If you鈥檙e in the mood to watch a messy investigation of a Lagos neighbourhood, spoiled brats waking up to smell the coffee, or a survival game on a dusty interstate highway, I have the best binge-list for you. These are the best Nigerian movies to watch on Netflix this month.

10. (2021)

Running time: 1h 50m

Director: Seyi Babatope

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Imagine waking up to find a whole dead body in your compound. This murder mystery takes a mandatory environmental sanitation day and turns it into a high-stakes whodunit when a corpse mysteriously drops in a regular face-me-I-face-you house while the streets are on lockdown. Nobody can go in or out, and every tenant is a prime suspect in a messy police investigation.

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9. (2021)

Running time: 1h 56m

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Comedy, Drama

The movie throws together a bunch of totally mismatched strangers who pack themselves into a random bus heading East, all thinking they鈥檝e secured a sweet transport bargain. But because cheap things will always cost you your peace of mind, what is supposed to be a regular road trip turns into a trouble ride when their bus gets hijacked by armed robbers in the middle of nowhere.

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8. (2020)

Running time: 2h 31m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Drama

This movie follows Moremi (Temi Otedola), a student who gets sexually assaulted by her lecturer. She does the brave thing and drags his matter to the school鈥檚 disciplinary panel. But Nigeria, being Nigeria, a lawless place, the tribunal process flips the script and makes her the villain. They put her on the hot seat and make her fight for her academic life in a wild game of gaslighting.

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7. (2019)

Running time: 1h 50m

Director: Tope Alake

Genre: Action, Drama

This is about Nimbe (Chimezie Imo), an innocent teenager who grows up too quickly and is trying to survive the problems of a dysfunctional home. But because the streets are always looking for who to swallow, he ends up with the worst crowd. The desire to belong becomes a dark descent into substance abuse and gang violence.

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6. (2024)

Running time: 1h 52m

Director: Ramsey Noauh

Genre: Action, Thriller

Tokunbo (Gideon Okeke), a retired car smuggler who lives a quiet, legal life with his family, gets dragged back into the game for one last job. The job is to smuggle the kidnapped daughter of a very powerful government official across the border in exactly three hours, or watch his own family get wiped out.

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READ NEXT: The 10 Best Nollywood Movies to Watch On YouTube (June 2026)

5. (2021)

Running time: 2h

Director: Biodun Stephen

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Summy (Timini Egbuson), an arrogant and spoiled rich kid wakes up one morning to the shock that nobody in his life, not even his own mother or his closest friends, recognises him. Overnight, his entire life and identity vanish into thin air. He starts life afresh with Todowde (Bimbo Ademoye), a bread seller.

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4. (2023)

Running time: 1h 46m

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Drama, Romance

This is Tamara (Sandra Okunzuwa), another ridiculously spoiled, high-society bride-to-be whose entire existence revolves around living the soft life. But as she prepares for the society wedding of the year, disaster strikes: her father’s assets are frozen, her wealthy fianc茅 does a runner and her bank accounts hit zero. She鈥檚 shaken out of her bubble. Now, she has to build a survival instinct and life afresh without wealth and fake friends.

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3. (2018)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Genevieve Nnaji

Genre: Drama

Adaora (Genevive Nnaji) is an executive who has dedicated her life to keeping her father’s transport company afloat. When her dad suddenly falls ill and is forced to step down, he brings in his loud brother to take the wheel. Suddenly, our main babe is forced to co-run the family empire with an uncle whose entire business strategy and operations are almost the opposite of hers. But they have to make things work.

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2. (2019)

Running time: 1h 23m

Director: Akay Ilozobhie

Genre: Drama

This is a hilarious comedy about Dare (Timini Egbuson), an entitled ajebutter who thinks the entire world revolves around his family’s money. He鈥檚 arrogant, completely out of touch with reality and disrespectful to everyone around him. One day, he gets trapped in an elevator with Abigail (Toyin Abraham), a no-nonsense pregnant woman who has zero patience for his bullshit.

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1. (2023)

Running time: 2h 3m

Director: Adeoluwa Owu

Genre: Drama

Adire (Kehinde Bankole), a retired lady of the night who decides she鈥檚 done with the streets. She packs her bags and relocates to a small town to start a new life. To secure her daily bread, she taps into her creative side and launches a business making sexy, custom lingerie out of traditional local fabrics. The local women love it; her business is booming until her success attracts the wrong kind of attention.

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ALSO READ: The 10 Best Gabriel Afolayan Acting Performances, Ranked

In this piece, we highlight artists who have stepped into character so convincingly that we almost forgot they primarily make music. From crime dramas and romances to political thrillers, here’s a list of Nigerian musicians who stepped into Nollywood and ate their roles.

10. in (2024)

is Ajani, the charming struggling guitarist and delivery boy who sweeps the fancy, London-returnee Ivie (Rayxia Ojo) off her feet during the Detty December madness. He鈥檚 quiet and has a charisma that suits the movie’s romantic tone.

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9. in (2023)

is Ify, one of the three childhood friends at the centre of the story. Unlike the hardened gangsters around him, he dreams of becoming a musician and escaping the cycle of violence and gang life of Isale Eko. His tragic death single-handedly sets off the movie鈥檚 bloody revenge plot. His character is instantly likeable, and his performance adds heart to a story filled with brutality and tragedy.

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8. in (2019)

had a brief but memorable appearance as Simi, a young, observant daughter of a local Buka owner in a noisy mechanic village, serving as a supporting character. Simi plays a version of the relatable girl-next-door we already love her for.

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READ NEXT:听Why Your Favourite Nollywood Films Can鈥檛 Get Every Detail Right

7. in (2013)

delivered a powerful performance as Mama, Odenigbo’s (Chiwetalu Ejiofor) traditional and fiercely protective mother who makes life frustrating for her son’s highly educated partner, Olanna (Thandiwe Newton). She embodied the tensions between culture, class and modernity that run through the movie. It鈥檚 a short role, but her performance is unforgettable.

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6. in (2019)

delivered one of the movie’s strongest supporting performances as Chuks, a pimp and trafficker network operative. He’s a man deeply involved in the exploitation at the centre of the story. He balances charm and menace in a way that reflects how trafficking networks often operate behind a fa莽ade of normalcy. In this movie, he’s what a top-tier villain should be.

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5. in (2021)

Niyola (Eniola Akinbo) plays Tolani, a naive but principled bank secretary in the 1980s, dealing with a toxic boss, poverty and temptation to swallow drugs for cash to survive. It’s her acting and lead role debut, but she did the damn thing.

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4. in (2022)

is Wale, a police officer forced into a deadly cat-and-mouse chase against a notorious armed robbery gang that just so happens to be led by his brother, Akin (Tobi Bakre). He delivered arguably his best performance as an actor in this role.

3. in (2016)

is Dozie in this movie. His performance works because he鈥檚 believable: charming and romantic without becoming exaggerated – all the qualities we have seen in his natural “Mr. Capable” R&B flair. He gives us the premium lover-boy presence the movie needs.

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2. in (2018)

is Makanaki, the ruthless, power-hungry underworld boss who wants to hijack the crown from Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale) by force. He plays a terrifying bad guy that we couldn’t take our eyes off. For a debut acting gig, his menacing screen presence and flawless delivery of street-smart Yoruba dialogue are mind-blowing.

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1. in (2023)

In this movie, is Lamidi, a chaotic, party-loving teenager whose impulsive decision to throw a house party leads to a dark, life-altering mess during a long university strike. He is a frustrated Nigerian youth trying to find quick thrills in a depressing system. His performance is gritty and relatable, and it shows how fast a simple “cruise” can turn into a huge real-life disaster.

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ALSO READ:听10 Cheesy Nollywood Romcoms That鈥檒l Have You Giggling And Kicking Your Feet

You are about to find out if you have been calling the wrong movies romcoms. These are ten Nollywood movies that feel like romcoms but aren鈥檛.

(2023)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director: Walter Banger

Genre: Romance, Drama

Two lifelong best friends, Uche (Nse Ikpe-Etim) and Toyin (Dakore Akande Eghuson), unknowingly fall for the same charming man called Sunday (Oris Erhuero), and it sets up an interesting Nollywood love triangle. A fallout happens when the women realise they鈥檙e dating the same guy.

