The Sympathizer n Showmax
13 August 2024

The Sympathizer S1

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Sympathizer follows a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and into his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles, where he learns that his spying days aren't over. 

Hoa Xuande (Cowboy Bebop) leads a largely Vietnamese cast, with Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr. earning an Emmy nomination for his multiple roles here. The supporting cast includes Golden Globe winners Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy) and David Duchovny (The X Files, Californication), as well as John Cho (from the Harold & Kumar and Star Trek franchises).

The HBO/A24 co-production is #9 on Metacritic’s round-up of the Best TV Shows (So Far) This Year and has an 88% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Time Magazine says it’s “ambitious, brilliant television,” and Rolling Stone calls it “wickedly funny [and] deeply moving,” saying, “The Sympathizer turns a bestseller adaptation into a TV tour de force.” 

The Sympathizer is co-created by Cannes winners Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) and Don McKellar (Last Night), with Chan-wook, Oscar nominee Fernando Meirelles (City of God) and triple BAFTA winner Marc Munden (Utopia) each directing episodes. 

More like this

Die Kantoor is on Showmax

Schalk Bezuidenhout trades stand-up for 9-5 in Die Kantoor

Schalk Bezuidenhout talks about his role as Tjaart in Die Kantoor, the Afrikaans adaptation of The Office, now streaming on Showmax.

Original South Africa
Jurassic World: Rebirth on Showmax

Dino-mite comes in big packages in Jurassic World: Rebirth

Find out about the big three, the movie’s most adorable newcomer, and all your favourites who’re stomping and chomping in Jurassic World: Rebirth

First
Jurassic World: Rebirth on Showmax

Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

Scarlett Johansson leads a stellar cast in the seventh instalment in the iconic dinosaur franchise, about a team that needs to extract dinosaur DNA.

First
I Love LA S1 on Showmax

I Love LA S1

Toxic friendships are taken to a whole new level in this off-the-wall comedy, as a co-dependent friend group navigates life and love in Los Angeles.

First
Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition on Showmax

Wife Swap: The Real Housewives Edition

The pressure is on in this unique edition of Wife Swap as The Real Housewives stars "step into a real housewife's shoes."

First
Outlaws S2 on Showmax

A heartbreaking loss: Nolwandle Biyela’s final stand in Outlaws Season 2

Nosipho Pehlo talks about Nolwandle's final stand in Outlaws S2, now streaming on Showmax. New episodes land every Monday.

Original South Africa
Crutch S1 on Showmax

Crutch S1

Crutch, a Harlem widower, has his empty-nest plans put on hold after his millennial son and free-spirited daughter move back home.

First
Die Kantoor on Showmax

Die Kantoor S1

A workplace mockumentary set at Deluxe Processed Meats, a polony distribution company in Klerksdorp, where outdated opinions, low ambition and misplaced leadership collide.

OriginalMade in South Africa

Outlaws, now streaming on Showmax

Go on holiday with RHUGT: Africa