Rent recent cinema releases on your Explora decoder or in the DStv app — here is exactly how BoxOffice works, what it costs, and how to avoid paying twice for movies you already have.
What This Guide Covers
DStv BoxOffice is the pay-per-rental movie store built into DStv — a rotating shelf of recent cinema releases you can rent without waiting for them to appear on a channel or in Catch Up. If you have ever wanted to watch a film that just left cinemas without buying it outright, BoxOffice is the answer, and it works from both your decoder and your phone. This page walks through renting step by step, explains the viewing window, and shows where BoxOffice fits alongside the other on-demand options in the complete DStv guide.
BoxOffice sits inside the wider DStv ecosystem — the same one that includes Catch Up, Showmax and DStv Stream — so it is worth understanding how the pieces overlap before you start spending on rentals. If you want the full picture of packages, pricing and what each tier unlocks, read our full DStv packages and pricing breakdown first, then come back here for the movie-rental detail.
The Basics
BoxOffice is a pay-per-rental store of recent cinema releases. Unlike a channel or an included on-demand library, nothing on BoxOffice is "free" with your subscription — every title carries a per-movie rental fee that is charged on top of your monthly DStv bill. Your package (from Access all the way up to Premium) unlocks the store, but the moment you press rent, you are paying for that specific film.
The trade-off for that fee is timing. BoxOffice titles are typically newer than anything you will find in Catch Up — often films that only recently left cinemas — so you are effectively renting the early window before they reach the wider streaming catalogues. Each rental comes with a fixed viewing window: usually a couple of days to start watching, then a shorter window (commonly around 24 to 48 hours) to finish once you press play. After that window closes, the rental expires and you would need to rent again to re-watch.
— Remember: BoxOffice is a rental, not a purchase. The fee buys a viewing window, not a permanent copy — so only rent when you are ready to sit down and watch.
Step by Step
If you watch DStv through an Explora, renting a movie takes about a minute. There is no card to enter and no separate account — everything is billed straight to your DStv subscription.
Press the BoxOffice button
On your Explora remote, tap the BoxOffice or Movies button (or open it from the main menu). The store loads a shelf of current new-release rentals.
Browse and pick a title
Scroll the posters, open a film to read the synopsis, check the rating and confirm the price and viewing window shown on the rental card.
Confirm the rental
Select Rent and confirm. The fee is added to your DStv account, so there is no separate card entry — it appears on your bill.
Start watching within the window
The title unlocks immediately. You have a set period to begin, then a shorter window to finish once you press play, so start it when you are ready to watch.
Step by Step
Prefer to watch on a phone, tablet or smart TV? BoxOffice lives in the DStv app too, streamed over the internet. This is the same app you use for live TV and Catch Up, so if you already stream through DStv Stream the store will feel familiar.
Open the DStv app
Launch the DStv app on your phone, tablet or smart TV and sign in with the account linked to your subscription.
Go to BoxOffice / Movies
Tap the BoxOffice or Movies section. The same rental catalogue you see on the decoder appears here, streamed over the internet.
Rent and confirm
Choose a film, tap Rent, and confirm. The charge is billed to your DStv account exactly as it is on the decoder.
Watch on any linked device
Play it in the app on the go. Rentals are tied to your account, so you can pick up on another linked device within the same viewing window.
Stop Paying Twice
This is where a lot of households waste money. BoxOffice, Catch Up and Showmax all deliver movies on demand, but they are billed in completely different ways — and it is easy to rent a film on BoxOffice that you could already stream on a service you pay for. Before you rent, it is worth knowing which is which.
| BoxOffice | Catch Up | Showmax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Per-title rental fee | Included in your package | Separate monthly subscription |
| What you get | Recent cinema releases | Shows & films that recently aired | Full streaming catalogue (films + series) |
| Viewing window | Fixed rental window (24–48h to finish) | Until it rotates out of the library | Anytime while subscribed |
| Best for | The odd new release | Catching missed episodes | Bingeing a big library |
| Watch out for | Rentals add up per film | Titles expire and rotate | Paying twice if bundled on Premium |
The short version: Catch Up is already included in your package, so check it first — the film you want may be there at no extra cost. Showmax is a separate MultiChoice subscription (bundled or discounted on Premium), so if you already pay for it, the title may be streamable there for free. Only reach for BoxOffice when the release is too new for either — otherwise you are paying a rental fee for something you already own. For more on the free options, see our guide to the DStv app and Catch Up.
The Cost Question
Per-title rentals feel small in isolation, but they compound. Rent one film on a quiet weekend and BoxOffice is a bargain — cheaper than a cinema ticket and far cheaper than committing to a new subscription. Rent three or four films a month, month after month, and those individual fees quietly grow into a second entertainment bill sitting on top of your DStv package, which on Premium is already around R979/mo (roughly R11,750 a year, indicative 2026 and reviewed each April).
BoxOffice suits you if…
You are an occasional new-release watcher — a film every few weeks, usually something too recent to stream anywhere else. Paying only when you watch keeps your costs honest and avoids another monthly subscription.
You are better on a flat catalogue if…
You watch several movies a month. At that pace the rental fees overtake a flat streaming subscription, and a single monthly price for an unlimited library gives you far more viewing for the money.
Worth Weighing Up
BoxOffice makes the most sense when you watch rarely. If you are a heavy movie watcher, the rental model starts working against you — and that is where flat-fee, unlimited on-demand libraries change the maths. Streaming services and internet-TV (IPTV) providers bundle large film catalogues into one monthly price, so instead of paying per title you pay once and watch as much as you like.
It is not a like-for-like swap — BoxOffice gives you the very newest releases, which a catalogue may take longer to add, and IPTV quality varies by provider while content licensing and legality differ by country, so it is always worth testing on a free trial and checking your local rules. But for households whose spend is creeping up through repeated rentals, comparing options is smart. See how the flat-fee model stacks up in our roundup of the best IPTV service options before your next rental.
Common Questions
Is DStv BoxOffice free with my subscription?
No. BoxOffice is a pay-per-rental store, so each title is charged on top of your monthly DStv subscription. Your package unlocks access to the store, but you still pay a per-movie rental fee every time you press rent, even on DStv Premium.
How long do I have to watch a BoxOffice rental?
A BoxOffice rental gives you a fixed viewing window — typically a couple of days to start watching and a shorter window (often 24 to 48 hours) to finish once you press play. Confirm the exact period on the rental screen before you pay, as it can vary by title.
What is the difference between BoxOffice and Catch Up?
Catch Up is an included on-demand library of shows and films that recently aired on your channels — no extra charge. BoxOffice is a separate pay-per-rental store of newer cinema releases that are not yet in Catch Up, and you pay for each rental individually.
Can I rent BoxOffice movies on the DStv app?
Yes. BoxOffice is available both on an Explora decoder and in the DStv app on phones, tablets and smart TVs. Open the BoxOffice or Movies section, pick a title, confirm the rental, and it is billed to your DStv account.
Is BoxOffice worth it compared with a streaming subscription?
It depends on how often you watch. For the occasional new release, BoxOffice can be cheaper than a subscription. If you watch several films a month, per-title rentals add up fast and a flat-fee streaming catalogue usually delivers far more viewing for the money.
Related Guides
This guide is one chapter of the main DStv guide — explore the rest below.
Swap per-title rentals for one flat price and an unlimited on-demand library. Try it free — no card needed — and see how much you watch before you decide.