Film critic Anne T. Donahue of Globe and Mail gave the film 3 and half stars out of four, saying, "It is a movie that’s as defined by what one’s heart can endure as much as it is by its mesmerizing sport, its acting and how long it will stay with you. Knuckle City cannot be overlooked."[5] Courtney Small of In The Seats gave it a 4/5 stars and praised the fresh take on traditional genre tropes, saying "Bathed in a sea of poverty and corruption, Knuckle City challenges traditional notions of masculinity to expose how toxic and destructive it is. Spreading like a virus, the sins that the brothers’ inherited from their father are part of a greater systemic problem impacting the township of Mdantsane. Unflinchingly gritty, Knuckle City brings a fresh South African take on traditional genre tropes. Engulfed in beautiful cinematography that is both sweeping and intimate, Qubeka shows that actions to uplift family, and not endanger them, is what real manhood is all about."[6] In 2020 MoJo Global Arts brokered a deal with Showtime (TV network) to air Knuckle City on Showtime.[7]
Accolades
Knuckle City took home five awards at the 2020 South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs) including Best Actor in a Feature Film, Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film, Best Achievement in Directing in a Feature Film, Best Achievement in Production Design in a Feature Film and Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling in a Feature Film. [8]
