The ensemble cast is packed with big names like Richard Mofe Damijo, Ali Nuhu and Waje. Also, there are a host of other actors not new to Funke Akindele films and TV shows. So, we decided to highlight the actors who have worked with her before and their past projects in anticipation of The Four hitting screens around the world.��

Timini Egbuson

He earned an AMVCA nomination for playing Pere Judah, the lover boy son of Jedidah Judah (played by Funke Akindele) in

Lateef Adedimeji

He played Bayo, the problematic brother of SHE in . A Funke Akindele TV show on Prime Video.��

Uzor Arukwe 

He played the stingy Igbo business owner Chigozie in A Tribe Called Judah. And also, Victor, Ronke’s lawyer and best friend, in .

Waje 

She tapped into her musicality to play X-Cite. The rival to SHE in She Must Be Obeyed on Prime Video.

Chioma Akpotha

She played Chummy Choko in Omo Ghetto: The Saga. This earned her a nomination for an African Viewers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.��

Bisola Ayeola

She played the women’s rights activist, Madam Bassey in Everybody Loves Jenifa.��The third installment in Funke Akindele’s iconic Jenifa series.

Who are you most excited to see in the cinemas on December 11th?

What connects these Nigerian movies is great filmmaking, distinctive voices and stories rooted in Nigeria that resonate far beyond its borders. These are ten movies that have earned international acclaim and deserve every bit of it.

1. (2025)

Running time: 1h 33m

Director: Akinola Davies Jr.

Genre: Drama

Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election, My Father’s Shadow focuses on two young brothers, Akin (Godwin Chiemerie Egbo) and Remi (Chibuike Marvellous Egbo), who spend a day navigating Lagos with their estranged father, Folarin (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù). As political uncertainty hangs over the city, the family is forced to confront old wounds and fragile bonds. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival and is celebrated for its storytelling and sharp look at Nigeria at a historic crossroads.

2. (2023)

Running time: 1h 47m

Director: C.J. “Fiery” Obasi

Genre: Drama, Fantasy

Mami Wata centres on Mama Efe (Rita Edochie), the spiritual leader of a coastal village devoted to the water deity Mami Wata. When her authority is challenged after a series of crises, her daughters, Zinwe (Uzoamaka Power) and Prisca (Evelyne Ily Juhen), find themselves caught between tradition and change.

It’s shot entirely in striking black and white, and it’s one of Nigeria’s most celebrated festival successes, winning the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography at Sundance and earning praise for blending African mythology with great visual storytelling.

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3. (2020)

Running time: 1h 56m

Director: Chuko Esiri and Arie Esiri

Genre: Drama

This is an interconnected story of Lagos residents chasing a better future abroad. Mofe (Jude Akuwudike) works as a factory technician hoping to relocate to Spain, while Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams), a hairdresser, struggles to build a stable life for herself and her young sister. Instead of romanticising migration, this movie captures the frustrations of everyday survival. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and became one of the most internationally acclaimed Nigerian films of its generation for its realism and performances.

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4. Over The Bridge (2023)

Running time: 1h 39m

Director: Tolu Ajayi

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Over the Bridge is about Folarin (Ozzy Agu), a successful investment banker whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel after a financial scandal forces him to confront the personal cost of ambition. As pressure mounts from work, family and society, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery. This movie is lauded for its thoughtful exploration of class, identity and mental health.

Over the Bridge isn’t streaming anywhere right now.

5. (2025)

Running time: 2h

Director: Ema Edosio

Genre: Drama

This is the story of a group of dancers fighting for their art and navigating societal expectations. Through their everyday lives, the movie paints an intimate portrait of resilience without losing sight of the systemic challenges shaping the country. Rather than offering easy answers, When Nigeria Happens allows ordinary people to tell Nigeria’s story themselves, receiving international recognition for its honest, ground-level perspective on modern Nigeria.

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READ NEXT:��10 Nollywood Short Films To Watch on YouTube This Month

6. The Man Died (2024)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Awam Amkpa

Genre: Action, Drama

Based on Wole Soyinka’s prison memoir, The Man Died stars Wale Ojo as Soyinka while he is imprisoned by the Nigerian military government during the Civil War. Held in solitary confinement for attempting to mediate peace, Soyinka battles isolation while refusing to surrender his convictions. The adaptation is praised for faithfully bringing one of Nigeria’s most important political memoirs to the screen. It depicts a powerful meditation on freedom, resistance and the cost of speaking truth to power.

The Man Dies isn’t streaming anywhere right now.

7. (2024)

Running time: 1h 41m

Director: The Agbajowo Collective

Genre: Drama, Suspense

This coming-of-age drama follows Jawu, a young woman living in the floating Makoko community, whose life changes after she discovers a stash of corrupt money. As powerful figures close in, she’s forced to choose between survival and fighting for her community. After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, the movie drew acclaim for combining social realism with folklore-inspired storytelling. It offers one of contemporary Nigerian cinema’s most vivid portrayals of life on the margins.

