Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which was released in South Africa on 28 November 2013, continues to perform well at the South Africa box office and has become the highest-grossing biopic of all time in South Africa.
The film has earned R20 643 236 in just over five weeks, outgrossing the entire runs of the multiple Oscar-winning biopics The King’s Speech, The Iron Lady, Lincoln, Schindler’s List, A Beautiful Mind, Ray and Gandhi, as well as Oscar winners Walk the Line, Evita and Elizabeth, and multiple Oscar nominees Invictus and Ali.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom has also grossed more at the South African box office than the multiple Oscar winner, The Life of Pi, which grossed R20 567 285 for its entire run in South Africa.
“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom gives audiences an opportunity to experience the amazing life of Nelson Mandela and be inspired by him. This is a film for all South Africans and we are thrilled that South African audiences have watched this epic film on the big screen at cinemas,” said producer, Anant Singh.
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom is an Anant Singh presentation of a Justin Chadwick film. A Videovision Entertainment production in association with Distant Horizon, Origin Pictures, Pathe, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa and the National Empowerment Fund. The film stars Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa, Lindiwe Matshikiza, Terry Pheto, Jamie Bartlett, and Deon Lotz. Music is composed by Alex Heffes with music contributions from Caiphus Semenya, Blondie Makhene and Dizu Plaatjies. The Co-Producers are Robert Naidoo, Brian Cox, Vlokkie Gordon, Hlengiwe Makhathini, with Executive Producers Cameron McCracken, François Ivernel, Geoffrey Qhena, Basil Ford, Philisiwe Mthethwa, Harvey Weinstein, Sudhir Pragjee and Sanjeev Singh. Producer for Origin Pictures is David M Thompson.
Produced by Anant Singh, the film is based on Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, with the screenplay by William Nicholson. It is directed by Justin Chadwick.