Tsotsi
“In this world... Redemption comes just once.”
Synopsis
A young South African boy from the Johannesburg ghetto named Tsotsi, meaning Gangster, leaves home as a child to get away from his helpless parents. Now a teenage thug, Tsotsi finds a baby in the back seat of a car he's just stolen. He decides that it is his responsibility to care for the infant and in the process learns that maybe the criminal life isn’t the best way.
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
February 10, 2006
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$3M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$9.9M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
3.3x
+$6.9M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Gavin Hood
- Screenplay & Story
- Athol Fugard, Gavin Hood
- Original Score
- Paul Hepker, Mark Kilian
- Original Title
- Tsotsi
- Country of Origin
- South Africa, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- Sotho, Afrikaans, Tswana, Zulu, English
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Budget
- $3M
- Worldwide Gross
- $9.9M
- Production Studios
- Movieworld Productions, UK Film & TV Production Company, National Film & Video Foundation of South Africa, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →Presley Chweneyagae
Tsotsi
Jerry Mofokeng
Morris
Terry Pheto
Miriam
Zenzo Ngqobe
Butcher
Zola
Fela
Rapulana Seiphemo
John Dube
Nambitha Mpumlwana
Pumla Dube
Percy Matsemela
Sergeant Zuma
Thembi Nyandeni
Soekie
Owen Sejake
Gumboot Dlamini
Israel Makoe
Tsotsi's father
Sindi Khambule
Tsotsi's Mother
Benny Moshe
Young Tsotsi
Mothusi Magano
Boston
Kenneth Nkosi
Aap
Ian Roberts
Captain Smit
Bheki Vilakazi
Newspaper Vendor
Craig Palm
Young Cop
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Gavin Hood
Athol Fugard, Gavin Hood
Paul Hepker, Mark Kilian
Lance Gewer
Megan Gill
Peter Fudakowski
Department Leadership Roster
Emilia Roux
Production Design
Gavin Hood
Director
Peter Fudakowski
Producer
Nadia Kruger
Costume Design
Lance Gewer
Director of Photography
Megan Gill
Editor
Pierre Vienings
Costume Design
Paul Hepker
Original Music Composer
Mark Kilian
Original Music Composer
Gavin Hood
Writer
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2018-09-12
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Tsotsi.
Movie Night Bingo
多伦多电影节人民选择奖
Toronto Film Festival Audience Award 多伦多国际电影节历届人民选择奖（观众票选最高奖）。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-09 07:39:40 UTC+8)*
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-09 07:37:15 UTC+8)*
Watchlist
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the movies I own on DVD and Blue Ray
African Cinema
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Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Tsotsi.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tsotsi
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Tsotsi about?
A young South African boy from the Johannesburg ghetto named Tsotsi, meaning Gangster, leaves home as a child to get away from his helpless parents. Now a teenage thug, Tsotsi finds a baby in the back seat of a car he's just stolen. He decides that it is his responsibility to care for the infant and in the process learns that maybe the criminal life isn’t the best way.
Who directed Tsotsi?
Tsotsi was directed by Gavin Hood.
Who stars in Tsotsi?
The principal cast of Tsotsi includes Presley Chweneyagae, Jerry Mofokeng, Terry Pheto, Zenzo Ngqobe, Zola.
When was Tsotsi released and how long is it?
Tsotsi was released in 2005 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
What was the box office and production budget of Tsotsi?
Tsotsi had a reported production budget of $3M and grossed $9.9M at the worldwide box office (3.3 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Tsotsi?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Tsotsi was composed by Paul Hepker, Mark Kilian.
Is Tsotsi based on a book or true story?
Tsotsi is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Athol Fugard".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Tsotsi?
Tsotsi holds official age classifications: DE: 12; GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).