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8. (2024)

Running time: 1h 28m

Director: Afolabi Olalekan

Genre: Action, Thriller

The lives of several interconnected Lagos residents collide after two young entrepreneurs, Tayo (Ogranya Jable Osai) and Themba (Jesse Suntele), launch a motorcycle ride-hailing startup that soon comes under pressure from aggressive government regulation and police harassment. The movie examines corruption, bureaucracy and the everyday struggle to survive in modern Nigeria. It won the Special Jury Award at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in 2024 and has been widely praised for weaving multiple personal stories into a sharp social commentary with broad international appeal.

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9. (2021)

Running time: 1h 23m

Directors: Abba T. Makama, C.J. “Fiery” Obasi and Michael Omonua 

Genre: Drama, Mystery

Juju Stories is an anthology film that reimagines Nigerian urban legends through three distinct tales: Love Potion, Yam, and Suffer the Witch. Each story explores how folklore collides with contemporary Lagos life, which draws on familiar myths while delivering psychological horror and satire. The film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and got international praise for revitalising indigenous storytelling through genre cinema and bold visual experimentation.

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10. (2023)

Running time: 1h 33m

Director: Babatunde Apalowo

Genre: Drama, Romance

This movie follows Bambino (Tope Tedela) and Bawa (Riyo David) as an unexpected friendship gradually develops into a romantic relationship in Lagos. As their feelings deepen, both men must navigate social expectations, religion and Nigeria’s hostile legal environment toward same-sex relationships.

It premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlin International Film Festival and won its Teddy Award for its understated, nuanced performances and sensitive portrayal of queer love in contemporary Nigeria.

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ALSO READ:��10 Nollywood Movies For When You Want Just Drama, Nothing Else

In that spirit, here are 10 Nollywood short films you should definitely check out on YouTube this month.  

Running time: 32 minutes

Director: Uzoamaka Power

Genre: Comedy Drama

There are many coming of ages a woman will experience and with Siraam, Uzoamaka guides us through the journey of the titular character learning how her relationships have defined her. With a powerhouse performance from Genoveva Umeh and a supporting cast to match, Siraam is a warm hug and a reminder that everything will be alright. 

Running time: 15 minutes 

Director: Chukwu Martin

Genre: Drama

Tell It No More could have fallen into a boring preachiness because of the subject matter but it navigates its story with a careful effectiveness. We meet an almost docile married woman (Martha Ehinome) and follow her on a journey of discovery that reveals a twist in the end that feels like a gut punch. 

Running time: 10 minutes 

Director: Adebayo Oduwole 

Genre: Romance 

In this ten minute short film, we witness one of the most electric moments between two people (Sharon Rotimi and Timilehin Ojeola) who meet each other at a party and strike a conversation that hints at a future love story. It’s like watching the first sparks of a raging fire and the familiarity of the moment draws you into the space between them. 

Running time: 9 minutes 

Director: Adiukwu Daniel 

Genre: Drama

Migration has fractured many Nigerian relationships and in Japa, we see two young lovers, Fola and Emeka, who are about to be torn apart by one of them leaving. It’s a quiet meditation on the ways relationships fracture not just because of migration but also because of the external pressures. 

Running time: 28 minutes 

Director: Ifeoma Chukwuogo

Genre: Romance

As we meet this teenage couple at the centre of this film, we are granted access into the intimate way the language of young love is formed. Dija and Nnamdi sit in their balconies across from each other’s homes and talk about films against their parents wishes. It’s a film that hinges on conversation to draw you into their cinematic universe. 

Running time: 25 minutes 

Director: Tobe Nosike 

Genre: Mystery thriller 

In this mystery thriller, Kelvin (Stan Nze) wakes up to a horrific predicament and must recall the last 12 hours of his life. While he retraces his steps, he must reckon with guilt, betrayal and the spiritual forces at play. Within 12 Hours, you are asked questions about grappling with your fate or accepting what has happened.  

Running time: 22 minutes 

Director: Barnabas Ayo-Ilekhaize 

Genre: Romance 

In Barnabas’ debut, he lets his camera follow a single woman in the most mundane of ways as she slowly falls in love. In many ways a film about loneliness, we are drawn into the world of this character we have all been before. 

Running time: 12 minutes 

Director: John Jeremiah 

Genre: Experimental Drama 

This experimental short follows two people who pose as a couple in order to secure an apartment. It’s told mostly via narration with scenes melding into each other and a story that is both familiar and strange. The ending sneaks up on you as you wonder where these characters’ lives will go. 

Running time: 29 minutes 

Director: Dika Ofoma

Genre: Romance 

An age gap romance is a delicate cinematic subject but Dika handles it with the appropriate care as we watch Zioara (Michelle Dede) and Leke (Ogranya) fall into a tender love. With bright colours, moving performances and a sensual soundtrack we are both given the fantasy and reality of falling into the most unconventional of love.

