusion unfolds. Releasing 29 November – watch the trailer here.

Run Time: TBC

Age Restriction: TBC

For more info including showtimes and booking tickets, visit www.sterkinekor.com or the Ster-Kinekor app.

In this one, Henry Brogan (Will Smith) is an elite assassin who becomes the target of a mysterious operative who can seemingly predict his every move. To his horror, he soon learns that the man who’s trying to kill him is a younger, faster, cloned version of himself. It’s evident that this is heavily sci-fi  driven and it’s always cool to see Big Willy back on the big screen (where we prefer him and less so in the music industry…). From an acting point of view, there’s literally nothing this guy can’t do and it would be hard to find any bad movie that has him in it, most if not all of his work is fantastic.

We mentioned 3D+ earlier, we received some cool and fun facts from Ster-Kinekor around that, check them out below:

1.  3D+ is an evolutionary digital format with a frame rate of 60 frames per second – more than double the traditional movie frame rate – giving audiences an amplified, fully-immersive 3D experience.
2. With 60 3D images projected every second, derived from a pristine 120 frames per second master, 3D+ renders images closer than ever before to what the human eye sees, putting the viewer right in the center of the action.
3.  More images mean more depth, allowing viewers to see and experience so much more in the frame.
4. This elevated combination of performance and action sees 3D+ deliver the emotional journey and visual spectacle of a filmmaker’s vision exactly as they intended it.
5. This evolution in visual storytelling gives audiences the most immersive cinematic experience that can currently be enjoyed in a theatre.

And just imagine all of that tech infused and seeing it on either D-Box and/or IMAX…magical. That’s exactly what we are going to do this weekend as Gemini Man is officially in Ster-Kinekor cinemas from today.