Loved Out: A Fierce and Funny New South African Film Hits Cinemas This Spring

What happens when a family restaurant on the brink of collapse, an Instagram-perfect entrepreneur, and a million-rand cooking contest collide? You get Loved Out — a fearless, funny, and unapologetically female-led film set to sizzle on Mzansi’s big screens this September.

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From the award-winning creatives at Ndiani Studios and Tenye Creates, and directed by Children’s Emmy-nominated powerhouse Tendayi Nyeke, Loved Out promises a rollercoaster ride filled with comedy, drama, and plenty of spice.

At the centre of the story is Bahumi Mhlongo as Ruva, a 27-year-old culinary dreamer with the confidence of a rising Johannesburg star and a social media presence so polished it could make a humble pap and chakalaka look like a five-star delicacy. She’s running her family restaurant with high hopes, but behind the perfectly curated posts and viral recipe videos, one bad review could send her plans up in smoke.

Her partner in chaos is her mother, Gloria, played by the legendary Khabonina Qubeka — a scandal-prone, sharp-tongued woman who refuses to play by the rules. Together, they’re trying to drag their eatery, Ru and Glo’s, from failure into foodie fame.

The drama escalates when Ruva enters an online cooking competition with a million rand at stake. Just as things start looking up, her high school bully turned media mogul, Linden, reappears with an offer she can’t resist — and secrets that once destroyed her life.

But when Gloria is kidnapped over stolen money linked to ruthless gangsters, Ruva is thrown into a race against time. With only a week to save her mom, she reluctantly teams up with Linden, takes her online persona to the next level, and discovers what she’s truly capable of.

Backed by a powerhouse cast including Tumi Morake, Marcus Mabusela, Ayakha Ntunja, and Eliazer Shadung, Loved Out also features a soundtrack packed with flavour, including a Grammy-winning track from Brian Soko.

Visually striking and emotionally raw, the film captures the vibrant chaos of Johannesburg life, from bustling city streets to intimate family moments. It dives into influencer culture, family secrets, high-stakes ambition, and the humor and heartbreak of chasing your dreams in a city that never slows down.

Audiences can catch Loved Out when it premieres on September 26, 2025, at NuMetro, Ster-Kinekor, and CineCentre theatres across South Africa, with releases in Zambia and Zimbabwe on November 28, 2025.

Bold, hilarious, and unapologetically heartfelt, Loved Out proves that South African cinema has its own flavour — full of grit, glamour, and unforgettable characters.