Running time: 21 minutes 

Director:Stella Damasus

Genre: Psychological thriller 

In Stella Damasus’ directorial debut, she reintroduces herself with a powerful performance that tackles mental health and identity within a family. It stars her daughter opposite her and this intimate affair lends depth to a story that asks what trauma can do to a woman. 

So, for those moments when you need a break from romantic drama, this list spotlights Nollywood YouTube movies that explore other stories, from family drama and suspense to crime, comedy and everything in between.

(2026)

Running time: 2h 4m

Director: Tobi Makinde

Genre: Drama

After the sudden death of his father, Dayo (Maurice Sam) and his wife must fight his mother (Uche Jumbo) and her son for the late father’s inheritance. It explores themes of betrayal, legacy and the family conflicts that arise when greed takes control.

(2026)

Running time: 1h 11m

Director: Stephen Okonkwo

Genre: Drama

A woman (Ruby Ojiakor) constantly feeds her community with love, but her household is falling apart with a husband demanding she births a son and a stubborn daughter (Favour Etim) who just wants her mother to be fine. 

(2026)

Running time: 2h 3m

Director: Omoruyi Wallz Efosa

Genre: Drama

After Monica (Uche Montana) cuts off her leeching, ungrateful family, she is forced to return after the death of her father. Family debts pile up and she runs the risk of falling back into the cycle of her toxic family. 

(2026)

Running time: 1h 48m

Director: Barnabas Benjamin 

Genre: Drama

A single father (IK Ogbonna) finds out he has six months to live and does all he can to ensure his daughter’s future, but it is to no avail when the people who are supposed to take care of her end up exploiting her father’s kindness.

(2026)

Running time: 1h 38m

Director: Olubunmi Akingbola 

Genre: Inspirational drama

A young boy (Eronini Osinachi) is abandoned at boarding school but goes on to form an extraordinary bond with a kind teacher who takes him in as his own despite the fallout in his marriage and reputation. 

(2026)

Running time: 2h 13m

Director: Great Val Edochie

Genre: Drama

Identical twin, Ifeoluwa (Bimbo Ademoye), assumes her sister’s identity after a tragic event and navigates a high stakes legal career with ripple effects. It explores themes of identity, deception and family secrets. 

(2026)

Running time: 1 hr 35m 

Director: John Ekanem

Genre: Faith based drama

Three friends (Stan Nze, John Ekanem, Eso Dike) band together as business partners to build a successful company based on their shared ambition. As the business flourishes, so do the challenges grow and they must face them head on without ruining their friendship. 

(2026)

Running time: 1 hr 6m

Director: Jide Jblaze Oyegbile

Genre: Fantasy Comedy

Yinka (Bimbo Ademoye) is fond of saying “I swear to God” so often. Heaven finally decides that they’ve had enough and give her one last chance to make things right or lose everything. 

(2025)

Running time: 2h 

Director: Adekunle Azeez

Genre: Comedy

The film centres around a loving couple (Afeez Eniola and Wumi Toriola) whose domestic bliss is upended by the arrival of both their mothers (Fausat Balogun and Remi Surutu) leading to a clash of mother in laws. It goes from passive aggressive comments to outright confrontations in a film that hilariously explores the family dynamics we are all familiar with.  

Running time: 2h 7m

Director: Okey Ifeanyi D.G.N

Genre: Comedy 

A man (Uzor Arukwe) is attempting to keep his dignity and his household despite his poverty. This leads him on a series of hilarious misadventures which gets even more complicated when he finds out his wife (Jessica Obasi) is pregnant. 

Becoming this iconic takes more than just a great acting performance. The character must establish a distinct cultural persona, birth everyday slang, or capture a specific Nigerian reality so well that the script becomes a part of them. Here’s a look at ten legendary Nollywood actors whose iconic characters have hijacked their real names.

1. Funke Akindele as Jenifa

Before 2008, Funke Akindele was known for her roles in Yorùbá movies. Then came Jenifa, the hilarious village girl trying to live a fake big life on the university campus. Jenifa became such a huge success and cultural reset that Funke Akindele eventually built an alter ego, a movie sequel (the second-highest-grossing in Nollywood), and a television series around the character. Today, millions of Nigerians refer to her as Jenifa and she hasn’t stopped answering the iconic name.

2. John Okafar as Mr. Ibu

The late comic legend lived and breathed the Mr. Ibu character in the 2004 movie of the same title. The character of the dim-witted, funny father with a big belly was so iconic that he gets called Mr. Ibu before John Okafor. Even in media headlines, he was generally referred to as Mr. Ibu until his passing. Today, his cultural staying power remains unmatched, as his iconic facial expressions and funny movie scenes continue to live on as some of the internet’s most viral memes and reaction images.

3. and as Aki and Pawpaw

The 2002 comedy Aki na Ukwa introduced us to two mischievous characters who acted as brothers. The chemistry between Chinedu (Aki) and Osita (Pawpaw) was so natural that they became a package deal in Nollywood for over a decade. Many years later, they’re still globally recognised by these names, especially with Pawpaw becoming a worldwide internet meme sensation.