However, the romantic rivalry is masked by a terminal cancer diagnosis. Instead of a cute competition for Sunday鈥檚 heart, the movie turns into a tear-jerking tragedy about mortality, grief and friendship. The romance with Sunday only serves as a catalyst for a much deeper look at the enduring power of friendship (in the face of death).

(2015)

Running time: 1h 33m

Director: Niyi Akinmolayan

Genre: Romance, Drama

Muna (Adesua Etomi Wellington) and Imoh (Kunle Remi) are a married couple whose lives get turned upside down after Imoh gets into an accident and slips into a coma. She sticks with him and hopes that he’ll regain consciousness soon. During the course, she meets Yemi (Blossom Chukwujekwu). One thing leads to another and she gets pregnant for him.

A few days after she finds out, Imoh wakes up from the coma. Eventually, she tells him and he tells her to abort. This leads to a back-and-forth, but eventually they make up and raise Yemi鈥檚 baby together. The romcom flair in this movie is missing. All there are themes of caregiving, marital duty and guilt.

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(2019)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Omoni Oboli

Genre: Political Drama

A husband (Richard Mofe-Damijo) and wife (Omoni Oboli), both ambitious, end up running against each other for the governorship of their state. This is a political drama that refuses to play it for laughs. Their campaigns bring mudslinging that exposes deep-seated societal misogyny and the brutal, corrupt machinery of Nigerian politics. This is all the viewers see before the couple eventually kisses and makes up for the greater good of their family. The movie leaves viewers stressed rather than swooning.

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(2002)

Running time: 2h 30m

Director: Steve Gukas

Genre: Romance, Drama

In this movie, we see Nadine (Genevieve Nnaji) picking herself up after a heartbreak. In short order, she meets Princewill (Richard Mofe-Damijo) and begins scheming to lock down the wealthy, handsome man. Out of desperation, she takes her friends鈥� advice to give him a mind-altering love potion.

Although they find love together at the end, Nadine鈥檚 desperation to trap Princewill in a spiritually manipulated relationship is purely an obsession. And there鈥檚 nothing funny about that.

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(2012)

Running time: 1h 57m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Family Drama, Comedy

Phone Swap is more of a coming-of-age movie, especially for Mary (Nse Ikpe-Etim), the female lead. One makes sense for the viewers to expect Mary and Akin (Wale Ojo), the male lead, to fall madly in love after their cute phone misunderstandings and an airport reunion. However, this turns out to be a fish-out-of-water family dramedy.

Along the way, Mary meets people who teach her how to come out of her shell and be more outspoken, while Akin has experiences that stop him from being such a self-centred and elitist douchebag.

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READ NEXT: The Best Nollywood Movies to Watch on YouTube (May 2026)

(2018)

Running time: 1h 40m

Director: Tope Oshin

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Here, it鈥檚 way less about getting a girl. Up North is about Bassey (Bankole 鈥楤anky W鈥� Wellington), an heir to a wealthy family, as he strips away his entitlement. Sure, he finds love with Mariam (Rahama Sadau), but it鈥檚 second to the character development he gets from his friendship with Sadiq (Ibrahim Suleiman). In fact, they could have done away with the rain and subplots altogether.

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(2020)

Running time: 2h

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Drama

Aiyetide (Bisola Aiyeola) deals with scars of family abandonment and sexual assaults while trying to prove her worth as a chef and single mom. The presence of Obinna (Efa Iwara), a supportive man helping a struggling woman achieve her culinary dream, mimics the comforting, predictable style of a rom-com. But it鈥檚 not it. This movie is a comedic drama that unpacks trauma, survival and resilience.

The romantic subplot is beautifully executed, but it serves only as a compensation for her gruelling journey of self-actualisation and healing.

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(2019)

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Oluseyi 鈥楢surf鈥� Amuwa

Genre: Family Drama

This movie title literally translates to a chronic womaniser and that perhaps makes you think there鈥檚 a romcom here, but let鈥檚 look deeper. Femi (Wale Ojo), a smooth-talking womaniser, falls for Jessica (Iteti Doyle), the strict mother of his son鈥檚 love interest. Beneath their banters and romantic tropes, the movie spends significant time unpacking single parenthood, the trauma of losing a spouse, and the complicated, often messy drama of merging families.

This is a family drama about emotional baggage that uses a romcom as nothing more than a Trojan horse.

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(2010)

Running time: 1h 13m

Director: Mahmood Ali-Balogun

Genre: Drama, Family

Seeing Genevieve Nnaji and Joseph Benjamin, two of Nollywood鈥檚 most bankable romantic leads at a time, together in a poster signals a sweet romance. However, Tango With Me is far from that. It鈥檚 a drama focused on severe trauma and the fragility of faith.

The movie begins with the bride being raped in their hotel room on their wedding night. This sets off a harrowing look into PTSD and marital breakdown. This is a movie about a couple drowning in the aftermath of a deep tragedy. Nothing comedic here.

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(2019)

Running time: 1h 57m

Director: Kathryn Fasegha

Genre: Drama, Romance

This title suggests a breezy holiday romance, but it almost feels like one, only to turn into a story about the elite. Ejikeme (Mawuli Gavor) returns from the US and falls for Lola (Beverly Naya) despite being promised to another. The romance gets overshadowed by the themes of political manoeuvring and classism. Viewers learn more about the transactional nature of wealthy families than romance.

The lovers, Ejikeme and Lola, interact with the same intensity as two remote coworkers meeting for the first time at a company-mandated retreat. It鈥檚 wildly uninteresting and lacking heat.

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ALSO READ: The 10 Best Nollywood Movies to Watch on Netflix (May 2026)

So I did the digging into YouTube for you, and picked out the standouts. If you鈥檙e looking for something solid to watch this May, here are 10 Nollywood movies.

10. (2025)

Running time: 2h 3m

Director: Austine Onyema

Genre: Romance

Adaku (Chinenye Nnebe) and Nonso (Michael Dappah) are bound together by a promise they didn’t agree to. Years ago, their mothers, in the peak of friendship, decided their future children would one day end up married. Unfortunately, the children are all grown  up now and can鈥檛 stand each other.

Sensing opportunity (and refusing to let go of their long-held dream), their mothers step in with a plan that forces the two into a close distance. Somewhere between annoyance and attraction, Adaku and Nonso discover they have a thing for each. A love story begins.

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9. (2025)

Running time: 2h 10m

Director: Kingsley Fresh Onyema

Genre: Romance

We meet Cathy (Sandra Okunzuwa), a selfless nurse whose life takes a devastating turn when she receives a terminal diagnosis she keeps hidden from the world. She keeps showing up for everyone else, even as her own time begins to quietly slip away. Around the same time, she meets Manny Benson (Uzor Arukwe), whose world is just opening up.

They find love, but it鈥檚 pressed against urgency. Between what Cathy is losing and what Manny is just beginning to gain, they鈥檙e forced to ask what it means to love when time is no longer on your side.

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8. (2025)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick 

Genre: Romance

It was meant to be the proposal everyone talks about for years. Instead, one missing detail turns a carefully planned moment into an abrupt ending that neither Ramsey (Deyemi Okanlawon) nor Rita (Ekama Etim-Inyang) saw coming. They break up and are trying and failing to move on. No matter how far they try to run, life keeps looping them back into each other鈥檚 space like a stubborn algorithm refusing to refresh.

Between lingering feelings, they put bruised pride aside and attempt love again.

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7. (2026)

Running time: 1h 24m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick

Genre: Romance

Adaora (Sarian Martin) is a Lagos event planner chasing breakthroughs. Her biggest shot yet is an elite Christmas Eve event for a high-end client. There鈥檚 just one problem: Oladapo (Daniel Etim Effiong), a rigid tech entrepreneur who holds the keys to the rooftop venue she needs. Their first meeting is anything but smooth. He鈥檚 strict, she鈥檚 determined, and neither is particularly impressed by the other.

Between right deadlines, late-night planning sessions, logistics and other responsibilities, they fall for each other. But their pride is also about to ruin both the event and whatever is beginning to grow between them.

