There鈥檚 no shortage of great Nigerian shows on YouTube, and interestingly, web series were the original drivers of that space. Here鈥檚 a list of Nigerian TV shows so binge-worthy, you won鈥檛 even think about taking a break.

When Are We Getting Married? (2023鈥�2024)

Number of Seasons: 2

Producer: Red TV

When Are We Getting Married follows the life of two young lovebirds, Hope (Immaculate Oko-Kasum) and Aden (Ric Hassani), as they move in together and grapple with the expectations of marriage along with the ups and downs of cohabitation.

Skinny Girl In Transit (2015鈥�2024)

Number of Seasons: 7

Producer: Ndani TV

Widely considered the 鈥渕other鈥� of modern Nollywood web series, it follows Tiwalade (Abimbola Craig), a plus-sized radio personality, as she navigates pressure from her mother to lose weight and get married. The series chronicles her messy dating life, her eventual journey to self-love and a swoon-worthy romance with Mide (Ayoola Ayoola).

Little Black Book (2021鈥�2022)

Seasons: 2

Producer: TNC Africa

An office romance series featuring Leo (Ikechukwu Onunaku), a young millionaire businessman who develops feelings for Tade (Teniola Aladese), his executive assistant. The show explores their relationship as his journal becomes a diary documenting different women in his life.

Man of Her Dreams (2019鈥�2020)

Number of Seasons: 2

Producer: BukaFedGeeks

Kari (Sonia Irabor) keeps having vivid romantic dreams about a man she doesn鈥檛 and has never met. Her best friend and roommate, Ladi, (Folu Storms) tries to open her eyes to her delusion until an unexpected knock at their door changes everything. As it turns out, chasing a dream can come with consequences.

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Game On (2020鈥�2022)

Number of Seasons: 2

Producer: Ndani TV

After realising her live-in boyfriend of three years, Leye (Eso Dike), isn鈥檛 planning to propose anytime soon, Mayowa (Ebenezer Eno), with help from her best friend Osaze (Omowunmi Dada), stages a breakup and executes a series of petty moves to push him to put a ring on it.

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Love Like This (2022)

Number Seasons: 1

Producer: Ndani TV

Love Like This follows several young middle-class Nigerians making mistakes in their search for love. It explores love, lust, friendship and heartbreak among young people.

The Most Toasted Girl (2019鈥�2025)

Number of Seasons: 2

Producer: The Nengers

In this hilarious series, Nengi Adoki plays a popular vlogger with terrible luck in love. Each episode unfolds like a vlog, offering a personal look into her chaotic dating life. Like the episode where we see her dealing with an awkward run-in with her ex at his wedding.

Best Friends in The World (2018鈥�2022)

Number of Seasons: 2

Producer: Neptune 3 Studios

Best Friends in The World is the ultimate secondary school drama. The show revolves around Olive (Jeiel Damina), her best friend Esther (Inemesit Esiet Alfred), and the new boy Adam (Emmanuel Esiet). It鈥檚 a standout series because very few Nigerian shows truly capture the teenage experience. Best Friends in the World does, and it does so with authenticity.

A Heart on The Line (2024)

Number of Seasons: 1

Producer: Bluu TV

Yomi Balogun (Ayoola Ayolola), a charming real estate developer, finds himself drawn to Ella (Mimi Chaka), his sister鈥檚 obstetrician. But things get complicated when he realises her clinic is on the land his company wants to redevelop. His attempt to charm her sets up an enemies-to-lovers story complicated by deception.

The Men鈥檚 Club (2018鈥�2020)

Number of Seasons: 3

Producer: Red TV

TMC is one of the rare Nollywood shows told from a male perspective. It follows four friends: Aminu (Ayoola Ayolola), Louis (Baaj Adebule), Tayo (Efa Iwara), and Lanre (Daniel Etim Effiong), as they navigate the highs and lows of being a young bachelor in Nigeria. 

ALSO READ: 10 Nollywood Movies That Feel Like A Warm Hug

Available exclusively on , the film follows Henrietta (Uzoamaka Power), a passionate literature teacher and single mother, as she notices her student, Ayo (Sapphire Ekeng), struggling academically and withdrawing socially. What begins as a sense of duty to her student slowly grows into something deeper: a bond tested by social stigma and the courage it takes to speak up.

Abba T. Makama is the writer-director of the acclaimed films Green White Green and The Lost Okoroshi. His work has premiered at international festivals including TIFF, BFI London, and Locarno. Known for his surrealist and satirical style, he takes a more restrained approach in Silence Is Loud.

“I approached the film with a minimalist aesthetic, both visually and narratively, allowing the characters and their internal worlds to take centre stage,” says Makama. “The themes, including bullying, sex education, reproductive rights, and the coming-of-age experience, are themes that matter deeply to me.”

It marks the first time Makama has directed a script he did not write, collaborating closely with writers Taspy Gomwalk and Dika Ofoma () to create this masterful narrative. 

Silence Is Loud also stars Ozzy Agu, Judith Audu, and Kunle Akintunde. It is executive-produced by Francis Nebot and produced by Osiris Film and Entertainment.

Watch Silence Is Loud on 91大神’s YouTube channel.

Set against the vibrant yet deeply divided landscape of Nigeria鈥檚 largest city, The Other Side of the Bridge follows the intersecting lives of two boxers brought together by a high-stakes tournament that captures the attention of the nation. With a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes, the film is presented in English and Nigerian Pidgin, grounding its story in cultural authenticity.

At the heart of the narrative are Femi, the privileged son of a former minister, and Farouk, a street-hardened fighter shaped by circumstance. As both men rise through the ranks of a fiercely competitive boxing circuit, their rivalry becomes emblematic of a wider societal divide defined by class, access, and ambition. Beyond the intensity of the ring, the film delves into themes of love, loyalty, and identity, asking what it truly means to fight for one鈥檚 place in a rapidly evolving city.