4. Nkem Owoh as Osuofia

Osuofia in London was a cultural movement when it was released. Nkem Owoh played a cunning, loud village man who inherits wealth and travels to London. While he was already a veteran actor, this specific role cemented his legendary status. You could yell “Osuofia!” anywhere in West Africa in the mid-2000s, and the majority would know exactly who you meant.

5. Hafiz Oyetoro as Saka

If you asked 100 Nigerians on the street for Hafiz Oyetoro’s real name, 95 of them would fail. He’s known entirely as Saka, a comical, slightly naive character he once played and later carried over into viral telecom advertising campaigns, famously porting from Etisalat to MTN.

READ NEXT: If Nollywood Remade The Odyssey, This is Who We’d Cast

6. as Mr. Latin

The current president of the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) is known to everyone simply as Mr. Latin. He got the name way back in a 1992 movie titled 50-50. During a scene, he was speaking French, but the movie’s producer mistook the language for Latin and started calling him “Mr. Latin”. The name stuck, and it’s been his brand ever since.

7. Abiodun Ayoyinka as Papa Ajasco

When you say Abiodun Ayoyinka, it rarely rings a bell. But when you say Papa Ajasco, everyone instantly pictures the bald, wrapper-tying, hilarious man hitting his head and shouting “Ojigbigbigbi!” Ayoyinka brought the beloved comic book character to life in Wale Adenuga’s famous television series Papa Ajasco and Company. He completely surrendered his real identity to the role.

8. as Sanyeri

When you hear Sanyeri, the first thing that comes to mind is the tribal-marked actor known for playing a mischievous village rascal in movies. He earned the stage name early in his theatre career, but it permanently swallowed his real identity as he rose to dominate Yoruba comedy in the 2000s and 2010s. Sanyeri often starred alongside his frequent collaborator Adekola Tijani (who similarly adopted his character’s name, Kamilu Kompo).

9. Ime Bishop Umoh as Okon Lagos

In 2011, Ime Bishop Umoh starred in the comedy Okon Lagos, playing a funny, food-obsessed guy from Akwa Ibom trying to navigate life in Lagos. His comedy and heavily accented English were so hilarious that he became a popular face in Nollywood comedy. The viewers loved the character so much that Okon Lagos became his name. He went on to star in several spin-offs (Okon Goes to School, I Come Lagos), establishing the alias.

10. as Mama No Network

Kudirat Atinuke Kazeem found her propeller to fame when she played the character of Mama No Network. The character is a woman who constantly struggles to hear what people around her are saying because she has no “network” in her ears. She’s always quick to say “Enipe” (meaning “you said what?” or “come again?”). The genius of the character lies in her ridiculous misinterpretation of normal conversations. Today, this is her identity and how she’s addressed in both movies and real life.

ALSO READ: The 10 Best Nollywood Epics of the 2020s

Whether exploring the real-world resistance of local heroes or the metaphysical consequences of cheating death, the Nollywood epic has reached unprecedented, ambitious heights. Below is a list of the 10 best Nollywood epics of the 2020s so far.

10. (2023)

Running time: 1h 49m

Director: Odunlade Adekola

This is about the devastating consequences of pride when a powerful and arrogant monarch, Oba Adefolarin (Odunlade Adekola), begins to view himself as a deity. His disrespect toward his people and a coven of witches results in a severe punishment: he’s cursed with debilitating insanity. As the king’s madness throws the palace into chaos, a marauder named Komokomo (Femi Adebayo) — with whom the king previously had a dark pact — seizes the opportunity to invade the weakened kingdom and challenge for the throne.

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9. (2024)

Seasons: 2

Episodes: 11

Director: Kunle Afolayan

This two-season sequel to the 2022 movie Anikulapo picks up the story with Saro (Kunle Remi) and Queen Arolake (Bimbo Ademoye) on the run. While Arolake enjoys newly acquired wealth through questionable means, Saro faces the grim task of returning to the afterlife to complete an almost impossible mission as a consequence of abusing his resurrection powers.

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8. (2021)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Izu Ojukwu

This is based on the true story of Amina (Lucy Ameh), the 16th-century Hausa Warrior queen of the Zazzau Empire. She’s a young, ambitious girl who grows up to become a legendary military leader who enters combat to protect her family’s legacy. Amina ascends to the throne and leads the military to expand her kingdom’s territory and secure crucial trade routes.

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7. (2024)

Running time: 1h 47m

Director: Niyi Akinmolayan

Set in the 18th-century, the people of Egba resist the oppressive Oyo tribute collectors. The plot centres on a farmer, Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala (Lateef Adedimeji), who’s driven to rebellion after his close friend Oshokenu (Jide Awoboba) is murdered and Oshokenu’s bride is assaulted by Sangodeyi (Ibrahim “Itele” Yekini), the head of the tribute collectors. Using the Aaro communal farming society as a front, Lisabi secretly trains an army to overthrow the Oyo overlords.

