More than two decades after the term “Nollywood” was coined, the industry has taken on a life of its own, making groundbreaking entries across genres and moving far beyond the one-dimensional money ritual movies that put it on the map.
From heart stopping romantic comedies to gripping action movies, Nollywood has shown it’s a diverse space with something for everyone. Whatever genre you’re into, there’s something for you. Here’s a list of the best Nollywood movies across different genres, from the 2000s till date.
1. Comedy – Aki na Ukwa (2002)
Director: Amayo Uzo Philips
Runtime: 2h 21m
Aki na Ukwa follows two mischievous brothers, Aki (Chinedu Ikedieze) and Pawpaw (Osita Iheme) on their different misadventures causing chaos everywhere they go.
Not only was this the debut for both actors, but it also birthed the long string of iconic comedy movies this duo has given us. It’s pure slapstick, and the distinct mannerisms of Aki and Pawpaw just give it that timeless extra touch. Fun fact: your favourite Aki and Pawpaw meme probably came from this movie.
Watch Aki na Ukwa on YouTube.
2. Drama – Blood Sisters (2003)
Director: Tchidi Chikere
Runtime: 2h 49m
Now, I need you to sit tight for this one. This entire movie is just Esther (Genevieve Nnaji) aggressively hating on her sister, Gloria (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde).
Gloria is living the ultimate Nigerian dream—married to a sweet man who calls her “dorling”—while Esther is still just single, unemployed, and bitter as hell. So, what does Esther do? She kills her sister and steals her husband. This is the kind of bar Blood Sisters has set for drama in Nollywood. Can any movie beat it? We’ll see. Not to mention that Genevieve and Omotola playing sisters made the in-movie rivalry even sweeter, given the long-standing rumours of a real-life rivalry between them.
Watch Blood Sisters on YouTube.
3. Romcom – Isoken (2017)
Director: Jade Osiberu
Runtime: 1h 40m
Who doesn’t love a good love triangle? Isoken (Dakore Akande) is a young and thriving lady in her mid-thirties. So it’s not surprising she’s under pressure from family to get married ASAP.
In no time, Isoken goes from getting no men to having to choose between the handsome, husband material Osaze (Joseph Benjamin) and the sweet and unassuming, Caucasian Kevin (Marc Rhys). Isoken has just the right amount of whimsy that romcoms require without ever losing its distinct Nigerian tinge.
Watch Isoken on Netflix.
4. Thriller – The Black Book (2023)
Director: Editi Effiong
Runtime: 2h 4m
Even though the movie’s director will fight me if he sees this, The Black Book is, in many ways, Nigeria’s John Wick. And I mean that positively. It follows a deacon (Richard Mofe-Damijo) with a dark military past who goes on a rampage to clear his son’s name after his son is framed and killed by corrupt policemen.
What makes it stand out is its unique framing. It is not so much a revenge film as it is a story about a man seeking justice, an interesting contrast considering the protagonist is the most feared man in the country.
Watch The Black Book on Netflix.
5. Crime – King of Boys (2018)
Director: Kemi Adetiba
Runtime: 2h 49m
Kemi Adetiba delivered what is undoubtedly her magnum opus with this masterpiece. King of Boys takes viewers on a journey through the dark criminal underworld of Lagos. It tells the story of Alhaja Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale), a businesswoman and philanthropist whose dark past is revealed as she struggles for power.
King of Boys is first a gripping gangster movie, then it’s a timely piece of social commentary. It offers a searing look into the workings of Nigerian politics, exposing how the elite often manipulate the lower class to maintain their dominance.
Watch King of Boys on Netflix.
6. Horror – The Weekend (2024)
Director: Daniel Oriahi
Runtime: 1h 51m
The movie follows an orphaned young woman (Uzoamaka Power) who pushes her estranged fiancé (Bucci Franklin) to take her to his ancestral village to meet his family, only to uncover shocking and dangerous generational secrets hidden within the home.
If I were to describe The Weekend in one word, it would be ambitious. The film keeps you on edge from beginning to end. You never really know what’s coming next, and that unpredictability is what makes it a brilliant horror flick.
Watch The Weekend on HBO Max.
7. Action – Issakaba (2001)
Director: Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen
Runtime: 4h 32m
Did you know that Issakaba is Bakassi spelt backwards? That’s because it’s loosely based on the real-life adventures of the Bakassi boys, a vigilante group operating in the southeastern part of Nigeria in the early 2000s.
Anyway, the plot is pretty invigorating. Sam Dede stars as Ebubedike, the leader of a community vigilante group fighting to keep their community safe.
Watch Issakaba on YouTube.
8. Epic – House of Ga’a (2024)
Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Runtime: 2h
House of Ga’a takes us deep into the Oyo Empire, following the legendary Bashorun Ga’a (Femi Branch), a ruthless kingmaker who grew more powerful and tyrannical than the kings he installed.
It’s giving Game of Thrones, but make it old Yoruba kingdom. The set design is all shades of grand and the world-building is incredible.
Watch House of Ga’a on Netflix.
9. Musical – Ayamma (2016)
Director: Chris Eneaji Eneng
Runtime: 2h
Set in a fictitious village in Akwa Ibom, it follows Prince Daraima, the heir to the throne, and the maiden Ihuoma (Adesua Etomi), who always has a song brewing in her heart, ready to let loose at any moment.
While the core plot might lean heavily into familiar tropes and the ever predictable love triangles, the execution is so charming that you won’t even mind.
Watch Ayamma on Netflix.
10. Fantasy – Sylvia (2018)
Director: Daniel Oriahi
Runtime: 1h 44m
Imagine your imaginary childhood friend turns out to be real. Yeah, that sentence gave me a headache but that’s the gist of Sylvia. Richard (Chris Attoh) has been deeply connected to his spirit-friend Sylvia (Zainab Balogun) since childhood, but when he decides to leave her behind to marry a real woman, Sylvia decides to make his life a living hell.
Sylvia is brilliant for so many reasons, chief among them being how it delves into a genre rarely explored in Nollywood and executes it perfectly. Everyone has thought about the concept of an imaginary friend at some point, and this movie takes that universal idea and turns it into a stellar ride.
Watch Sylvia on Netflix.
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