Edited by Gift Vivian Augustine and Olorundare Oluwapelumi
Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, tops the list when African film and cinema are mentioned. It is, in fact, the third-largest movie industry in the world, after America’s Hollywood and India’s Bollywood.
Nollywood made its first big wave with Kenneth Nnebue’s Living in Bondage (1992), which encouraged other filmmakers to take the lead and produce more Nigerian movies. This was despite the inadequate budgets and limited filming equipment available at the time. Still, the movies appealed to African audiences and garnered high viewership.
According to The Conversation.com, in the early 2000s, Nollywood grew from producing 50 movies weekly to 2500 movies yearly, which attracted a lot of criticism.
The early industry was criticised for poor cinematography, rushed and low-quality productions, weak scripts, low picture/ sound quality, bad visuals, and cliché storylines. It also struggled with budget constraints and widespread piracy.
Notwithstanding, these movies were widely enjoyed by their audience, even though some preferred Hollywood and Mexican films. However, recent Nollywood productions show significant improvement, proving that the industry has evolved from low-budget films to top-notch productions.
A fast-rising movie industry is often characterised by diverse genres and storylines, unique and creative storytelling, skilled professionals, advanced cinematic techniques, stellar acting, box office success, global recognition, and strong distribution networks.
The demand for African stories is skyrocketing, and Nigerian filmmakers have taken up the task to deliver.
Table of Contents
Nollywood in Today’s Movie Industry
Nigerian filmmakers are now producing films across a wide variety of genres and storytelling formats that appeal to both local and international audiences.
Some popular genres include:
- Comedy (Aki and PawPaw, Dwindle, The Razz Guy)
- Crime (King of Boys, The Black Book, Gangs of Lagos)
- Historical (October 1, Queen Amina, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti)
- Political (4th Republic, War Wrath and Revenge, Your Excellency)
- Romance (Royal Hibiscus Hotel, Big Love)
- Action/Thriller (Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story, Brotherhood, Hijack 93)
- Historical Epic (Aníkúlápó, Jagun Jagun, Seven Doors)
Recent Nollywood movies have embraced deeper themes that reflect societal challenges in Nigeria, sparking important conversations and online debates. Films like Citation (2020), King of Boys, Blood Sisters, and Ólòtūré address issues that resonate with African audiences, generating wide engagement on platforms like Twitter (now X).
The storylines draw heavily from Nigerian realities, giving Nollywood a unique voice in a time when authentic African narratives are in high demand.
The industry now boasts a pool of talented professionals — including directors like Kunle Afolayan, Jade Osiberu, Kenneth Gyang, and Kayode Kasum — alongside skilled scriptwriters, A-list actors, cinematographers, editors, and technicians delivering high-quality visual experiences.
Nollywood’s embrace of new technology and global distribution platforms has broken accessibility barriers. Nigerian films are now screened globally in cinemas and on platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Nollywood’s International Recognition and Awards
Nollywood films have earned global recognition and awards at various international film festivals. 93 Days in Chicago was shown at the Chicago International Film Festival and the LA Film Festival. The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival while The Man Died was screened at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF).
Several Nigerian films have also been nominated for the Oscars Best International Feature Film:
- Lionheart (Genevieve Nnaji, 2019)
- The Milkmaid (Desmond Ovbiagele, 2020)
- Mami Wata (C.J. Obasi, 2023)
In 2022, Kunle Afolayan’s Citation won Best International Film at the National Film Festival in the United Kingdom.
Nollywood at the Box Office
The Nigerian box office has seen remarkable growth. According to NairaMetrics, revenue rose from ₦4.74 billion ($2.9 million) in 2021 to ₦6.94 billion ($4.3 million) in 2022 and ₦7.24 billion ($4.5 million) in 2023.
This represents a 46.4% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a moderate 4.3% growth in 2023— a total growth of 52.74% over two years.
By the end of 2024, box office earnings are projected to hit ₦10 billion ($6.2 million) — a 38.1% increase.
Vanguard (2024) reported that Nollywood movies, A Tribe Called Judah(2023), Battle on Buka Street (2022), and Wedding Party (2016) hit N 1.4 billion, N 68 million, and N 452 million at the Nigerian box office, respectively.
Final Thoughts
Despite Nollywood’s remarkable strides, piracy and lack of funding remain key challenges. Enforcing stricter policies and penalties to curb piracy is essential. Also, given that filmmaking is capital-intensive, accessible grants — with clear accountability — should be made available to support quality productions and drive box office success.
Amidst these challenges, Nigerian filmmakers and scriptwriters continue to push Nollywood forward. The industry has the untapped stories, creativity, and potential to become the face of global cinema.
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