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6. (2022)

Running time: 1h 48m

Directors: Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani

Shortly after King Adegbite (Odunlade Adekola) ascends the throne, Agesinkole (Femi Adebayo), an invincible bandit and mystic, launches a series of terror attacks as revenge for past wrongs. The kingdom’s hunters, witches and spiritual leaders must pool their powers to defeat this powerful threat.

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READ NEXT: 10 Addictive Nollywood Shows You’ll Accidentally Binge Till 3 AM

5. (2022)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

This movie follows the story of Saro (Kunle Remi), a travelling textile weaver who arrives in a village and begins an illicit affair with Queen Arolake (Bimbo Ademoye), the king’s youngest wife. When their plan to elope is discovered, the king (Taiwo Hassan) has Saro beaten to death. However, an encounter with the mythical Akala bird allows Arolake to steal a mystical gourd to bring Saro back to life.

This gives Saro the power to resurrect the dead and earns him the title “Anikulapo.” But his newfound power leads to pride and excessive demands, costing him his abilities when he betrays Arolake’s trust.

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4. (2024)

Seasons: 2

Episodes: 130

Director: James Omokwe

This drama centres on the ill-fated romance between Adanna (Oluchi Amajuoyi) and Nnanna (Kingsley Nmachukwu), and a tense political conflict between the Mgberi and Ajaani kingdoms. Adanna is an acolyte with the gift of foresight, pursued by a powerful, jealous antagonist (Jsmile Uhuru) who uses memory manipulation and spiritual interference to tear the lovers apart. The two lovers fight to remember each other and preserve their love amidst warring communities and supernatural obstacles.

3. (2024)

Running time: 2h

Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters

This historical drama chronicles the rise and fall of Bashorun Ga’a (Femi Branch), a ruthless 18th-century Prime Minister of the Oyo Empire. Ga’a’s insatiable thirst for power drives him to eclipse and murder the very monarchs he swore to serve. He uses dark magic and military power to secure his totalitarian grip. His ambition, greed and eventual betrayal alienates everyone — including his family and powerful allies — and leads to an alliance between Alaafin Abiodun (Adeniyi Johnson) and other leaders who bring the tyrant’s reign to a bloody end.

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2. (2023)

Running time: 2h 13m

Directors: Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani

A young, aspiring warrior named Gbotija (Lateef Adedimeji) enrolls in a combat academy run by the maniacal warlord Ogundiji (Femi Adebayo). Due to Gbotija’s unique magical ability to control trees and wood, he quickly rises through the ranks, and this unintentionally sparks jealousy and insecurity in Ogundiji. To eliminate his new rival, the warlord sets seemingly impossible and deadly trials for Gbotija, which jeopardise both his life and his blossoming romance with Ogundiji’s adopted daughter, Kiitan (Bukunmi Oluwasina). These events lead to a clash between master and student.

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1. (2022)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director: Biyi Bandele

Based on Wole Soyinka’s renowned stage play Death and the King’s Horseman, this movie is set in the Oyo Empire during the 1940s. Following the death of the Alaafin (King), custom dictates that his chief horseman, Elesin Oba (Odunlade Adekola), must commit ritual suicide to accompany the ruler into the afterlife and maintain the spiritual balance of the world. However, Elesin’s sudden distraction by carnal desires delays his passing. This allows a British colonial officer, Simon Pilkings (Mark Elderkin), to intervene and arrest him, resulting in a tragic disruption of the community’s traditional order.

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ALSO READ: The 10 Best Nollywood Movies to Watch on YouTube (July 2026)

From thrilling epics, romantic entanglements and hostage dramas, Nollywood has back-to-back hits on Netflix. If you’re looking for what to watch on the streamer this month, here are the 10 best Nigerian movies to watch this July.

10. (2024)

Running time: 1h 40m

Director: Toka McBaror

Genre: Comedy, Thriller

Akpos (Ayo Makun) is on his very first day as a waiter in a posh Abuja hotel hosting a big event for the Minister of Poverty Alleviation (Shaffy Bello). A heavily armed ex-army captain (Bucci Franklin) and his boys hijack the building and take everybody hostage. Then it goes from kidnapping to a revolution, forcing everyone to answer the question: Who is responsible for this country’s problems?

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9. (2022)

Running time: 1h 50m

Director: Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani

Genre: Epic, Thriller

Oba Adegbite (Odunlade Adekola) just wants to enjoy his new crown, but a powerful thief, Ageshinkole (Femi Adebayo), shows up to scatter his kingdom. Ageshinkole is such a menace that he beats up witches, wizards, warriors and literally everyone the King sends. The problem gets so big that the King forces his head hunter (Ibrahim Chatta) on a suicide mission to bring the thief’s head or lose his own.