The film features an ensemble cast including Tobi Bakre, Demi Banwo, Ireti Doyle, Olarotimi Fakunle, Teniola Aladese, Gbubemi Ejeye, Mike Afolarin, Femi Branch, William Benson, and Taye Arimoro. It is written by Tamara Aihie and Emil Garuba.

The Other Side of the Bridge is produced by Tolu 鈥楲ordTanner鈥� Awobiyi, Demi Banwo, and Adesegun Adetoro, with Adetoro and Banwo also serving as executive producers. Co producers include Ojie Imoloame and Tobi Bakre. The film is a collaboration between Depth & Optics Productions, Ogidi Studios, and Lord Tanner Studios.

The project is powered by CcHUB Creative in partnership with Africa No Filter and supported by the Gates Foundation, reflecting a shared commitment to championing impactful African storytelling with global resonance.

Ahead of its theatrical debut, the film was officially selected for screening at AFRIFF 2024, further establishing its position as a standout work within the contemporary Nollywood
landscape.

Speaking on the film鈥檚 significance, producer Demi Banwo said: 鈥淭he Other Side of the Bridge captures the tension of a generation navigating widening class divides, economic pressure, and the constant pursuit of self-definition in modern Nigeria. By using boxing as a metaphor for survival, ambition, and choice, the film reflects the everyday battles young people face as they decide whether to conform, resist, or fight for a future on their own terms.鈥�

Distributed nationwide by FilmOne, The Other Side of the Bridge is poised to make a strong impact at the box office while sparking meaningful conversations around identity, opportunity, and resilience.

The film opens in cinemas nationwide on April 17, 2026.

Whether you鈥檙e in the mood for an ancient kingdom warrior stealing from the rich, a wedding day that turns into a full-blown kidnapping nightmare, or a billionaire who fakes her death to test her family鈥檚 loyalty, there鈥檚 something here for every kind of viewer. These are the best ten Nollywood movies on Netflix that deserve your attention this month.

10. (2021)

Running time: 1h 52m

Director: Ideh Chukwuma 鈥淥nesoul鈥� Innocent

Genre: Epic

If you鈥檝e ever fantasised about a Nollywood Robin Hood, but make it epic and a woman unhinged with a sword, then you have Igbinogun (Damilare Kuku). Trained by her father, Ogbu (Enyinna Nwigwe), she leads a ragtag gang of thieves on a mission to rob the rich blind and hand the proceeds to the poor. But things go sideways when she defeats the entire palace guard and challenges the Prince (Blossom Chukwujekwu), who is so shattered by the loss that he unalives himself.

Now the kingdom is in complete chaos, and Igbinogun, who really just wanted to redistribute wealth, has to step up and lead her entire village.

9. (2022)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Dare Olaitan

Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller

Busola (Immaculata Oko-Kasum) has the worst luck with men. Like, historically terrible. So when she finally meets Tunji Owo (Efa Iwara), a fine, attentive billionaire who sends flowers, gifts her jewellery, and takes her on dreamy dinner dates, she thinks God has finally logged into her account. But trouble is lurking at the corner.

Tunji’s wealthy family, led by his parents (Akin Lewis and Tina Mba), is hiding a generational secret darker than anything Busola could have imagined: a centuries-old pact that demands the sacrifice of an innocent young bride to the spirit of Sagbadewe every twenty-five years. The deeper Busola goes into this family, the more she realises her fairy-tale romance is actually a well-set trap.

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8. (2018)

Running time: 1h 40m

Director: Tope Oshin

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Bassey Otuekong (Banky Wellington) is a spoiled, Instagram-obsessed heir freshly back from abroad with zero interest in his father鈥檚 construction empire. His father, Chief Otuekong (Kanayo O. Kanayo), has had it up to here. When Bassey refuses an arranged marriage that would seal a business merger with Otunba Adetola (Akin Lewis), Daddy Dearest ships him off to Bauchi for NYSC as punishment.

But Bauchi isn鈥檛 the punishment Bassey expected. He makes a ride-or-die friend in Sadiq (Ibrahim Suleiman), who steals nearly every scene he鈥檚 in with infectious energy and comedic timing. He catches feelings for Mariam (Rahama Sadau), a local teacher who first rescues him from a cultural misunderstanding that nearly got ugly. He also discovers a passion for coaching local girls in sports.

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7. (2024)

Running time: 1h 39m

Director: Moses Inwang

Genre: Drama, Romance

Adaora (Nse Ikpe-Etim) is a successful real estate mogul and boss lady. The only problem? She鈥檚 the oldest of three sisters: Beatrice (Padita Agu) is married, Cheta (Nancy Isime) is having her introduction, and Adaora is still single, which means the family commentary is relentless. She meets Jaiye (James Gardiner), a young, fine, smooth-talking stylist.

Jaiye鈥檚 true colours emerge quickly. He鈥檚 controlling, manipulative and working an elaborate scheme with his partner-in-crime, Anna (Erica Nlewedim). He demands Adaora terminate her pregnancy, strips her of her assets, fakes his own death and sends her to prison. When Adaora finally gets out and crosses paths with Jaiye, living his best life with a new family, the revenge arc kicks in.

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6. (2023)

Running time: 1h 35m

Director: Shitty Taiwo

Genre: Romance, Thriller

Fanna (Rahama Sadau) is the pampered daughter of a mogul, married to Abdul (Ibrahim Suleiman), a man from humble beginnings who makes up for his lack of pedigree with an overwhelming love for his wife. Their life together looks picture-perfect. They plan a romantic anniversary getaway to keep the spark alive. But on their way to the trip, Abdul gets kidnapped, and suddenly Fanna’s fairytale crumbles into a nightmare that forces her to question everything she thought she knew.