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6. (2025)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director: Sunny Peters

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Kay (Tioluwalogo Olakunbi-Black) and Jay (Ibitoye Ayodele) are two friends headed out for what should be a life-shaping morning. By the time they finally hit the road, it becomes clear their destination isn鈥檛 a regular outing, but an arranged meeting with a babalawo for money ritual.

They are about carry out their ritual when luck shows up unexpectedly. This makes them abandon the ritual, choosing the instant. But they鈥檙e already at the site of ritual, they can’t just turn back and quit. There are consequences to pay.

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READ NEXT: The 10 Best Nollywood Movies to Watch on Netflix (May 2026)

5. (2025)

Running time: 1h 26m

Director: Debola Santa Ogunshina

Genre: Drama

When the marriage of two close friends starts to fall apart, Theresa (Teniola Aladese) and Shola (Tayo Arimoro) are pulled back into each other鈥檚 world, whether they like it or not. As they step into the role of unofficial counsellors for their friends (Wendy Lawal and Gabriel Afolayan), unresolved emotions begin to come out.

But somewhere between mediation sessions, they realise they’re just as broken as the people they鈥檙e trying to fix.

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4. (2026)

Running time: 2h 9m

Director: Omoruyi Efosa Emmanuel

Genre: Drama

Monica (Uche Montana), a selfless firstborn daughter finally distances herself from her toxic, ungrateful family to rebuild her life and tailoring business. However, when her father passes away and family debts pile up, she鈥檚 forced to get involved.

Now, she’s at risk of falling back into being the family’s financial saviour.

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3. (2025)

Running time: 1h 32m

Director: Great-Val Edochie

Genre: Romance

Ibiere (Detola Jones) is pulled into the orbit of the powerful Daniels family after a wealthy socialite and her manipulative mother recruit her for a deception. They want her to seduce Prince Tayo Daniels (Daniel Etim Effiong), the family鈥檚 heir.

But this one-night arrangement snowballs into something far messier. After an unexpected encounter, fate throws Ibiere and Tayo together again when he unknowingly hires her at his company. As attraction and feelings grow, so do the lies holding everything together. Ibiere is forced to decide how far she鈥檚 willing to go for love and a second chance at the life she desires.

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2. (2026)

Running time: 2h 15m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick

Genre: Drama, Romance

Chima (Chris Attoh), wrecked by loss, disappears without warning, abandoning the chaos of his old life for a sleepy village where nobody knows his name. He wants silence, distance, and maybe a chance to breathe again. Instead, he stumbles into the lives of two people carrying heartbreaks as heavy as his own: an aging man and Morenikeji (Details Jones), a guarded young woman.

While living in the village, old wounds begin to crack open and unlikely bonds start to form. But the life he ran from is moving closer by the day, threatening to destroy the happiness he has finally found.

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1. (2026)

Running time: 1h 31m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

Anjola is a story of motherhood. Folarin (Femi Jacobs) and Anjola (Bolaji Ogunmola) are a couple navigating the struggles of infertility. The struggle has taken a toll on both of them and a night of frustration with an option to stop trying or consider alternatives.

Eventually, they come to a point where they are left with surrogacy as their only option. They are desperate to have a family with kids, so they pursue it. But the process reveals fears that threaten to test their faith and relationship.

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ALSO READ: The Best AMVCA 鈥楤est Movie鈥� Winners of All Time, Ranked

The ceremony for the 12th edition of the award took place last weekend, on May 9, leaving fans of African cinema debating snubs and surprises all over the internet. In celebration of the award show, we鈥檝e ranked the 12 best AMVCA 鈥楤est Movie鈥� winners of all time.听

12. (2019)

Award-winning year: 2020

Running time: 2h 29m

Director: Ramsey Nouah

Genre: Thriller

Country: Nigeria

A sequel to the 1992 Nollywood classic Living in Bondage, this film follows Nnamdi (Jide Kene Achufusi), an ambitious young man who turns to occult rituals in his desperate quest for wealth. However, he soon realises that the price of his newfound riches is far greater than he ever imagined.

Directed by Ramsey Nouah, the thriller features standout performances from Nancy Isime, Kanayo O. Kanayo, and Nouah himself. If you’re looking for a gripping modern take on a Nollywood classic, this is a must-watch.

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11. (2014)

Award-winning year: 2016

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Stephanie Linus

Genre: Drama

Country: Nigeria

Dry addresses the harrowing issues of child marriage and Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) in Northern Nigeria. The film follows a young girl鈥檚 struggle and a doctor鈥檚 journey to make a difference, highlighting the resilience of women and the need for societal change. 

This drama, directed by Stephanie Linus, brings sensitivity and urgency to these critical issues that continue to ravage the entire country.鈥� The cast includes Stephanie Linus as Dr. Zara鈥�, Liz Benson-Ameye, Olu Jacobs and Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge.Dry 

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10. Contract (2012)

Award-winning year: 2014

Running time: 2h 26m

Director: Shirley Frimpong-Manso

Genre: Romance

Country: Ghana

Peter (Hlomla Dandala) has no interest in marriage or commitment, but he wants a child. His solution? Hire a surrogate. He finds Abena (Yvonne Okoro), a woman in need of money, and strikes a deal: she鈥檒l carry his baby, move in during the pregnancy, give birth, and then walk away.

Simple, right? Not quite. As the pregnancy progresses, Abena starts developing feelings for Peter 鈥� and, to his surprise, he just might have a heart after all.

If you鈥檙e in the mood for a heartwarming romance with a touch of comedy, Contract is worth a watch 鈥� if you can find it. Unfortunately, it鈥檚 not currently streaming anywhere.

9. (2017)

Award-winning year: 2018

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Njue Kevin

Genre: Medical Drama

Country: Kenya

This gripping drama follows Zach (Nick Ndeda), a rookie paramedic determined to save a critically injured accident victim. But despite his best efforts, hospital after hospital refuses to admit the patient, forcing Zach to stay in the ambulance with him for a grueling 18 hours 鈥� until they finally find a facility willing to help.

With five AMVCA nominations, 18 Hours made history as the first Kenyan film to be recognised at the event 鈥� and it took home the ‘Best Movie’ award that year.

Medical dramas may be rare in African cinema, but 18 Hours delivers a powerful and emotional story that鈥檚 worth watching.

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8. (2021)

Award-winning year: 2022

Running time: 1h 54m

Director: Izu Ojukwu

Genre: Action/Adventure

Country: Nigeria

This Arewa epic brings to life the legendary story of Queen Amina of Zazzau (modern-day Zaria). Played by Lucy Ameh, Amina is a fearless warrior whose ambition leads her to the throne, cementing her place in history.

Featuring a stellar cast that includes Ali Nuhu, Clarion Chukwura, and Sani Musa Danja, Amina speaks to Nollywood鈥檚 growing interest in historical epics. If you love stories of power, bravery, and legacy, this one is worth watching.

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READ NEXT:听AMVCA 2026: The Complete List of Winners

7. (2022)

Award-winning year: 2023

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Drama/Fantasy

Country: Nigeria

Anikulapo follows the story of Saro (Kunle Remi), a man gifted with the mystical power to bring people back to life. His name, meaning 鈥淗e who carries death in his pouch鈥� in Yoruba, hints at the immense power he wields. But as his abilities earn him fame, fortune, and influence, greed leads him down a dangerous path.

With its rich cultural themes, stunning costumes, and a gripping storyline, Anikulapo stands out as one of Nollywood鈥檚 most visually striking epics. If you love historical fantasy with deep Yoruba mythology, this one鈥檚 a must-watch.

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6. (2014)

Award-winning year: 2015

Running time: 2h 25m

Director: Kunle Afolayan

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Country: Nigeria

Set against the backdrop of Nigeria鈥檚 1960 independence, October 1 follows veteran police inspector Danladi Waziri (Sadiq Daba) as he investigates a series of brutal murders targeting women. His search for the killer leads to shocking revelations about the man responsible (Demola Adedoyin) and the dark history that shaped him.

Blending real historical events with gripping fiction, this film delivers a compelling mystery wrapped in stunning cinematography, a strong cast, and masterful storytelling. A true Nollywood classic, October 1 is a must-watch.