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8. (2023)

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Drama

Four stubborn friends (Ruby Akubueze, Kayode Ojuolape, Fawad Aina and Ebiesuwa Oluwaseyi) go to play in the mountains and somehow stumble on a bag of diamonds. Tempted and excited, they take it for themselves. But the diamonds come with wahala. They belong to some dangerous people who’ll go to any length to get them back. Now, these kids have gone from planning their new, rich life to running around for survival.

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7. (2021)

Running time: 1h 52m

Director: Idea Chukwuma “Onesoul” Innocent

Genre: Epic

Trained by her dad, Ogbu (Enyinna Nwigwe), Igbinogun (Damilare Kuku) leads a gang of misfit thieves to steal from the rich and give to the poor. But the problem starts when she embarrasses the Prince (Blossom Chukwujekwu) so badly in battle that the man literally deletes himself out of shame. The kingdom is upside down and Igbinogun suddenly has to step up and become the leader of her village.

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6. (2022)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director: Date Olaitan

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Busola (Immaculata Oko-Kasum) thinks she has secured a soft life when she falls for Tunji (Efa Iwara), a fine boy from a super-rich family. But the red flags start waving almost immediately. Tunji’s family is hiding some dark, creepy secrets, and Busola quickly realises that marrying into this kind of wealth is far from a blessing. 

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READ NEXT: The 10 Best Nollywood Movies Of 2026 So Far, Ranked

5. (2023)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director: Walter Banger

Genre: Drama, Romance

Toyin (Dakore Egbuson-Akande) and Uche (Nse Ikpe-Etim) are lifelong besties until one man, Sunday (Oris Erhuero), enters the chat and scatters everything. It first starts as a harmless crush, then turns into a messy love triangle that tests the limits of their sisterhood.

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4. (2022)

Running time: 1h 28m

Director: Walter Taylaur

Genre: Drama

Brume (Daniel Etim-Effiong) is battling life problems: his mom just died, his wife’s dealing with infertility, and two corrupt policemen (Frank Donga and Toyin Oshinaike) are extorting him. Then, the worst happens: his wife is murdered by the officer. Brume teams up with his guy, Dammy (Deyemi Okanlawon), to pose as a flamboyant yahoo boy, lure the corrupt cops and kidnap them. From there, it becomes a chaotic hostage drama fueled by revenge.

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3. (2025)

Running time: 1h 39m

Director: Moses Inwang

Genre: Drama, Romance

Adaora (Nse Ikpe-Etim) is a rich, single lady who falls for fine boy stylist Jaiye (James Gardiner) just to escape family pressure. But that’s a huge mistake because Jaiye is scum. He and his partner Anna (Erica Nlewedim) scam Adaora blind, force her to get an abortion, fake his death, and set her up for jail. Adaora gets out, catches him living large with a new family, and goes into revenge mode and wreaks havoc.

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2. (2022)

Running time: 1h 30m

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Drama

Otas (Chimezie Imo) is just trying to go to NYSC camp when a tragic accident leaves a friend dead, and the police wrongfully pin the death on him as a murder. With Otas locked up, his mom, Adesuwa (Dakore Egbuson-Akande), is forced to confront her own dark past and trauma tied to Nigerian police brutality.

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1. (2025)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Daniel Etim Effiong

Genre: Crime, Drama

Gosi (Daniel Etim-Effiong) travels to Ekiti for his best guy Fola’s (Kunle Remi) wedding to Derin (Genoveva Umeh). The wedding is beautiful until Nigeria happens. On the drive to the hotel, gunmen disguised as herdsmen ambush their convoy. They kill the groom and drag Gosi, Derin and a bunch of other motorists into the bush to demand ransom. Long story short, this is a direct look at the ghetto that is Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.

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ALSO READ: Alexx Ekubo Had Range. These 10 Movies Prove It

This list covers Nigerian films that stood out in celebration of genre, dedication to craft, appreciation of culture and also just a great time at the movies. These are the 10 best Nollywood films of 2026, so far.

10. The Boy Who Gave 

Running time: 118 minutes��

Director: Allison Precious Emmanuel��

Genre: Drama��

Films that take us to parts of Nigeria rarely seen are not many, and in Allison Emmanuel’s debut feature he takes us to Bonny Island, a place fraught with economic and political violence. He writes, directs and stars in the film that follows Broda, a first son, who is left to care for his siblings after the death of his parents. It’s a film that leans into the dreary existence that poverty plunges you into and it asks if escape is ever possible. 

The Boy Who Gave is currently showing in the cinemas.

9. The Other Side Of The Bridge 

Running time: 116 minutes 

Director: Fiyin Gambo

Genre: Sports Drama

Many Nigerian films in recent times have tried to capture the class tension between the wealthy and the poor in our society. In the Other Side Of The Bridge, we see the Fiyin Gambo-directed feature put this tension in a gritty boxing drama that follows two boxers (played by Tobi Bakre and Demi Banwo) from vastly different backgrounds competing in a prestigious tournament hoping to win it for reasons that define both their lives.

The Other Side Of The Bridge is not yet available on any streaming platforms.