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

5. (2022)

Running time: 1h 51m

Director: Yaseen Auwal

Genre: Drama

Mati a Zazzau is the first Kannywood film to ever land on Netflix. That alone makes it historic, but the movie itself is a proper ride. Mati (Sadiq Sani Sadiq) is a cunning trickster who flees the village of Rimau after duping basically everyone he could find. He lands in the Kingdom of Zazzau, where he discovers that his late father, Alhaji Mudi Rimau, left behind a massive fortune buried somewhere.

Naturally, Mati wants that money. But he’s not the only one. The village head and several other interested parties also have their eyes on the treasure, and they’re willing to play just as dirty.

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4. (2024)

Running time: 1h 55m

Director: Akay Mason

Genre: Drama

Pastor Raymond Njoku (Uzor Arukwe) is the kind of preacher everyone loves. He鈥檚 spirit-filled sermons, gives practical marriage teachings, has a devoted wife in Damilola (Mercy Aigbe) and a congregation that hangs on his every word. Then he runs into Annie Coker (Uche Montana), a bold, seductive sex worker with a kleptomaniac streak, during a conference trip.

What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something much darker. Annie, sensing an opportunity, blackmails Raymond, threatening to expose him and destroy everything he’s built, from his ministry to his marriage and entire reputation. Then Annie turns up dead. Now, we have a full-blown whodunit.

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3. (2025)

Running time: 

Director: Daniel Etim-Effiong 

Genre: Drama, Thriller

Daniel Etim-Effiong鈥檚 directorial debut follows Gosi (played by Effiong himself), a man privately dealing with his wife Adama鈥檚 (Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman) recurring cancer scare, as he travels to Ekiti for his best friend Fola鈥檚 (Kunle Remi) wedding to Derin (Genoveva Umeh). The celebration is beautiful. It鈥檚 all nice and great.

Then everything shatters on the drive to the hotel when their convoy is ambushed by armed gunmen disguised as cattle herdsmen. Fola is killed. Gosi and Derin, along with other motorists, are dragged into the bush. The kidnappers demand fifty million naira. This movie is a mirror held up to Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.

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2. (2025)

Running time: 1h 46m

Director: Chee Keong Cheung

Genre: Action, Thriller

Zion Ladejo (Razaaq Adoti) is a dishonourably discharged Nigerian Special Ops soldier who returns to Lagos from the US after his sister鈥檚 tragic death. Haunted by his past and consumed by grief, Zion embarks on a violent one-man mission to find and destroy the criminal network responsible.

What follows is bone-crunching fights, chaotic keke chases through Lagos markets, and one wild scene where Zion stumbles out of an ICU in a backless hospital gown and fights his way through the city.

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1. (2025)

Running time: 2h 23m

Directors: Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye

Genre: Drama

Funke Akindele doesn鈥檛 miss at the box office. Behind the Scenes, which made over 2.7 billion naira to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, is proof that she understands her audience to the T. This movie tells the story of Aderonke 鈥淩onky-feller鈥� Faniran (Scarlet Gomez), a wealthy and generous real estate mogul who pours into everyone around her without ever asking for anything in return.

Her older sister Adetutu (Funke Akindele) is entitled and scheming. Her younger brother Adewale (Tobi Bakre) is the spoiled lastborn who always has his hand out. The people she calls friends? Loyalty isn’t their strongest suit. When Ronke reaches her breaking point, she hatches an elaborate plan to fake her own death, to see who truly has her back when the money and favours stop flowing. The results are devastating.

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ALSO READ:听Female Nollywood Characters You Had a Crush on Growing Up

If you grew up in the 1999s/2000s, congratulations. You experienced the golden age of Nollywood. This era not only brought us humour and authentically Nigerian storytelling, it also gave us iconic characters who served lewks and were fine as hell. These characters were so hot, fly, and sexy, that they had some of us crushing HARD. Characters like: 

1. Sharon (Genevieve Nnaji) in Sharon Stone 

The OG herself. Sharon excelled in what is usually a male-dominated field by juggling not one, not two, but three men simultaneously with nothing but finesse and lies, and somehow made it look like the most natural thing in the world. We all wanted Sharon or wanted to be her, which are pretty much the same thing. 

2. Rachel (Ini Edo) in Corrupt Girls

The movie tried to position Rachel as a cautionary tale about what happens when a girl engages in promiscuous hijinks but all we see was a sexy, bad girl who knew exactly what she wanted out of life and wasn鈥檛 afraid to go get it by any means necessary (fraudulently extracting money from high profile men). If that kind of girl doesn鈥檛 wake the dead butterflies in your belly, you need help.

3.  Karishika (Becky Okorie) in Karishika

Yes, she came fresh from hell to steal, kill, and destroy. But you can鈥檛 deny that when she walked out of that graveyard at the beginning of the movie in a tie & dye shirt, baggy pants, and middle-part bussdown down to her ass, you didn鈥檛 feel something stir inside of you. Don鈥檛 be shy. There鈥檚 only a few hundred thousand of us here. It鈥檚 a safe space.

4. Monique (Regina Askia) in Suicide Mission

From the second Monique sets her eyes on Austine (RMD), Monique knows she wants him to destroy her honey pot with his weapon of love. She immediately does everything she can (having sex with a corpse and eventually trapping his soul in a groundnut bottle) to get him and she succeeds. Beautiful AND a go-getter? How could you not crush on her?? 

5.  Beyonce (Nadia Buari) in The Beyonce Cinematic Multiverse

Beyonce might鈥檝e been spoiled, petulant, and straight up insane, but that鈥檚 clearly only because she鈥檚 a passionate girl who loves too hard and will do anything for the people she cares about. Don鈥檛 let the fact that she stole Rihanna鈥檚 car because of man (Beyonce & Rihanna) and poured acid in Ciara鈥檚 face because of another man (Beyonce: The President鈥檚 Daughter) distract you from how fine she is.