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5. (2024)

Award-winning year: 2025

Running time: 1h 28m

Director: Afolabi Olalekan

Genre: Drama

Country: Nigeria

When the state government suddenly bans commercial motorcycles, nine lives are thrown into turmoil, from tech entrepreneurs Tayo (Ogranya Jable Osai) and Themba (Jesse Suntele), whose newly approved ride-hailing app is rendered useless overnight, to okada rider Abiola (Debo “Mr. Macaroni” Adedayo) and his wife Funke (Meg Otanwa), who are desperately trying to scrape together their daughter’s school fees before graduation day.

Caught in the same web are Edidiong (Mike Afolarin), a lawyer so disillusioned with Nigeria he already has a one-way ticket out; Dr. Cheta (Taye Arimoro), a doctor ground down by a system that trivialises human life; and Officer Ajayi (Femi Jacobs), a corrupt, reckless policeman who extorts at every checkpoint until his actions trigger a fatal and irreversible chain of events. Together, they paint a vivid picture of a country where no one, regardless of class, is safe from systemic dysfunction, and yet, somehow, everyone keeps pushing forward.

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4. (2011)

Award-winning year: 2013

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Sara Blecher

Genre: Drama

Country: South Africa

Set in 1988 at the height of apartheid, Otelo Burning follows three township boys鈥擮telo (Jafta Mamabolo), his younger brother Ntwe (Tshepang Mohlomi), and his best friend New Year (Thomas Gumede)鈥攚ho discover a passion for surfing after visiting a beach house. As Otelo rises to fame in the sport, his dreams are shattered when Ntwe is murdered, forcing him to choose between vengeance and his future.

Though released in 2011, this visually striking South African drama won Best Film at the 2013 AMVCAs. If you鈥檙e a fan of art house cinema, this one deserves a spot on your watchlist.

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3. (2016)

Award-winning year: 2017

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Izu Ojukwu

Genre: Historical Drama

Country: Nigeria

Set against the backdrop of a turbulent period in Nigerian history, 鈥�76 follows a soldier who is wrongly accused of being involved in a coup plot to assassinate a general. With his life on the line, his pregnant wife fights against all odds to prove his innocence.

Blending history, romance, and political intrigue, this gripping drama is a must-watch for fans of military and historical films. If you鈥檙e looking for a Nollywood film that delivers both emotional depth and high stakes, 鈥�76 won鈥檛 disappoint.

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2. (2023)

Award-winning year: 2024

Running time: 1h 54m

Director: BB Sasore

Genre: Drama

Country: Nigeria

Once a prosperous and gifted man, Timi (Wale Ojo) is left bitter and withdrawn after a devastating loss. His world takes an unexpected turn when Elijah (Chimezie Imo), a humble young man, becomes his housekeeper. As their bond deepens, Timi begins to heal, rediscover love, and find renewed purpose.

A beautifully crafted Nollywood drama, Breath of Life stands out with its heartfelt storytelling, powerful performances, and stunning cinematography. Arguably one of the finest Nollywood films in recent years, this is one you shouldn鈥檛 miss.

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1. (2025)

Award-winning year: 2026

Running time: 1h 33m

Director: Akinola Davies Jr.

Genre: Drama

Country: Nigeria

My Father’s Shadow is set over a single day in Lagos on 24 June 1993, the day Nigeria’s military annulled the results of the country’s first democratic election. Folarin (Sope Dirisu), a working-class father, takes his two young sons, Akin (Chibuike Marvellous Egbo) and Remi (Godwin Egbo), across the city to collect his delayed salary.

As they navigate Lagos together, visiting markets, riding motorbikes, and moving around, cracks in the father-son relationship slowly surface. The city itself begins to boil over into protest and unrest. An ordinary errand descends into a tragic day that none of them will forget.

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If you鈥檙e scrolling for what to watch next, these are 10 Nollywood movies on Netflix worth your time right now.

10. (2020)

Running time: 1h 50m

Director: Funke Akindele and JJC

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Twin sisters separated at birth grow up in completely different worlds. Lefty (Funke Akindele) is street-smart, sharp-tongued, and shaped by Lagos hustle culture, while Ayomide (also played by Akindele) is posh, privileged and far removed from survival mode. When Ayomide returns to Nigeria, their lives collide, pulling her into Lefty鈥檚 unpredictable world of street alliances, loyalty and everyday chaos. It first starts as culture shock, then becomes something more complicated with tension and reluctant sisterhood.

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9. (2023)

Running time: 2h 3m

Director: Adebayo Tijani and Akay Mason

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Ada Omo Daddy unfolds against the backdrop of a Nigerian wedding. Pero (Omowunmi Dada) is set to marry Victor (Tayo Faniran) when her long-absent biological father (Charles Okafor) suddenly reappears.

His return cracks open old wounds and unsettled truths, forcing family tensions to the surface just as the wedding festivities peak. What follows is a mix of laughter, emotion and revelations that threaten to rewrite what family means.

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8. (2022)

Running time: 2h 5m

Director: Bunmi Ajakaiye

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Glamour Girls reimagines the 1994 cult classic through the shiny, predatory world of Lagos high society. At the centre is Emma (Sharon Ooja), whose life unravels after losing her job and slipping into survival mode. She becomes a stripper and is eventually pulled into the world of high-end escorting.

Surrounded by wealth, power and constant negotiation, Emma鈥檚 transformation is both dazzling and dangerous, as every luxury comes with a cost.

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7. (2024)

Running time: 1h 40m

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Drama, Musical

Oluchi (Nancy Isime) is a Lagos-based aspiring music star who left her village a decade ago in pursuit of fame and fortune. She鈥檚 also a deadbeat mother who left behind her daughter, Ihunnaya (Darsimi Nadi), to be raised by her grandfather, Humphrey (Nkem Owoh). When a family tragedy forces her back home, Oluchi is confronted with everything she tried to outrun.

The career she鈥檚 built in Lagos suddenly collides with the responsibility she abandoned, pushing her into an unexpected reckoning with motherhood, regret and the version of herself she鈥檚 become.

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5. (2022)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director: Biyi Bandele

Genre: Epic

The King鈥檚 Horseman, adapted from Wole Soyinka鈥檚 classic play, is set in colonial Nigeria in 1943. Elesin (Odunlade Adekola), the king鈥檚 horseman, is expected to complete a sacred ritual after the death of the Alaafin by joining him in the afterlife. But British colonial officer Simon Pilkings (Mark Elderkin) intervenes, disrupting the rite in the name of civilization.

As tensions rise, Elesin鈥檚 son Olunde (Deyemi Okanlawon), newly returned from medical studies in England, is forced to confront the cultural rupture and the consequences of his father鈥檚 failure to die with the king.

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6. (2022)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Lyndsey Efejuku

Genre: Romcom

Sarah (Beverly Naya) is a young lady trying to rebuild her life after escaping an abusive relationship. Healing is slow, and just when she starts to breathe again, her friend Lizzy (Bimbo Ademoye) pushes her back into the dating world, landing her in a complicated triangle with Fred (Uzor Arukwe) and Michael (Bucci Franklin).

Her past. however, refuses to stay quiet. Her abusive ex, Dare (Daniel Etim Effiong), keeps resurfacing to threaten her with violence. This movie is about survival, trust and learning what safety looks like as much as it鈥檚 about romance.

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4. (2022)

Running time: 1h 25m

Director: Ebuka Njoku

Genre: Drama, Horror

This movie follows Ose (Keezyto) and Abacha (Somadina Adinma), two struggling aspiring actors whose dreams can鈥檛 keep up with their rent. They drift into cyber fraud, but when quick money doesn鈥檛 come fast enough, they鈥檙e pulled into a deeper and darker layer of cyber fraud known as Yahoo+, scams mixed with ritual practices, under the guidance of Ikolo (Ken Erics).

Their story runs alongside Kamso (Echelon Mbadiwe) and Pino-Pino (Ifeoma Obinwa), who are also caught in survival trades of their own. The movie examines ambition under pressure, where every choice has a cost.

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3. (2020)

Running time: 2h

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Rom-com

At 28, Kambili Maduka (Nancy Isime) thinks she has a clear deadline: get married before 30. Then everything falls apart. Her boyfriend (Mawuli Gavor) dumps her for not being 鈥渨ife material,鈥� and she gets suspended from work, forcing her to confront the life she鈥檚 been coasting through.

