DStv owner Canal+ spent nearly R466 million over 7 years to launch the film catalogue.
Groupe Canal+ has announced the launch of StudioCanal Classics, a new catalogue label designed to support and curate its film library over more than 18,000 titles.
In support of the initiative, the DStv owner invested nearly €25 million (R466 million) over the past 7 years to bring thousands of classics into 4K resolution.
“The StudioCanal catalogue, which is one of the most prestigious film libraries in the world, boasts more than 18,000 titles, the largest library outside the US, spanning 100 years of film history,” Canal+ said.
“StudioCanal’s territory footprint spans across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, and also distributing via partners in Scandinavia and South Africa.”
The launch promises several theatrical re-releases, bringing restored classics back to cinemas around the globe.
Notable planned re-releases include Manhunter: The Final Cut in 4K, Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 2D, 3D, 4DX, and D-BOX, Pan’s Labyrinth in 4K, and To Be or Not to Be.
It also promises various home entertainment releases or re-releases that will reach streaming and TV platforms.
These include several highly anticipated 4K formats for Blood Simple Director’s Cut, Joseph Losey’s Accident, Chaplin, Un Flic, and Manhunter: The Final Cut 4K Collector’s Edition.
“StudioCanal Classics will soon reveal its 2027 theatrical and home entertainment slate, which will include the release of a highly anticipated David Lynch collection,” Canal+ said.
Anna Marsh, StudioCanal CEO and Groupe Canal+ chief content officer, said the company was proud to announce StudioCanal Classics.
“Our world-class library represents a unique opportunity to champion some of the most beloved, iconic, timeless, and influential films spanning more than 100 years of cinema history,” she said.
“Through expert restoration, thoughtful curation, and innovative audience engagement, we have a responsibility to preserve the enduring impact and cultural legacy of these extraordinary films.”
David Mignot, Canal+ Africa CEO
In October 2025, Canal+ Africa CEO David Mignot revealed that the broadcaster planned to export South African-made content to other regions through StudioCanal.
StudioCanal is the group’s financing, production, and distribution entity, and Mignot described it as the largest seller of European content worldwide.
“StudioCanal is everywhere… So, they are very open and already organised to sell,” the Canal+ Africa CEO stated.
However, he noted that the content would need to be of a high quality to qualify for export to other regions.
Mignot indicated that local productions such as Shaka iLembe and Spinners were recent examples of South African content ripe for export.
Shaka iLembe is a dramatic retelling of the life of King Shaka. The TV show drew a record 3.6 million viewers in its premiere week in June 2023 — the highest recorded for a MultiChoice-produced show.
In 2024, it became the most-awarded series ever at the South African Film and Television Awards. It holds a rating of 9.1 out of 10 across 974 IMDb reviews.
Spinners is a drama about a 17-year-old trying to escape from gang life in the Cape Flats through extreme vehicle spinning.
MultiChoice’s international sales arm, MultiChoice Studios, has licenced and co-produced content for international markets for many years.
However, Groupe Canal+ is a much larger company with a much greater reach. It invests around €3.5 billion (R65 billion) in movies and series each year.
In comparison, MultiChoice spent R20.3 billion on content in the 2024/25 financial year. Neither company disclosed how much revenue it generated from international content sales.
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