8. Aba Blues

Running time: 120 minutes 

Director: Jack’enneth Opukeme

Genre: Romantic Drama 

Jack’enneth Opukeme has a flair for writing interesting women defying cultural boundaries. In Aba Blues he writes and directs a story of a woman (played by Angel Anosike) stuck between two lovers: one from her past and another in her present. It’s a story that celebrates and critiques Igbo culture, centering the love story in a place and time that shows the director’s signature vintage storytelling. 

Aba Blues is streaming on

7. Onobiren: A Woman’s Story

Running time: 104 minutes 

Director: Famous Odion Iraoya

Genre: Drama 

Nollywood has a fraught history with its women and in a bid to tell their own stories, Onobiren enters with the tale of a woman recounting her life experiences as she moves from her village to the city. It is a film that centres human efforts as acts of faith and miracles. Directed by Famous Odion Iraoya and written by Laju Iren, Onobiren opens the breadth of womanhood for the industry to learn from. 

Onobiren: A Woman’s Story is not yet available on any streaming platforms.

6. To Adaego With Love

Running time: 129 minutes

Director: Nwamaka Chikezie

Genre: Historical Romance 

In this Nwamaka Chikezie directed feature, we see a love story placed at the core of the post civil war reconciliation efforts in the East. Starring Adam Garba and Chisom Agoawuike, who have palpable chemistry, it navigates the complicated emotions of a people who have still not been given proper reparations for a war that ravaged their place and culture. It places this conflict within and outside a love story that will leave you in your feels when the credits roll. 

To Adaego With Love can be rented on the film’s

5. Evi

Running time: 107 minutes 

Director: Uyoyou Adia

Genre: Musical Drama

With the increase in Afrobeats recognition worldwide, a film about a fictional Afrobeats star was bound to happen. Enter Evi. It follows a pop star who falls from grace and attempts to return to success with a new lease on life. Starring Osas Okonyon in the titular role and directed by Uyoyou Adia, we get a glimpse into the shady workings of an industry where the price for success is often a loss of self. And to crown it all, it does have some bangers.

Evi is not yet available to stream on any platforms.

4. On Different Grounds

Running time: 120 minutes 

Director: Mildred Okwo

Genre: Romantic Dramedy

A veteran returns to the camera and brings other veterans with her in this Mildred Okwo directed romantic comedy. This film follows a separated couple who have to share the same space during the week of their daughter’s marriage. It’s a film that finds the older stars of Nollywood like Nkem Owoh, Jennifer Eliogu and Bob Manuel Udowku in roles that respect their skills. At the same time, it creates a narrative rarely seen with a happy ending that reminds us that second chances are never too late.

On Different Grounds is currently showing in cinemas.

3. When Nigeria Happens 

Running time: 119 minutes

Director: Ema Edosio-Deelen

Genre: Dance drama

Sometimes a Nigerian film departs from the usual forms we’re used to and creates an experiment that dissects the way our society breaks us. This is the central thesis of When Nigeria Happens. Directed by Ema Edosio-Deelen, it follows a group of misfit dancers who are trying to make it amidst the obstacles Nigeria throws at them. A film that uses dance as a primary driver of its story, we journey with this group as the pressure to fit in builds to a moving conclusion. 

When Nigeria Happens is streaming for a limited time on the

2. Mothers Of Chibok

Running time: 88 minutes 

Director: Joel Kachi Benson

Genre: Documentary

The kidnapping of the Chibok Girls remains one of the most consequential moments of Nigeria’s history and the media around it has remained fraught with propaganda and political motivations. With Mothers of Chibok, directed by Joel Kachi Benson, we witness a group of mothers who, after their daughters’ abduction, spend weeks, months and years waiting for their return. It is a solemn study on the way this tragedy has defined their present and future, and a documentation of their resilience. 

Mothers Of Chibok is currently not available on any streaming platforms.

1. Call Of My Life

Running time: 107 minutes 

Director: Dammy Twitch

Genre: Romantic comedy 

A call centre agent, Soluchi, is going through a tough heartbreak when she receives a call that is bound to change the trajectory of her love life. Directed by Dammy Twitch in his feature debut and written by Uzoamaka Power, Call Of My Life reminds us that a good romantic comedy is grounded in the cultural context of its people. With strong lead performances, a score that paints the romance and supporting characters you want to see more of, the film joins the pantheon of great Nigerian romcoms and will definitely be rewatched by generations to come.

Call Of My Life is currently showing in cinemas.

It’s arguably the best month of the year: Pride Month. And what better time to catch up on some of the best films Nollywood has given us about queer love. 

Whether you’re looking for romances or documentaries that spotlight real-life experiences, these films offer a glimpse into the many ways queer Nigerians have told their stories on screen. While some of them are not pure love stories, they are not entirely the focus of this article. Let’s jump right in! 

1. Ife (2020)

Director: Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim

Running time: 38m

Directed by Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim and produced by Pamela Adie, the film follows two women, Adaora and Ife who meet and fall in love over the course of a 3-day-date in Lagos. But soon, they find their love being tested with the realities of being queer in Nigeria. 

