M.r Bones 2 was the highest grossing South African film at the local box office in the Noughties, while the original Mr. Bones was the most attended. The most attended films aren’t necessarily the highest grossing, due to the varying ticket price factors, like half price days.

Mr. Bones star Leon Schuster hogs the top four positions, averaging R 29 674 505 per film. With Schuster included, South African comedies average an impressive R11 420 444, compared to R2 293 414 for local comedies without Schuster. 

Outside of Schuster though, it’s sobering reading for investors.

The average South African feature film not starring Leon made R1.1 million, while the average documentary made R103 165.

The list is displayed by distributor (UIP is United International Pictures, SK is Ster Kinekor, and NM is Nu Metro), then prints, then gross box office, then attendance.

This information is courtesy of Nu Metro and Ster Kinekor, to whom we are immensely grateful.

1. M.r Bones 2 - 2008
(UIP, 110, R34 964 405, 1 5 99 756)

2. Mr. Bones - 2001
(UIP, 89, R33 062 486, 1 864 971)

3. Mama Jack - 2005
(UIP, 103, R27 245 568, 1 523 079)

4. Oh Schucks I’m Gatvol - 2004
(UIP, 106, R23 425 564, 1 048 025)

5. Tsotsi - 2006
(SK, 21, R8 152 864, 439 282)

6. White Wedding - 2009
(SK, 39, R4 802 283, 222 629)

7. Jerusalema - 2008
(UIP, 14, R4 133 134, 234 686)

8. Hansie - 2008
(NM, 94, R4 025 021, 179 867)

9. Crazy Monkey: Straight Outta Benoni - 2005
(SK, 45, R3 119 371, 183 653)

10. Bakgat - 2008
(SK, 43, R2 902 178, 131 859)

11. Poena is Koning - 2007
(SK, 48, R2 447 025, 120 803)

12. Faith Like Potatoes - 2006
(NMT, 26, R2 411 077, 140 822)

13. District 9 - 2009
(SK, 81, R2 113 001)

14. Vaatjie Sien Sy Gat - 2008
(SK, 34, R2 056 387, 86 545)

15. The Flyer - 2005
(SK, 35, R1 860 047, 84 547)

16. Running Riot - 2006
(SK, 83, R1 761 161, 92 950)

17. Yesterday - 2004
(UIP, 24, R1 182 008, 53 727)

18. Tornado - 2009
(SK, 42, R1 084 371, 40 869)

19. Drum - 2005
(NM, 28, R917  368, 66 993)

20. Hond se Dinges - 2009
(SK, 32, R649 937, 27 420)

21. Finding Lenny - 2009
(NM, 43, R608 969, 23 747)

22. Story of an African Farm - 2004
(SK, 20, R601 441, 27 942)

23. Wah Wah - 2006
(SK, 6, R515 489, 20 628)

24. Confessions of a Gambler - 2008
(NMT, 16, R489 760, 22 262)

25. Number 10 - 2006
(SK, 40, R469 226, 26 551)

26. Bunny Chow - 2007
(SK, 16, R368 575, 20 197) 27. Sarafina! - 2006 re-release
(UIP, 41, R368 006, 24 806)

28. Max and Mona - 2005
(SK, 32, R319 769,14 535)

29. Ouma se Slim Kind - 2007
(SK, 23, R318 362, 13 983)

30. Red Dust - 2005
(UIP, 15, R315 529, 14 342)

31. Amandla! - 2003
(UIP, R315 492, 14 340)

32. Promised Land - 2003
(SK, 5, R307 974, 13 998)

33. uCarmen eKhayelitsha - 2005
(SK, 7, R294 035)

34. Disgrace - 2009
(UIP, 10, R281 866)

35. Beat the Drum - 2006
(NM, 21, R273 422, 20 044)

36. Forgiveness - 2004
(SK, 7, R249 262, 70 715)

37.  The Hitchhiker - 2008
(SKT, 9, R234 081, 9 333)

38. Footskating 101 - 2007
(UIP, 55, R218 639, 11 330)

39. Hijack Stories - 2003
(SK, 5, R172 019, 7 819)

40. Discreet - 2008
(SK, 8, R157 284, 4 968)

41. Ingrid Jonker: Her Lives and Time - 2007
(SK, 2, R156 557, 6 831)

42. In My Country - 2005
(SK, 7, R155 840)

43. A Boy Called Twist - 2005
(SK, 5, R150 632)

44. Zulu Love Letter - 2005
(SK, 7, R140 061)

45.Izulu Lami - 2009
(SK, 23, R139 000)

46.  More Than Just a Game - 2008
(UIP, 17, R119 771, 6 990)

47. God is African - 2003
(SK, 4, R115 905, 5 268)

48. Cosmic Africa - 2003
(SK, 5, R107 692, 4 895)

49. Fokofpolisiekar - 2009
(SK, 19, R95 317)

50. Sophiatown - 2005
(SK. 6. R90 818, 4 128)

51. Malunde - 2003
(SK, 5, R86 907, 3 950)

52. Behind the Rainbow - 2008
(SK, 8, R84 827, 3 266)

53. Intonga - 2009
(NM, 21, R70 139, 2 852)

54. uMalusi - 2009
(SK, 14, R58 327, 3 854)

55. Son of Man - 2008
(SK, 9, R46 539, 2 176)

56. Heaven’s Herds - 2006
(SK, 3, R34 868, 1 226)

57. Soldiers of the Rock
(SK, 4, R33 387)

58. Born to Struggle - 2005
(SK, 2, R13 697)

59. Confessions on a Sunday Afternoon - 2006
(SK, 2, R12 616, 450)

60. Faith’s Corner - 2005
(UIP, 1, R10 027, 457)

Do these figures encourage investment? Let us know what you think by commenting below.
Kevin Kriedemann