6.  Pamela (Mercy Johnson) in White Hunters

Pamela鈥檚 most attractive trait is her confidence. Yes, her ex-fianc茅 served her breakfast and she does embarrassing things in her quest to bag white men. But, she鈥檚 happening babe and you can鈥檛 tell her otherwise because she knows it鈥檚 a fact. That kind of confidence is sexy as hell, and that鈥檚 why we all loved her.

7. Jennifer and Sophia (Clarion Chukwura and Eucharia Anunobi) in Abuja Connection

We could say something about the appeal of women in power and that would be true for these characters but Jennifer and Sophia are way more than that. That scene where they jam each other on the road and start shading the hell out of each other is super delicious and awakened something in many people. 

8. Gloria (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde) in Blood Sisters 

Many of you refer to Gloria as naive because she should鈥檝e seen Esther鈥檚 deception coming, but that鈥檚 exactly why we love her. She鈥檚 sweet, trusting, and innocent, and we need more of her in this rotten, disgusting world. 

9. Alicia (Rita Dominic) in Girls Cot

We can’t talk about the iconic Girls Cot without mentioning Alicia. The movie depicts the lives of four Nigerian women who live a facetious life, deceiving men and blackmailing them for a living. Alicia鈥檚 edgy aura made her impossible not to gush over.

10. Gina (Tonto Dikeh) in Dream Maker

Okay, we loved this character out of sympathy. Gina, played by Tonto Dikeh, was the wife who was married to an abusive Charles (Jim Iyke), who was also cheating. Her outfits in every scene looked perfectly planned. Even when she almost broke a bottle on his side chic鈥檚 head, she was still serving looks.

ALSO READ: 12 Nollywood Actresses Who Shaped OG Nollywood

10. (2026)

Running time: 1h 24m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick

Genre: Romance

Adaora (Sarian Martin) is a Lagos event planner. Her latest gig is an exclusive Christmas Eve bash for a high-end business. It鈥檚 the big break she鈥檚 been working hard for, but the only thing standing between her and a career upgrade is Oladapo (Daniel Etim Effiong), an uptight tech entrepreneur with the keys to the rooftop venue she desperately needs.

Their initial encounter isn鈥檛 a great one. But as the late-night planning sessions stretch into the early hours, the friction begins to generate a different kind of heat. They begin to get close and open up to each other. Now, they have to make sure pride doesn鈥檛 ruin their work and if they want to take their feelings beyond work.

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9. (2025)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick 

Genre: Romance

It was supposed to be the proposal of the year, but one missing gesture turned the moment into a breakup. Now, the messy breakup of Ramsey (Deyemi Okanlawon) and Rita (Ekama Etim-Inyang) is the trending topic. They鈥檙e both desperately trying to move on, but life clearly has other plans. Every attempt to hard-launch a new life just ends up pulling them back into each other’s orbits.

They have to decide if they鈥檙e going to keep playing to their trauma or heal before they lose their chance at a real connection for good.

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8. (2026)

Running time: 1h 38m

Director: Mo Fakorede

Genre: Romance

Akin (Eso Dike) is a rich businessman who believes every 鈥渘o鈥� is just a 鈥測es鈥� that hasn鈥檛 seen enough zeros on a cheque yet. Naturally, he stages a proposal designed to break the internet, but things go south when Teni (Adetola Jones) gives him a cold 鈥淣o鈥� in front of everyone. Akin鈥檚 massive ego takes a hit.

He slowly regains his confidence with the help of Ini (Imem King), his ride-or-die bestie who refuses to let him drown in his own tears. Ini鈥檚 constant ginger and support push Akin to learn to let go of the pride that got him into this mess in the first place.

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7. (2026)

Running time: 1h 28m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

After two decades of being the ideal spouse and maintaining a picture-perfect home, Inara (Bolaji Ogunmola) is blindsided when her husband abruptly asks for a divorce. In an instant, she鈥檚 thrust back into single life, but things feel strange. After a while, she cautiously steps into modern romance.

Beneath the years of routine and responsibility lies a version of herself she had long forgotten. As she begins to open herself up to love again, she realises that heartbreak hasn鈥檛 closed doors.

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6. (2026)

Running time: 2h 4m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick 

Genre: Romance

Bella Bakare (Cynthia Clarke) is the IT girl in the real estate game. But all isn鈥檛 all shiny as it seems. She faces pressures from her strenuous job and also from her family, which sees nothing for her except marriage. Then there鈥檚 Dr. Omar Danjuma (Tayo Arimoro), a surgeon who鈥檚 also fighting for his life against traditions that his family says are compulsory.

He鈥檚 tired, she鈥檚 tired. Between all these things and dodging toxic exes who don’t know how to move on, they make the brave decision to live for themselves.

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READ NEXT: AMVCA 2026: The Complete List of Nominees

5. (2026)

Running time: 2h 4m

Director: Tobi Makinde

Genre: Drama

After the sudden death of his father, Dayo (Maurice Sam) is thrown into a brutal battle to secure what rightfully belongs to him. Standing in his way are his calculating stepmother, Nneka (Uche Jumbo), and her son, Ike (Martins Ibikunle), both determined to claim the inheritance for themselves. Dayo is forced to push back at every turn just to hold on to his legacy.

Blood War flips a familiar narrative on its head. Instead of the usual tales of extended family laying claim to a deceased man鈥檚 wealth, the tension is rooted within the immediate household.

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4. (2025)

Running time: 2h 26m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

Deadi (Bimbo Ademoye) and her husband (Uzor Arukwe) just moved from a modest life in Alaba to a high-brow Lagos estate to celebrate their second anniversary. But as they unpack, they realise that bigger houses come with bigger headaches. They鈥檝e traded the noise of Alaba for the posh, passive-aggressive judgment of rich neighbours and the sharp tongues of intrusive relatives who are all obsessed with one thing: why their marriage is still childless after two years.