With her friends in her corner, Kambili begins to rebuild, figuring out what she actually wants beyond timelines and pressure. Kambili: The Whole 30 Yards blends romance, self-discovery, and Lagos girl chaos into a story about choosing yourself.

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2. (2022)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters

Genre: Drama

Man of God tells the story of Samuel Obalolu (Akah Nnani), a pastor鈥檚 son raised under his father’s rigid control. Tired of the pressure, he runs from home to explore freedom on his own terms; music, relationships and a life far from the pulpit, including entanglements with women like Teju (Osas Ighodaro) and Rekya (Dorcas Shola-Fapson).

Years later, Samuel returns as a celebrated preacher with a fast-growing church, but his past lingers. Beneath the success is guilt, betrayal, and a quiet spiritual crisis that refuses to stay buried.

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1. (2020)

Running time: 2h 20m

Directors: Tosin Igho

Genre: Horror, Mystery

Nneka the Pretty Serpent is a supernatural thriller about a woman pulled into revenge by forces bigger than her. After witnessing her parents鈥� murder as a child, Nneka (Idia Aisien) grows up haunted until strange visions and powers reveal her link to a vengeful marine spirit. The deal is simple: power in exchange for taking down the powerful men behind her family鈥檚 death. Armed with new abilities, she becomes a deadly force moving through a world of secret societies and elite corruption. But the deeper she goes, the more she risks losing herself.

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From M.I Abaga鈥檚 conceptual rap projects to Burna Boy鈥檚 globe-spanning African Giant, these albums are more than music; they are movies you can listen to.

10. Gbagada Express 鈥� BOJ (2022)

BOJ, one of the architects of the Nigerian alt茅 movement, takes listeners on a journey that reflects on life in Lagos, especially the famous Gbagada axis known for its social life, hustle and cultural syncretism. While not a traditional concept movie album, its brilliant fusion of Afro鈥憄op, alt茅, and introspective and fun lyricism evokes a day鈥慽n鈥憈he鈥憀ife arc of a person living on Lagos Mainland.

9. A Study on Self-Worth: Yxng Dxznl 鈥� M.I Abaga (2018)

Departing from the outward-looking lens of The Chairman and The Rendezvous, this album is a psychological event that invites the listener into M.I鈥檚 private therapy sessions. The album uses lengthy, instructional song titles and recurring snippets of a dialogue between M.I and his therapist to navigate themes of depression, ego, and the industry鈥檚 toxic expectations.

It鈥檚 a deeply immersive character study that uses distorted vocals and moody production to represent the internal clutter of an artist struggling to find himself amidst the noise of fame.

8. Palmwine Express 鈥� Show Dem Camp (2019)

Palmwine Express, released in 2019 and produced primarily by Spax, shifts Show Dem Camp鈥檚 narrative focus from hard political rap to an immersive, mood鈥慸riven exploration of palm鈥憌ine music鈥檚 roots. This project uses an airborne concept, complete with flight announcements, to transport the listener into a world of highlife-infused jams and romantic subplots. Looking at the style that the album takes in its narrative arc, it serves as a travelogue or a road movie centred on the Detty December culture and dating scene in Lagos.

7. African Giant 鈥� Burna Boy (2019)

Burna Boy鈥檚 African Giant is a mix of personal and socio-political themes that make music with a lens on the Nigerian experience. The album is structured around the transition from personal struggle to global dominance, famously sparked by a climax in his real-life narrative: his outburst over the font size of his name on a Coachella poster, which he used as the catalyst for the album鈥檚 title and theme.

African Giant uses skits and samples to ground its message, most notably the 67-second inclusion of a documentary clip in 鈥淎nother Story鈥� that narrates the commercial origins of Nigeria as a British business deal. By closing the album with 鈥淪piritual,鈥� featuring his mother鈥檚 viral BET Awards acceptance speech where she reminds the world that 鈥測ou were African before anything else,鈥� Burna Boy makes a statement that solidifies the album as a monumental piece of Pan-African storytelling.

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6. Jagz Nation Vol. 2: Royal Niger Company 鈥� Jesse Jagz (2013)

Jesse Jagz鈥檚 Royal Niger Company is an avant-garde epic that blends historical references with cinematic samples from films like Scarface and Johnny Mad Dog. Jesse acts as a philosopher-king, weaving together Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tupac and  Fela Kuti samples to create a project that feels more like a cross鈥慶ontinental historical movie than a standard rap album.

The inclusion of movie dialogue and conversational skits helps build the Jagz Nation mythos, and its orchestral Hip鈥慔op and Rastafarian inflections frame Jagz as a renegade figure challenging the conventional boundaries of Nigerian sound and mainstream expectations.

5. Clone Wars Vol. IV: These Buhari Times 鈥� Show Dem Camp (2019)

This album was released by rap duo Show Dem Camp as part of their long鈥憆unning Clone Wars series. It pairs incisive, vivid lyrical vignettes with sharp commentary on the contemporary Nigerian experience under then鈥慞resident Buhari鈥檚 administration. This album uses a series of unfiltered lyrical reporting to paint a bleak yet true picture of the City of Excellence, AKA Lagos, and the broader national landscape.

In my opinion, it鈥檚 a political thriller that reflects the tension and resilience of the Nigerian people under economic and social pressure.

4. Moral Instruction 鈥� Falz (2019)

Moral Instruction sees Falz deploy his fourth studio project, released in January 2019, as a socio鈥憄olitical audio film. It uses Nigerian Pidgin and samples of Fela Kuti to tell stories about police brutality, hypocrisy, greedy politicians, social media distraction, undermined youth potential and personal responsibility. The album鈥檚 cinematic concept was first established by the release of The Curriculum, an eight-minute short film that threads the tracks together through the metaphor of a dysfunctional school system.

The album鈥檚 production straddles Hip-Hop and Afrobeat, with tracks ranging from the tragic narrative of 鈥淛ohnny鈥� to the direct critique of 鈥淭alk.鈥� Listening to the album as arranged feels like courtroom drama or episodes in a documentary on Nigeria鈥檚 systemic dysfunction.

3. Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN 鈥� Cruel Santino (2022)

Cruel Santino鈥檚 sophomore album, Subaru Boys: FINAL HEAVEN, is a sprawling, 21-track sci-fi epic that feels like a high-budget anime or a retro JRPG (Japanese Role-Playing Game) than a regular album. It鈥檚 divided into chapters, follows a complex narrative centred on a group of celestial beings known as the Subaru Boys and their journey through a conceptual universe.

Santino crafts this world using heavy world-building elements that include a Santinese (his self-created lingo) and a lore-heavy 鈥淏ible鈥� released alongside the album to help listeners navigate the plot. The album鈥檚 commitment to its 鈥淔inal Heaven鈥� theme is unmistakable in its glitchy, futuristic production.

2. What Happens In Lagos 鈥� Ajebutter 22 (2017)

Ajebutter 22鈥檚 sophomore project is a meticulously curated “day in the life” story of a Lagosian millennial, narrated through the poetic interludes of Koromone Koye. The album tracks the protagonist鈥檚 journey from the morning commute at 4:00 AM to the social pressures of rich friends and the eventual status-seeking of 鈥淟agos Big Boy.鈥�

The album operates as a city-sized mirror that shows the irony and packaging of Lagos life with a dry wit and relatability that makes each song feel like scenes from a comedy-drama.

1. MI 2: The Movie 鈥� M.I Abaga (2010)

True to its title, M.I Abaga鈥檚 second studio album was conceived as a blockbuster film with a narrative structure,  M.I act as the protagonist, and the featured artists are credited as co-stars. The project draws heavy inspiration from the Mission: Impossible franchise. We can see from how it utilises the intro, skit performances and action-packed tracks like 鈥淎ction Film鈥� to establish a thriller atmosphere.

But beyond the impressive structure and flair, it serves as a panoramic lens on Nigeria, from how it brings commercial hits like 鈥漀umber 1鈥� with socially conscious songs like 鈥淐raze鈥�, about corruption and the unrest in Jos. This album solidifies M.I鈥檚 reputation as a master of the concept album.

