There’s no doubt that the South African film industry has grown in leaps and bounds over the last few years. The upcoming release of two new locally produced films – Ayanda and the Mechanic and Thina Sobabili – and the rave reviews each film has received, is proof of the local film industry's rise.

In anticipation of the release of the two films, we found ourselves feeling a little a nostalgic, so we’ve put together a list of some of our most favourite and memorable locally made flicks.

There's a Zulu On My Stoep

No South African movie list is complete without a Leon Schuster flick. He is dubbed "The King of South African Cinema" for a reason.  Any movie that stars the local funnyman will rake in the cash at the box office. Set in Apartheid South Africa, this movie was a unanimous success amongst black and white South Africans. Who can forget that epic “They don’t call me die hard for nothing” line?

Tsotsi

The first South African movie to win an Academy Award. Tsotsi broke barriers for local cinema, while also giving birth to breakout stars Presley Tshweneyagae and Terry Pheto, with the latter going on to make appearances in American soapie The Bold and the Beautiful.

​Jerusalema

Quite possibly the most underrated film on our list, which is understandable because it was released in the wake of Tsotsi’s Academy Award win a few years earlier. Despite being underrated, the film – which features a number of local acting heavyweights, including Rapulana Seiphemo, Kenneth Nkosi and Ronnie Nyakalle – has earned itself cult status amongst local movie goers.

District 9

Written and directed by South African-born filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, this film was a breakaway from the themes of Apartheid, crime and poverty that had become the staple subject matter in local cinema. This sci-fi thriller brought aliens, spaceships and kickass firearms to the Johannesburg city centre. Nice!