Between the pressure to fit in and the weight of everyone else鈥檚 expectations, the cracks start to show. Deadi and her man have to figure out if they can survive the scrutiny of the Lagos elite and family pressure.

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3. (2026)

Running time: 2h 07m

Director: Uduak-Obong Patrick

Genre: Romance

One night, Naya (Sophie Chioma), a slightly drunk stranger, suddenly points at Chris (Saga Adeolu), calls him her boyfriend and faints in his arms. By morning, what should have been an awkward moment turns into something more deliberate. Naya agrees to step into the role of his girlfriend for a crucial family event, setting clear boundaries that it鈥檚 all an act. But once she enters his world, the lines start to blur. His family takes to her instantly, their chemistry is great, and the arrangement begins to feel real.

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2. (2026)

Running time: 1h 40m

Director: Jide Jblaze Oyegbile

Genre: Romance

In a quiet, dust-laden town in Western Nigeria in the late 1980s, two fifteen-year-old girls, Tiwa Bada (Bamike 鈥淏amBam鈥� Olanike) and Lase 鈥淟ala鈥� Lawal (Bolaji Ogunmola), hold tightly to each other as besties. Both are sharp, ambitious and weighed down by the expectations of their families.

They鈥檙e bonded by a shared vision to rise above poverty, earn scholarships, and carve out lives far removed from the limitations of their small-town reality. On the night before their final exams, Lala persuades Tiwa to break routine and attend a local party, promising it will be their one chance to feel free before adulthood takes hold. Though hesitant, Tiwa gives in. Midway through the night, Lala grows weary and decides to head home, urging Tiwa to remain behind and enjoy herself for both of them. It鈥檚 a small decision, but one that sets off a chain of events neither of them could have foreseen, altering the course of everything.

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1. (2026)

Running time: 1h 53m

Director: Mo Fakorede

Genre: Romance

On the timeline, Ada (Sophia Alakija) and Folarin (Eso Dike) are 鈥漜ouple goals.鈥� They鈥檝e got a gorgeous crib and an adorable daughter. But behind the closed doors of their Lekki home, the energy is dangerously stagnant. Folarin is emotionally unavailable and constantly chasing the next big work promotion, while Ada is slowly watching the vibrant woman she used to be disappear into the shadows of school runs and house management.

When David (Paul Chibuzo Utomi), Ada’s ex, enters the picture, old feelings reawaken. As the tension at home reaches a breaking point and buried misunderstandings start to leak out, Ada and Folarin have to ask the one question they鈥檙e terrified to ask: Is there actually anything left to save in their marriage?

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ALSO READ: Who Is Nollywood鈥檚 Best Female Yearner?

Love is rarely simple, in real life and Nollywood. It鈥檚 missed chances, bad timing, quiet sacrifices, and that one look that says everything words cannot carry. The industry has built entire emotional economies on yearning, and some actors don鈥檛 just play lovers, they ache like it鈥檚 muscle memory.

From the OGs to the new school, making us fold with a single smoulder, here are ten of Nollywood鈥檚 best female yearners.

10.

When Rita Dominic is yearning in a movie, she doesn鈥檛 hold back. She dives headfirst into emotion and drags the audience with her. When she plays a character in love, she makes you feel every ounce of her desperation and devotion. Her performance is always 100% heart. She has a way of crying that makes you want to cry with her. With just a tilt of her head, she can convey 鈥淚 will wait for you forever.鈥�

Best Yearning Roles: Spirit of Love, Love Story, Only Love.

9.

Uche Montana is the face of the 鈥渟oft life鈥� romance. Her yearning is gentle and effective. She looks like a literal doll, which makes her moments of heartbreak and longing feel even more poignant. Her acting skill is in her softness. She doesn鈥檛 have to be loud to show she鈥檚 down bad. She just uses those expressive eyes to let you know she鈥檚 currently imagining a 50-year future with the guy standing across from her.

Best Yearning Roles: Before I Met You, A Perfect Romance, After A Night in July.

8.

Mercy Johnson Okojie is the woman who yearns loudly, laughs through the pain, and then goes home to cry about it. Her characters feel like your best friend, which makes her yearning sometimes feel personal. Her strength lies in emotional contrast. She can make you laugh and then quietly undo you in the next scene. Her yearning often hides behind humour. That duality makes her performances rich. You don鈥檛 always see the longing coming, but you feel it when it lands.

Best Yearning Roles: Last Kiss, Under the Sky, Look Into My Eyes.

7.

Sharon is the 鈥淚T Girl鈥� who just wants to be loved. She mostly acts like a classy babe, but is surprisingly vulnerable. She plays the 鈥渦nlucky in love鈥� beauty so well because she lets the audience see the cracks in her perfect exterior. She uses her charm to mask her yearning, making the moments when she finally lets her guard down feel like a huge payoff. She鈥檚 the master of the 鈥渓ong look over the shoulder鈥� as she walks away.

Best Yearning Roles: Skinny Girl In Transit, The Perfect Arrangement, Still Falling.

6.

When Bolaji Ogunmola yearns in films, it鈥檚 with a strength that says, “I want you, and I鈥檓 going to get you.” She brings a grounded, realistic performance to her romantic roles. Her skill lies in projecting deep emotion without saying a word. She can hold a gaze for an uncomfortably long time, with the 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to be mad at you but I鈥檓 actually obsessed鈥� look 鈥� making the romantic tension peak.

Best Yearning Roles: Bloom After, The Kiss That Changed Me, With Love, Hazel.

READ NEXT: Who Is Nollywood鈥檚 Best Male Yearner?

5.