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If you鈥檝e finished your latest binge-watch of the show, and you鈥檙e looking for that same Regency-level drama with a Nigerian twist, you鈥檙e in the right place. From village square 鈥淐inderella鈥� moments to the 鈥渆nemies-to-lovers鈥� wahala of Lagos high society, I鈥檝e made a Nollywood movie watchlist that matches the vibe of your favourite Bridgerton season.

Season 1 (The Fake Dating Trope)

1. (2013)

Running time: 1h 46m

Director: Michelle Bello

Genre: Romance

Kemi (Damilola Adegbite) is a soft babe and florist who believes in two things: fresh flowers and forever. She鈥檚 been dating Umar (Chris Attoh) long enough to have mentally picked aso-ebi colours for their wedding. So when he blindsides her with a breakup, her fairytale plan collapses like a poorly tied gele.

After crying into bouquet orders for a while, Kemi meets a Nollywood superstar, Tunde (Blossom Chukwujekwu), who fakes a relationship with her to make Umar jealous. But their calculated public appearances and curated intimacy quickly grow teeth, and their pretend love story becomes very real.

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2. (2025)

Running time: 1h 38m

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Romance

Tomide (Timini Egbuson) makes a living telling the internet how to love and handle their relationships. Then a messy video of him arguing with Rachel (TJ Omusuku), a small-business owner who refuses to be talked down to, goes online, hurting his brand. When it’s time for damage control, his girlfriend, Imani (Atlanta Johnson), pitches a bold fix: stage a romance with Rachel, flood the timeline with cute photos and moments, and let the public rewrite the story.

The plan works, but there’s a problem. The staged relationship begins to feel real. Once Imani clocks that something real is brewing between them, everything switches gears into complications, but love between Tomide and Rachel is already waxing stronger.

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3. (2024)

Running time: 1h 28m

Director: Stanley Obi

Genre: Romance

In Fianc茅e for a Day, Emem (Omoni Oboli) and Tobi (Eso Dike) are exes who swear they鈥檙e over each other but somehow can鈥檛 stop orbiting the same drama. For family peace and breathing space, they agree to pretend they鈥檙e still together for just one day, because obviously, two exes can fake a kiss without awakening archived feelings. Obviously.

When they reunite, the old flame is still very much alive. Their performance turns personal as a lingering desire tangles.

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Season 2 (The Enemies-to-Lovers Trope)

4. Picture Perfect (2016)

Running time: 1h 13m

Director: Tope Alake

Genre: Drama, Romance

Kumbi (Mary Remmy Njoku) is a high-end fashion designer who lives a somewhat uptight life. Her world revolves around her sewing machine. One late night, when her car breaks down in a sketchy part of Lagos, Jobe (Bolanle Ninalowo), a notorious local area boy (tout), rescues her from a group of thugs.

Instead of a 鈥渢hank you and goodbye,鈥� Jobe ends up setting up shop right in front of Kumbi鈥檚 workspace, blasting Fuji music and bringing his fights into her organised space. Their worlds collide, and as they spend more time together, they become friends; one thing leads to another, and a nightstand happens. The result of that single intimacy is a bouncing baby between them.

Picture Perfect is currently unavailable to stream or watch.

5. (2025)

Running time: 1h 10

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

In Foolish People, we meet Phoebe (Bolaji Ogunmola) and Charles (Uzor Arukwe), two people who used to be an item but now can鈥檛 stand to be in the same room.  They鈥檝e spent the last four years staying away from each other, until a tragic plane crash changes everything.

Their mutual friends (who were also Phoebe’s cousins) died in the crash and left a wild request in their will: Phoebe and Charles must move into the same house to co-parent their orphaned daughter, Tabby. This surprising request neutralises the animosity between them and brings them back together as lovers.

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6. (2025)

Running time: 2h 31m

Director: Austine Onyema

Genre: Romance

This movie follows Adaku (Chinenye Nnebe) and Nonso (Michael Dappah), whose mothers were once inseparable best friends. Back in the day, the moms made a sentimental pact that their children would one day marry. Fast forward to the present, and there鈥檚 just one tiny problem: Adaku and Nonso absolutely cannot stand each other. They hold deep-seated grudges, and their interactions are defined by constant bickering, yelling, and heavy-duty “side-eye” that masks an attraction that neither wants to admit.

The drama kicks in when the mothers hatch a desperate plan to force the two together and fulfil that old promise. By the time the walls finally come down, the 鈥渆nemies鈥� phase has dragged out so much that the final romantic payoff feels like a hard-earned victory.

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Season 3 (The Friends-to-Lovers Trope)

7. (2022)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters

Genre: Romance

In Man of God, Samuel (Akah Nnani) isn鈥檛 just wrestling with religion, career goals, and his father鈥檚 strict legacy 鈥� he鈥檚 also navigating a messy circle of women that starts off as friendly connections and turns into romance. He is friends with Joy (Atlanta Bridget Johnson) and Teju (Osas Ighodaro), two best friends who attended the same campus fellowship. Teju has a crush on Samuel, but he has his eyes on Joy.

After Joy graduates, their relationship hits a rough patch because Samuel has an extra academic year, and she marries someone else. Samuel falls into a state of sadness, and Teju helps him get his life back on the right track. Teju鈥檚 crawl-back and involvement in his life heat up a romance that leads them to marriage and to a new, almost-perfect life as a couple in Christ.

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8. (2025)

Running time: 1h 20m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

You know that friend who listens to every breakup voice note, drags your ex on your behalf, treats you better than and still shows up with shawarma when you鈥檙e crying? That鈥檚 the core of this movie. Fubara (Blossom Chukwujekwu) and Ileri (Bolaji Ogunmola) play best friends navigating the messy Nigerian dating scene. Through every romantic disaster, they stay in each other鈥檚 safe place.

But somewhere between comforting hugs and 鈥測ou deserve better鈥� speeches, the line blurs. Before they know it, that 鈥渏ust friends鈥� tag quietly expires, making room for something softer, deeper, and very real.

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9. (2020)

Running time: 2h

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Romcom

Turning 30 is staring her down, and according to her goal plan and society鈥檚 rulebook, she鈥檚 supposed to be a CEO and somebody鈥檚 wife by now. Instead, her boyfriend John (Mawuli Gavor) dumps her with the classic 鈥渘ot wife material鈥� excuse, and suddenly her life starts to wobble. In her determination to rebrand into a disciplined, put-together babe, Kambili signs up for a full self-upgrade plan designed by her ever-loyal best friend, Chidi (Jide Kene Achufusi).

There鈥檚 a checklist and rules. But while she鈥檚 busy trying to prove she鈥檚 HER, it dawns on her that she鈥檚 been overlooking the one person, her bestie, Chidi, who鈥檚 chosen her all along. Love isn鈥檛 missing; it鈥檚 been standing right beside her.

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Season 4 (The Cinderella Trope)

10. (2022)

Running time: 1h 29m

Director: Bunmi Akingbola

Genre: Romance

Selina (Bimbo Ademoye) is a village food stall owner struggling to keep her head above water, pay off debts, and sponsor her younger brother鈥檚 education. When things get tighter, she takes a job as a live-in cook and cleaner for Reuben (Daniel Etim-Effiong), a wealthy guy.

The setup is peak Cinderella: a low-class hardworking girl moves into a fancy house and starts serving a rich guy who already has a fianc茅e (though he鈥檚 low-key confused about that relationship). Selina brings her loud, comedic personality into Reuben鈥檚 quiet home, and naturally, the romantic chemistry begins. This is a classic story of a man who has everything but realises he鈥檚 actually missing the spice and authenticity that someone like Selina brings to the table.

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11. (2024)

Running time: 1h 44m

Director: Chinazam Onuzo

Genre: Romcom

Promise (Jemima Osunde) is an ambitious event planner, constantly juggling the extreme pressure of supporting her family with the 鈥渇ake it ’til you make it鈥� demands of Lagos high society. She鈥檚 the glue holding her world together until she crosses paths with King Kator, a rising Afrobeats sensation (Mike Afolarin).

The moment they meet, they hit chemistry immediately. What follows is a sweet, lighthearted fantasy that replaced the stress of Lagos with just the right amount of temptation.

