Loved Out, the fearless, funny and fiercely female-led South African dramedy, is now showing at CineCentre cinemas across the country and will soon open at NuMetro Theatres (from 22 August) and Ster-Kinekor Theatres (from 2 September). The film has already begun winning over audiences with its riotous blend of sass, satire, and heart — and its nationwide rollout promises to set Mzansi screens ablaze.
What do you get when you cross a toxic frenemy, a high-stakes cooking competition, and a church heist? A laugh-out-loud, cry-in-your-cocktail story that flips the local cinema scene on its head.
Written, directed, and produced by Zimbabwean-South African creative powerhouse Tendayi Nyeke, Loved Out is a vibrant, fearless, and fabulously unfiltered dramedy.
FAKE IT TILL YOU BREAK DOWN
Ruva (27), played by rising star Bahumi Mhlongo, is a self-styled mogul running her restaurant with the confidence of a Kardashian and the Instagram aesthetic of Lasizwe — but behind the filters, she’s one bad review away from collapse. Alongside her scandal-prone mother Gloria (Khabonina Qubeka), Ruva is fighting to drag their family restaurant out of the gutter and into gourmet territory.
When a R1 million online competition collides with a kidnapping, a shady preacher, and a deal with her old nemesis Linden, Ruva must finesse her way to the top — or lose everything, including her mother’s life.
A CINEMATIC EXPERIENCE WITH FLAVOUR
Set in a pulsating African city, Loved Out bounces between slick publishing houses, cramped cottages, and glossy restaurants — unpacking the smoke and mirrors of modern life: what we post, what we wear, what we fake, and what it costs to keep up appearances.
From the sass of Bridesmaids to the vibrant chaos of Girl’s Trip and the Gen-Z charm of Rye Lane, Loved Out is fast-paced, visually electric, and bursting with colour, comedy, and character.
CAST
- Bahumi Mhlongo as Ruva, the chaotic queen of content.
- Khabonina Qubeka as Gloria, her spicy, scandalous mom.
- Tumi Morake as Mai D, matriarch with food and fire.
- Ayakha Ntunja as Vazu, Afro pop-princess dreamer.
- Marcus Mabusela as Pastor Zakes, shady with a capital “S.”
- Eliazer Shadung as Nangi, Ruva’s glam, ride-or-die confidant.
SOUNDTRACK
With music by Nkosilathi “Niko” Ndlovu, Alessandro Giovanetto, and a featured track from Grammy-winner Brian Soko (Drunk in Love), the soundscape blends amapiano, trap, gospel, and Afro-pop into a cinematic firestorm.
RELEASE ROLLOUT
- NOW SHOWING: CineCentre
- NuMetro: 22 August 2025
- Ster-Kinekor: 2 September 2025
- Zimbabwe Release: 28 November 2025
Follow @LovedOutAF on Instagram & TikTok for behind-the-scenes, cast confessions, and exclusive content.
Loved Out is wild, warm, wickedly real — and it’s everything you never knew you needed from South African cinema.
Partners & Sponsors
Loved Out is proudly supported by:
- Monatea – Official Tea Partner | Drink Monatea
- Kumusha Wines – Official Wine Partner | baobabwines.com/kumusha-wines
- Flavia’s Boutique – Official stylist to Khabonina and Bahumi (premiere & podcast appearances only)