Bimbo Ademoye is the funny girl with a big heart. Her yearning is often mixed with humour, which makes the emotional moments hit ten times harder. She鈥檚 one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. When she stops joking and starts yearning, the atmosphere changes instantly. She has this way of looking at her love interests as if they are the only source of oxygen in the room. Her skill is in her restraint. She lets the emotion bubble just under the surface, making the moments when she finally breaks down feel earned.

Best Yearning Roles: Big Love, The Homecoming, Miles Away From Home.

4.

Ini Edo鈥檚 yearning is classic Nollywood drama at its finest. She鈥檚 never too afraid to go big. Her characters usually have a lot of pride, so when she finally allows herself to yearn for someone, it鈥檚 like a shift. She鈥檚 a fierce yearner who has range and makes sure to see the love chase to the end. From tenderness to heartbreak, she gives her characters depth.

Best Yearning Roles: World Apart, Still In Love, Love and Likeness.

3.

Genoveva Umeh is new-gen addition to Nollywood love stories, but with a lot more edge and depth. She brings soul to her yearner-characters. When she yearns, she does with emotional awareness. Her romantic acting rarely overstates feelings. Instead she lets them lingerlike something she鈥檚 still figuring out.

Best Yearning Roles: Breath of Life, Siraam.

2.

Adesua is the posh yearner. She has perfected the art of dignified yearning; never seems like she鈥檚 begging for love, but her eyes say everything her lips won鈥檛. Her romantic roles come with the grace that makes her longing feel high-class. 

Best Yearning Roles: Couple of Days, The Wedding Party, Falling.

1.

Uzoamaka Power makes you feel the weight of her character鈥檚 history in every look. When she yearns, it鈥檚 not just for a person; it鈥檚 for a feeling of belonging. You can tell what her character feels, even when she says nothing. Her voice, eyes and timing all work together. She builds fully realised emotional arcs.

Best Yearning Roles: My Body, God鈥檚 Temple, Udo, 脤蹿茅.

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1. Family Circle ( Late 1990s 鈥� Early 2000s )

It was a drama that followed the lives of a family headed by a couple played by Norbet Young and Ronnie Dikko. It showed them in different, and occasionally stressful scenarios, and focused on how they would work through these issues as a unit, usually with a moral lesson at the end meant for the viewers. 

2. Super Story (2001 – Present) 

An anthology series by Wale Adenuga that explores the dramatic lives of Nigerians. The first and most popular season is titled 鈥淥h Father, Oh Daughter鈥� and tells the story of a man named Suara who begs his wife, Abike, to sleep with a wealthy businessman so he can get a job. When she reluctantly does, and Suara gets the job, he starts cheating on her with a woman named Toyin Tomato, a woman who proceeds to show Suara the pepper he deserves. 

3. Papa Ajasco (1996 – 2024)

Another Wale Adenuga production, Papa Ajasco was a pure slapstick comedy that  followed the wacky adventures of its titular character, Papa Ajasco, along with his wife and son (Mama Ajasco and Boy Ajasco) and a flurry of comically colourful side characters such as Boy Alinco, Pa James, and Miss Pepeye.

4. Fuji House of Commotion (1996 – 2010)

Created by the late Amake Igwe, Fuji House of Commotion was a sitcom that showed the hijinks that took place in the polygamous household of Chief Fuji T.A Adebayo. With his four wives (Peace, Ireti, Mama Moji, and Caro) and dozens of children, there was more than enough chaos to fill multiple seasons worth of episodes. 

5. Dear Mother (Early 2000s)

The series follows Teju Philips, a resilient widowed mother of three who must balance her career with the heavy socio-economic challenges of raising kids in modern-day Nigeria. It is centred on their family, how they solve their problems and deal with chaotic situations.

6. I Need To Know (1997-2002 )

The show was originally conceived as part of the Composite Adolescent Reproductive Health in Nigeria (CAHRIN) project as an educational sitcom to encourage open dialogue between parents and children about adolescent sexual health and issues. It followed a group of seven secondary school students as they navigated the typical issues teenagers faced along with the negative effects of interrupted sexual health education. 

7. Face 2 Face (2000 – 2005 )

Set in a typical Nigerian “face-me-I-face-you” shared compound, the show perfectly captured the chaos of communal living. The show revolved around neighbours whose constant fights, misunderstandings, gossip, and hilarious alliances created a truly hilarious show.

8. Paradise Park (2000s)

Paradise Park was another viewers鈥� delight. It was set in a typical motor park and showcased the usual drama between the drivers, conductors and passengers. 

9. This Life (2000 – 2015)

This Life was another hit from Wale Adenuga Productions. Like Super Story, it was also an anthology series. Unlike Super Story that had some fun seasons, every season of This Life served as a cautionary tale. The scene of a child on a roof who jumps because he thinks his father is going to catch him but the father intentionally doesn鈥檛 so he ends up crippled and learns the lesson of never trusting anyone, even family is burned in the brains of millennials everywhere. 

10. Everyday People (2000-2005 )

This family series could make you laugh and cry at the same time. It chronicled the daily lives of a family, their neighbours, and others. Once again, the audience really loved it because it literally mirrored the lives of everyday people, staying true to its title. 

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

1. Sola Sobowale as Eniola Salami in King of Boys

King of Boys tells the story of Alhaja Eniola Salami, a businesswoman and philanthropist whose dark past is revealed during her ruthless struggle for political power. One of the most powerful scenes in the movie is the confrontation between her and Makanaki, an underdog looking to upstage her. He stands up before everyone and declares, “What crown are you talking about? You all fear a lion that has lost its claws and teeth.鈥� Eniola replies fiercely by daring him to take her crown.

What makes Sola Sobowale’s performance in this moment absolutely electric is the way she lets the disrespect land before she responds. It was exactly like a Nigerian mother who sneaks in the middle of the night to question why you ate at that relative’s house. 