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12. (2004)

Running time: 2h 38s

Director: Tchidi Chikere

Genre: Romance

Uli (Ini Edo) is a village girl who moves to the big city to stay with her uncle, hoping for a better life. She鈥檚 just living her regular, everyday life when she crosses paths with Prince Promise (Kenneth Okonkwo). In true fairy-tale fashion, it鈥檚 love at first sight, but there鈥檚 a massive class barrier standing in the way of their happily ever after.

Prince Promise knows his elite and royal parents will never agree to his marrying someone they consider local and unrefined. But instead of giving up or hiding her away, he decides to play the long game. He invests in her, upgrades her lifestyle and gives her the kind of exposure that turns a local girl into a sophisticated baddie, all before presenting her to his mother.

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15. (2024)

Running time: 1h 43m

Director: Biodun Stephen

Genre: Comedy, Thriller

Muri (Kunle Remi), a petty thief and debtor, steals a car and doesn鈥檛 realise that he has kidnapped a boy named Cole (Fiyinfolu Asenuga). In the middle of the state-wide search for Cole, a tender bond forms between both of them.

These two characters carry the whole movie with inviting comedy and layered vulnerability. Kunle Remi鈥檚 performance grounds Muri鈥檚 anxiety and desperation in a bad economic state. Cole, on the other hand, stays assured, surprisingly and rarely sentimental. Their chemistry and strong acting sustain the movie.

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14. (2022)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters

Genre: Drama

This movie tells the story of Samuel (Akah Nnani), the son of a strict pastor who rejects his father鈥檚 rigid faith to chase worldly success. As he rises financially and morally drifts from how he was raised, the movie tracks his internal collapse and reckoning.

Akah Nnani, in his role as a pastor, captures the agonising conflict of a man who wants to be good but loves the world too much. Supporting acts by Osas Ighodaro (Teju) and Dorcas Shola-Fapson (Rekya) provide the needed mirrors for Samuel鈥檚 descent. It鈥檚 rooted in church culture and ambition, and it interrogates prosperity gospel and generational conflict.

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13. (2023)

Running time: 2h 4m

Director: Jadesola Osiberu

Genre: Crime, Thriller

Set in Isale Eko, this crime thriller follows Obalola (Tobi Bakre), Gift (Chike), and Ify (Adesua Etomi-Wellington), three childhood friends navigating thuggery and violent patronage systems in a crime world. Tobi Bakre delivers a breakout performance, portraying Obalola鈥檚 transformation from hopeful youth to hardened enforcer, marked by internal conflict. Chike brings a strong emotion to Gift (AKA Pana), while Adesua injects steel into Ify鈥檚 arc. Their acting elevates the movie by humanising characters shaped by systemic violence.

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12. (2022)

Running time: 1h 36m

Director: Biyi Bandele

Genre: Drama

Based on Wole Soyinka鈥檚 classic play, this movie focuses on Elesin Oba (Odunlade Adekola), the King鈥檚 horseman, who must commit ritual suicide to accompany his deceased King to the afterlife. However, an intervention by the British colonial officers triggers a catastrophic series of events that threatens the kingdom’s balance.

In this epic, Odunlade Adekola reminds us why he is a Yoruba movie legend. He brings a theatrical presence to his role that demands both arrogance and despair. Shaffy Bello (Iyaloja) also delivers a great performance, serving as the movie’s moral compass.

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11. (2023)

Running time: 1h 54m

Director: BB Sasore

Genre: Drama

Timi (Wale Ojo) is a man who has everything: faith, family and a bright future, until a tragic encounter with a violent gang leader strips him of his joy. Decades later, a young, optimistic Elijah (Chimezie Imo) enters his life as a houseboy, slowly chipping away at Timi鈥檚 stony heart and teaching him how to live again.

Wale Ojo (Timi) portraying the transition from a happy young man (Ademola Adedoyin) to a cynical and suicidal hermit is a captivating character development and performance, though heartbreaking to watch. Chimezie Imo (Elijah) is the anchor that brings light to the screen and makes their grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic work beautifully. Genovevah Umeh鈥檚 role as Anna is brilliant too. Some of the best Nollywood performances of the 2020s are here.

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10. (2018)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Genevieve Nnaji

Genre: Drama

When her father (Pete Edochie) falls ill, Adaeze (Genevieve Nnaji) steps up to run the family鈥檚 transport business. However, in a male-dominated industry, she must work alongside her uncle, Godswill (Nkem Owoh), to save the company from bankruptcy and prove her worth.

Genevieve Nnaji (Adaeze) delivers a masterclass performance in this movie, with dialogues and expressions that convey a woman鈥檚 determination and strength. Nkem Owoh (Godswill) balances his signature comedic flair with a protective attitude that will remind you of one of your uncles. Together, along with a supporting cast that all bring their A-game, they make Lionheart a heartwarming family drama.

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9. (2023)

Running time: 2h 4m

Director: Editi Effiong

Genre: Action, Thriller

Paul Edima (Richard Mofe-Damijo) is a man who has spent years hiding his dark past as a formidable hitman and living the life of a devoted deacon. But when his only son, Damilola (Olumide Oworu), is framed for a high-profile kidnapping and murdered by a corrupt police unit, Paul realises that turning the other cheek won’t bring justice. He is forced to dust off his old skills and go on a scorched-earth mission to retrieve 鈥淭he Black Book鈥�,  a ledger that contains the secrets of Nigeria鈥檚 shadow government, to clear his son鈥檚 name and take down his former boss.

RMD displays a father鈥檚 grief and the cold precision of a killer with such conviction that you鈥檒l wonder if he鈥檚 the same person so popular for being a romantic lead. The chilling, old-school villainy of Alex Usifo (General Issa) also elevates the movie.

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8. (2020)

Running time: 2h 25m

Director: Ramsey Noauh

Genre: Action, Thriller

After witnessing his father鈥檚 downfall and his family鈥檚 collapse, Ahanna (Stan Nze) assembles 鈥淭he Armadas,鈥� a high-tech heist crew. As they pull off daring robberies, Ahanna finds himself trapped in a life of crime, betrayal and the realisation that the past he鈥檚 running from is exactly what鈥檚 driving him to ruin.

He brings a 鈥渓eading man鈥� charisma and criminal flair with a soul slowly rotting from the inside. He鈥檚 supported by Bucci Franklin (Nze) and Osas Ighodaro (Amara), who create a high-stakes world where the glamour is just a thin veil for their collective trauma.

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7. (2022)

Running time: 1h 34m

Director: Biodun Stephen

Genre: Drama

厂颈蝉迟脿 (Kehinde Bankole) is a hardworking single mother who sacrifices everything to raise her two children after their father (Deyemi Okanlawon) abandoned them years ago. When he suddenly reappears in their lives as a wealthy, successful man wanting a relationship with his kids, 厂颈蝉迟脿 must confront her past and fight for the family she built from nothing.

Kehinde Bankole (厂颈蝉迟脿) gives what many consider the best performance of her career. She captures the righteous fury, exhaustion and the fierce love of a woman who has been pushed to the edge. The tension between her and Deyemi Okanlawon (Fola) is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

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6. (2011)

Running time: 1h 38m

Director: Seyi Babatope

Genre: Romance

George (Richard Mofe-Damijo) is a wealthy, divorced man in his fifties who unexpectedly falls for Teni (Ego Nwosu), a young woman who is just starting her life. As they navigate the societal judgment of their age gap and George鈥檚 own insecurities, the movie explores whether love gets better with time or if the gap is too wide to bridge.

Richard Mofe-Damijo (George) is the silver fox who brings a soft charm to a role that could have easily felt predatory in lesser hands. Ego Nwosu (Teni) holds her own against the veteran. Their romance feels believable.

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5. (2010)

Running time: 1h 43m

Director: Chinese Anyaene

Genre: Drama

When Anya (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde) is accused of murdering her husband in Los Angeles, her sister Chioma (Genevieve Nnaji) travels from Nigeria to help prove her innocence. As the trial unfolds, secrets from their childhood in Nigeria surface.

This is the legendary pairing of two of Nollywood鈥檚 biggest titans. Genevieve Nnaji  and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde deliver performances that are both contrasting and complementary. Omotola鈥檚 role as a woman falling apart, while Genevieve remains steady and provides the movie鈥檚 emotional support.