2. 14 Years and A Day (2023)

Director: Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim, Ayo Lawson

Running time: 21m 

Another classic from Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim but this time in collaboration with Ayo Lawson.  Amal, a queer woman finds herself in an emotional conflict with her partner of 14 years. In a bid to run away from this frustration, she seeks solace in a solitary dinner unaware that fate has other things in store. 

This movie is currently unavailable on streaming platforms. 

3. Boys Like Us (2025)

Director: Babatunde Apalowo

Running time: 1h 33 m 

Boys Like Us follows the lives of four gay friends who live together in Lagos, as their lives begin to unravel over the course of a single weekend. Each episode takes viewers along on a different adventure. 

4. She He They (2024)

Director: Uyaiedu Etim

Running time: 10m 

Across seven episodes, She He They follows the lives of Reni, a lesbian and her three roommates—Imani, a Muslim lesbian, Ijemma, a transwoman, and Victor, a gay man, with each of them dealing with their unique struggles. 

5. Pieces of Love (2024) 

Director: Omeleme

Running time: 40m 

This is a classic roommates-to-lovers situation. Tobe and Alex go from sharing an apartment to falling in love with each other. Now, they have to cope with hiding their relationship because of the society they live in. 

6 Unbroken Note (2026)

Director: Pamela Adie

Running time: 1h 12m 

This film follows the journey of Adekunle, a young artist who struggles to live authentically in a society and family environment that rejects his identity. Despite the looming danger of homophobic attacks, he makes the brave decision to live authentically. 

7. Delivery Guy (2025)

Director: JFM TV

Running time: 39m

Delivery Guy takes viewers on a journey through the complex emotional and social challenges faced by two men, Jeff and Timmy, as they navigate their relationship in a society struggling to accept their identity.

8.Walking with Shadows (2019)

Director: Aoife O’Kelly

Running time: 1h 33m

Set in Lagos, Walking With Shadows centred around Adrian, a gay man whose carefully constructed life begins to unravel after he is outed. The film examines the pressure many queer Nigerians face to conform to societal expectations. 

9. Hell or High Water (2016)

Director: Oluseyi Asurf

Running time: 31m 

This movie centres on a married pastor struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his faith. Rather than presenting easy answers, the film tries to highlight the complexities of navigating religion and sexuality in a country Nigeria.

10. Under The Rainbow (2018) 

Director: Pamela Adie

Running time: 1h 12m 

This documentary film takes viewers on a first hand journey through what being queer in Nigeria looks like. Produced and directed by LGBTQ activist, Pamelie Adie, it details her deeply personal coming out journey. 

The����is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Come learn from finance experts and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth and diversifying your income stream in a country like Nigeria.��Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.��.

And that’s why we’ve taken upon ourselves to highlight the women across these reality TV shows that not only kept us entertained but have managed to maintain culture relevance long after their shows ended. Here are some of the most memorable women in reality TV history.

1.

Show: Big Brother Naija: Pepper Dem

It’s been seven years since Mercy won. Her continued relevance and the success of her endeavours since then make it clear that her win was anything but a fluke.

2.

Show: Big Brother Naija: Pepper Dem

Tacha is the ultimate definition of a polarising TV personality. Despite her clashes with fellow housemates, she always stayed true to herself.

3.

Show: Big Brother Naija: Level Up

Yes, Phyna was chaotic in the house. But no one wants to watch a show where everyone is singing kumbaya with each other.

4.

Show: Big Brother Naija: Double Wahala

Is Cee-C a villain or simply too honest for TV? Whatever your answer, you can’t deny she was entertaining AF. Many have tried to recreate her playbook and failed.

5.

Show: Big Brother Naija: Lockdown

Reality TV often needs a calm presence to weather the storm, but Erica somehow managed to be both.

6.

Show: Real Housewives of Lagos

Yes, she ended every season she’s appeared in with all her friendships destroyed, but her erratic behaviour is part of why we love her.

7.

Show: Young, Famous & African

If there’s one thing Annie did, it was keep viewers glued to their screens, whether they were rooting for her or criticising her.

8.

Show: Big Brother Naija: Level Up

During her season, Bella made headlines as the housemate who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, even if it meant ruffling a few feathers along the way.

9.

Show: Real Housewives of Lagos

Chioma wasn’t a housewife, but reality TV never needed to be real. Her no-nonsense approach to issues endeared fans to her.

10.

Show: Big Brother Naija: Lockdown

If reality TV is known for pushing cast members to their limits, Nengi defies that axiom. She somehow managed to both stir the pot and rise above it.

ALSO READ: Nigerian Reality TV Shows that Need to Make a Comeback 

The����is returning on August 22, 2026, in Lagos! Come learn from finance experts and industry leaders, and partake in unfiltered conversations about building wealth and diversifying your income stream in a country like Nigeria.��Real stories, expert advice you can actually use, and a community ready to build wealth together.��.