2. Shaffy Bello as Big Daddy in The Black Book

Paul Edima (RMD), a former soldier turned militant, now retired and seeking redemption, enjoys a simple life with his son. However, when the Nigerian police unjustly targets and frames his son as a criminal, Paul’s attempts to clear his name lead him back into his old world and this is how we meet Big Daddy. 

My only grouse with this film is that they didn’t let Big Daddy (Shaffy Bello) shine as much. A really impressive scene is where she raids General Issa’s farm with the aid of her female soldiers disguised as farmers. Shaffy Bello as Big Daddy is everything a female villain should be. 

3. Victoria as Sista in Sista 

Victoria (Kehinde Bankole) gets pregnant at a young age, and is forced to give up on her dreams. It doesn鈥檛 end there. She gets jilted by the baby’s father, and has to raise her kids on her own. 

Later in the future when Folarin (the father of the babies) shows up and asks to see them, she refuses vehemently. This is where Victoria gives the iconic monologue where she warns him to never make such a request again. Bankole puts on such a natural act that one could be convinced that she is just living her life on screen. 

4. Funke Akindele as Jedidiah in A Tribe Called Judah

Jedidah Judah (Funke Akindele) is a single mother with five sons by five different fathers, all from different tribes. When Jedidiah falls ill and needs expensive medical treatment, her sons band together to rob a mall, only to find themselves caught in another armed group鈥檚 robbery of the same  mall. 

When Jedidah learns that her first son is dead, she breaks down in the most heart-wrenching way. Funke Akindele takes herself and us, the audience, even more seriously with this performance. What makes the performance so powerful is how you can see the years of struggle in her face, mixed with the grief of what had happened. 

5. Bucci Franklin as Oboz in To Kill A Monkey 

Efemini, or simply Efe, is down on his luck and operating at the lowest rung of society. He meets a long-time school acquaintance, Oboz (Bucci Franklin), who has found success in cybercrime. Not long after, he finds himself roped into the dark underworld. 

In the devastating final betrayal, we see Oboz ready to fight back until he realises Efe is in on the attack. Like Julius Caesar, a blood-soaked Oboz falls to the ground. The way his body language shifts from readiness to fight to resignation shows acting at its finest. He showcases a man who doesn’t die from bullets, but from the betrayal itself, and you feel every second of that emotional death before the physical one.

6. Ruby Akubueze as Oby in Ijogbon

In Ijogbon, four teenagers from a rural village stumble upon a pouch of uncut diamonds while exploring a forbidden forest. What starts as a stroke of luck quickly turns into a survival quest.

The bridge scene where Oby throws the diamonds away so they can regain their peace of mind is one of the most pivotal parts of the movie. She acts as the voice of reason for the group of four. Akubueze fully embodied all the emotions she was feeling in that moment, as you can see from her body language and breaking voice before she threw the diamonds away.

7. Chidi Mokeme as Scar in Shanty Town

Shanty Town follows a group of sex workers who live in the titular Shanty Town under the control of Scar (Chidi Mokeme), a ruthless gang leader. 

Almost every scene where Scar appears is moving. But one that is imprinted in my memory is where he reads out all the things he has done for Shalewa, down to the paid abortions. It gives you a peek into the kind of person he is and shines a broader light on the grim realities of the women who are under his control.

8. Chioma Chukwuka as Mama Ify in Gangs of Lagos

On the streets of Isale Eko, three childhood friends are drawn into gang life when their adoptive father is murdered. When Ify (Chike) is brutally killed, his mother, Mama Ify (Chioma Chukwuka), reaches her breaking point. 

At his funeral, Mama Ify lets it all out in a heartfelt eulogy. Every word drips with the pain of a mother who has lost everything. Chukwuka鈥檚 performance is nothing short of a masterclass in range. 

9. Ini Dima-Okojie as Sarah in Blood Sisters

Sarah (Ini Dima-Okojie) is engaged to her dream man, Kola Ademola, the wealthy but abusive heir to a powerful Lagos family. On their traditional wedding day, he tries to strangle Sarah. This leads to her best friend, Kemi (Nancy Isime), killing him in self-defence. Now they are forced to go on the run from Kola’s family and the police. 

On the day of their wedding, Sarah finds the strength to do what she’s never been able to do before. She tells him the wedding is off. In that moment, you see a woman who is not afraid to let it all burn instead of subjecting herself to a marriage with an abusive man.

10. Tobi Bakre as Akin in Brotherhood 

Twin brothers Akin and Wale Adetula witnessed their parents’ murder as young boys. Years later, they find themselves on opposite sides of the law. Wale is part of the police while Akin, after his most recent prison release, joins a notorious gang, Ojuju boys. 

After a raid gone wrong, Akin dares to raise his gun at Shadow (Basketmouth), the leader of the gang. What follows is a testosterone face-off. Beyond Tobi Bakre’s brilliant portrayal of Akin, everyone in the scene acted like their two-year rent was due. Still can’t get over Izra’s (OC Ukeje) statement in Igbo that: 鈥淓ven a dog doesn鈥檛 bite the hand that feeds it鈥�

ALSO READ: 10 of The Most Iconic Nollywood Villains of All Time

To make things easier, I dug through the Nollywood channels on the platform to find the standouts. If you鈥檙e looking for something good to watch this March, here are 10 Nollywood movies on YouTube that should be on your watchlist.

10. (2025)

Running time: 2h 6m

Director: Uduak Patrick

Genre: Romance

After a run of unfortunate events, Tiwa (Detola Jones) is forced to leave behind the quiet, protected life she鈥檚 always known in her village and start over in Lagos. The city is overwhelming and unfamiliar, and navigating it pushes her far outside her comfort zone.