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4. (2023)

Running time: 2h 8m

Director: Jadesola Osiberu

Genre: Crime, Drama

Inspired by true events, the movie tells the story of Eric (Blossom Chukwujekwu), a notorious and elusive kidnapper who has terrorised the country for years. On his trail is a dedicated police officer (Ali Nuhu) who is determined to bring him down. This is a game of cat-and-mouse.

The Trade quickly gets your attention.Blossom Chukwujekwu (Eric) is chillingly good as a loving family man at home and a cold-blooded monster in the field. He avoids the cartoon villain trope by making The character鈥檚 intelligence and ruthlessness feel terrifyingly real. The supporting cast, such as Nse Ikpe-Etim and Chioma Akpotha, brought their A-game too.

3. (1999)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Tunde Kelani

Genre: Drama, Politics

In the ancient town of Jogbo, a corrupt king, Lapite (Kola Oyewo), ascends the throne and refuses to undergo the traditional rites meant to bind him to his people. As he siphons the town鈥檚 resources and suppresses dissent, a group of traditionalist youths use the 鈥淪aworoide鈥� (a brass bell drum) to spark a revolution and restore justice.

Kola Oyewo is the typical corrupt leader, while actors like Lere Paimo (Balogun) give performances worthy of his status. Kunle Afolayan (Aresejabata) gives an early glimpse of the star he would become. The whole acting is rooted in Yoruba oral tradition

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2. (2023)

Running time: 2h 2m

Director: Kayode Kasum

Genre: Drama

Set against the backdrop of the Igbo Apprenticeship System (Igba-Boi), this movie follows 脕f脿m茅f霉n脿 (Stan Nze), a successful businessman, as he is interrogated after his friend and former colleague is found dead. Through flashbacks, we see the journey of loyalty, betrayal and the making of a man in the competitive world of commerce.

Stan Nze (脕f脿m茅f霉n脿) and Alexx Ekubo (Paulo) create a fascinating dynamic of friendship turned sour. The movie captures the specific nuance of Igbo culture and the grit required to survive the apprenticeship system.

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1. (2024)

Running time: 1h 48m

Director: Korede Azeez

Genre: Drama

Zainab (Uzoamaka Power), a young woman living in Northern Nigeria, deals with the sudden loss of her husband and the traditional expectations placed upon  widows. As she navigates her grief and the pressures of her family, she finds an unexpected connection that challenges her to find her own strength and create a new future for herself.

Uzoamaka Power continues to be a revelation, delivering a fantastic performance that shows the suffocating nature of grief. This drama relies entirely on her strength to carry the weight of resilience and courage in the face of despair.

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From unforgettable villains to quietly powerful women rewriting their stories, these are the characters whose lives deserve spin-offs, because their stories are far from finished.

Agbekoya and Prince Aderopo from October 1

Kunle Afolayan鈥檚 October 1 already hints at an early friendship, shared trauma and deeper class and psychological difference between the local farmer Agbekoya (Kunle Afolayan) and the aristocratic, psychopathic Prince Aderopo (Demola Adedoyin). A spin-off could expand both men鈥檚 inner worlds: a young Agbekoya and Prince Aderopo鈥檚 time at the missionary boarding school, descent into trauma, sexual molestation at the hands of the Reverend Father and the different ways both characters turn out. All this happening against the backdrop of Nigeria鈥檚 pre-independence contradictions will make a rich movie.

Gift from Gangs of Lagos

Gift (Adesua Etomi-Wellington) is a fascinating character in Gangs of Lagos. She鈥檚 a fiercely loyal fighter and street-babe shaped by the brutal politics of Isale Eko. The movie shows her as a survivor, a strategist and the emotional backbone of her friend group, but it only barely touches on her story.

A spin-off built around Gift could explore how she met Obalola and Ify, learned to navigate the underworld, the wars she fought before Obalola鈥檚 rise and how she built credibility in a male-dominated street hierarchy. With her mix of vulnerability, violence and authority, Gift has all the ingredients needed for her own gritty, character-driven action drama.

Idia from To Kill A Monkey

In To Kill a Monkey, Lilian Afegbai鈥檚 Idia is the show鈥檚 quiet storm. She鈥檚 a calculating fixer who understands the real engines of street and power more than Oboz, the criminal husband (Bucci Franklin), she serves. A spin-off for her character could explore her life before she meets Oboz: background story, early start in Edo, moral grey zones, the journey to Oboz and how she survives in the underworld and environments built to silence her if need be.

Idia has a composure, ruthlessness and emotional mystery that writes the story itself. A thriller led by a woman who knows everything but says nothing.

Jedidiah from A Tribe Called Judah

Jedidah Judah (Funke Akindele) is the glue holding the wildly dysfunctional Judah family together. She鈥檚 a hustling single mother whose life is a masterclass in survival, sacrifice and willpower. A Tribe Called Judah shows her juggling five sons from five different fathers, endless financial pressure, and the emotional labour of keeping a home that never seems to stop burning.

There should be A Tribe of Judah鈥檚 prequel mini-series dedicated to Jedidah. Each episode could chronicle her character鈥檚 relationship with each of her children鈥檚 fathers. It鈥檚 something that is touched briefly in the movie but never fleshed out.

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Kazeem from Gangs of Lagos

Kazeem, played by Olarotimi Fakunle, is one of the most compelling villains in modern Nollywood. He鈥檚 a street and political enforcer who evolves into a political kingmaker controlling Isale Eko鈥檚 underworld. His spin-off could trace the power vacuum that allowed him to rise, the alliances he formed, the political machinery that enabled him, and the personal losses that hardened him into the man we meet in the movie. Think of a Lagos crime saga about how a boy from the slums became the most feared man in the city.

Liz Benson in Diamond Ring

The main character in the movie is a teenager who goes to school and joins a grave-robbing cult. They rob the grave of a rich AF woman whose name we never get (Liz Benson) and share the loot that she was buried with. The main character gets Liz Benson鈥檚 diamond ring (which he sells) and because it鈥檚 the thing that mattered the most to her in life, she decides to haunt the fuck out of him and his family, triggering a hunt for the ring that takes them across the world. 

Liz is dead at the start and only shows up to angrily ask where her ring is. It鈥檚 amazing and you should watch it for fun. The spin-off should be a prequel showing who Liz was she alive, why the diamond ring was so special and why she has all these powers in death.

Makanaki from King of Boys

Makanaki, played by Reminisce, is one of Nollywood鈥檚 most iconic modern villains. He鈥檚 a brutal, charismatic, street-hardened figure who rebels against the political and criminal establishment that underestimates him. Makani鈥檚 rise from errand boy to feared warlord would make an exhilarating spin-off.

The movie could go into the gang wars, betrayals, and political manipulations that shaped him, as well as the personal story beneath the chaos. Makanaki carries enough myth, swagger and unpredictability to carry an entire movie about him.

Ogundiji from Jagun Jagun

Ogundiji (Femi Adebayo) is a master warrior, sorcerer and warlord whose war academy shapes the fate of kingdoms. But Jagun Jagun only scratches the surface of his origin. A spin-off could show how he came to have his mystical powers, built his army, enforced fear across territories and became the dark mirror of everything a warrior could be. Since it鈥檚 situated in Yoruba myth, this spin-off could be another Nollywood鈥檚 expansive fantasy epic, after Anikulapo and Lisabi, centred on ambition, conquest and the corruptive nature of power.

Saro from Anikulapo

Saro鈥檚 (Kunle Remi) arc goes from being a wandering cloth weaver to a man who gains and misuses the power to resurrect the dead. A spin-off could allow for a deeper dive and follow his childhood and his travels before arriving in Oyo. If made in the folklore-rich pattern of the Anikulapo movie and sequel series, Saro鈥檚 tale could expand the epic universe.

Scar from Shanty Town

Scar (Chidi Mokeme) is the heart of Shanty Town. A gangster, cult leader, trafficker and political tool to the core. His ruthlessness masks a strategic intelligence shaped by hardship. A spin-off about his early life; how he builds his criminal empire, his political networks and the personal demons that makes him a villain both feared and worshipped.

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