While trying to find her footing, she meets a charming man (Chris Attoh) who begins to change how she sees the world. As their connection deepens, Tiwa is confronted with questions about who she really wants to be. She鈥檚 torn between the values that shaped her past and the possibilities unfolding in her new life.

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9. (2025)

Running time: 2h 3m

Director: Austine Onyema

Genre: Romance

Adaku (Chinenye Nnebe) and Nonso (Michael Dappah) are two young adults whose mothers once shared an unbreakable friendship and a sentimental promise that their kids would marry one day. When the time comes, Adaku and Nonso cannot stand each other. Every meeting is a showdown of sarcasm and side-eyes, even as neither wants to admit the spark simmering beneath the tension.

Their moms hatch a plan to push them together, forcing them into close proximity. Relentless teasing and unavoidable confrontations slowly chip away at their animosity. By the time the walls between them come down, romance is already burning in their eyes.

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8. (2026)

Running time: 2h 6m

Director: Simon Emeka

Genre: Drama

Uju (Sonia Uche) has barely settled into married life with Benjamin (Bryan Okwara) when  their home is thrown off balance by Benjamin鈥檚 mother who shows up unexpectedly and decides she鈥檚 not leaving anytime soon. What should have been a peaceful start to their marriage becomes complicated by the new living arrangement.

They have small disagreements over chores, cooking and household rules. Every day is a power struggle and constant tension as the two women clash over control of the home. Benjamin is caught between his wife and his mother鈥檚 drama.

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7. (2024)

Running time: 1h 28m

Director: Stanley Obi

Genre: Romance

If 鈥渨e have moved on鈥� were a person, it would be Emem (Omoni Oboli) and Tobi (Eso Dike). They鈥檙e the kind of exes who claim they鈥檝e moved on but somehow keep getting pulled back into each other鈥檚 lives. To save themselves from family wahala and finally get some breathing space, they cooked up a 鈥済enius鈥� plan: pretend to be a couple for just twenty-four hours.

The moment they reunite, it becomes clear that the love they thought had faded actually never went away. They catch the love bug again.

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6. (2025)

Running time: 1h 10m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

Foolish People follows Phoebe (Bolaji Ogunmola) and Charles (Uzor Arukwe), two exes who鈥檝e kept a safe, intentional distance from each other for the past four years. Their relationship ended badly, and since then, they鈥檝e treated each other like a chapter that鈥檚 completely closed. But life has other plans.

After a devastating plane crash claims the lives of their close friends, who were also Phoebe鈥檚 cousins, Phoebe and Charles are pulled back into each other鈥檚 lives by an unexpected clause in the will. The late couple asks them to move in together and raise their daughter. The responsibility of caring for a child forces the pair into the same space, puts their history aside and unites them. As they figure out grief, parenting and coexistence, the distance between them begins to shrink, and feelings they thought were long gone resurface.

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READ NEXT:听The Best Nollywood Movies to Watch on Netflix (March 2026)听

5. (2026)

Running time: 1h 41m

Director: Olowojaiye Michael

Genre: Drama

Adaobi (Sandra Okunzuwa) is a devoted partner whose relationship with Tunde (Daniel Etim Effiong) is tested by distance, time, and many tough choices they face. As they struggle to stay connected, the arrival of Grace (Audrey Harrison) adds unexpected tension, forcing both Adaobi and Tunde to confront trust and the limits of their commitment.

Through their love life, we see how even the strongest love can wobble when outside forces interfere. Staying together is beyond lovey-dovey feelings, and more about sacrifice and the courage to fight for what matters most.

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4. (2026)

Running time: 1h 37m

Director: Great Valentine Edochie

Genre: Romance

Hazel (Teniola Aladese) is nursing a broken heart when she starts her new job as personal assistant to Omari (Deyemi Okanlawon), a single dad. Almost immediately, she finds herself drawn to his charisma, and before long, she hatches a plan to make him hers. The strategy is successful. But everything comes crashing down when Omari introduces Hazel to a close friend鈥攐nly for her to discover it鈥檚 her ex, the same man she walked out on at the altar after a cheating scandal. Now, Hazel is forced to confront her past mistakes.

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3. (2025)

Running time: 2h 20m

Director: Jide JBlaze Oyegbile

Genre: Romance

Margaret (Tina Mba) is a corporate executive who just turned 60 and is falling in love with Tobi (Eronini Osinachi), her 29-year-old intern. It begins as a private affair. But the closer they get, the more complications arise due to the attention they鈥檙e attracting. ,

Rumours spread and the relationship sparks controversy. Things get more personal when  Margaret鈥檚 daughter finds out and strongly disapproves. Now, both Margaret and Tobi are stuck between public scrutiny, family pressure and personal feelings.

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2. (2025)

Running time: 2h 10m

Director: Kingsley Fresh Onyenma

Genre: Romance

Cathy (Sandra Okunzuwa) is racing against the clock, carrying a life-altering diagnosis that changes everything. Her days feel shorter until she crosses paths with Manny (Uzor Arukwe), a man coasting through life without much direction.

What happens next is love, but unfortunately, a situation of a 鈥渨rong time, right person.鈥� Manny finally starts to find purpose just as Cathy begins to slip away. These fragile moments lead them to resolution and a new intention to live and love freely while they still have time together.

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1. (1995)

Running time: 1h 45m

Director: Tunde Kelani

Genre: Drama

碍貌蝉别茅驳产茅 follows the journey of Mako (Kola Oyewo), a principled customs officer, who takes over a department riddled with corruption after the former boss got dismissed for the same offence. Determined to clean up the system, Mako runs into resistance from junior officers who are just as crooked as their predecessor. As he pushes for accountability and transparency, the corrupt staff plot against him.

They fabricate charges and a scandal to force him out and maintain their grip on the department. Now, Mako has to fight hard to absolve himself.

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