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1990s – today

Nollywood

The Nigerian film industry, one of the largest in the world. It grew from direct-to-video films in the 1990s to cinema releases and streaming hits, with stories of family, faith, money and city life.

Nollywood is the film industry of Nigeria, one of the largest in the world by number of films. It began in the early 1990s with cheap films made directly for video, such as Living in Bondage (1992), and grew into a huge home industry in English, Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. From around 2009 directors such as Kunle Afolayan, with The Figurine, started making films with bigger budgets for cinemas and festivals, and in the 2010s streaming services brought them to a world audience. Tunde Kelani had been making Yoruba films of literary and political weight since the 1990s. The stories often deal with family, faith, money, tradition and city life.

Where
Nigeria, mostly Lagos
When
About 1990 to today
Key figures
Kunle Afolayan, Tunde Kelani, Kemi Adetiba, Genevieve Nnaji, Jade Osiberu, C.J. Obasi, Obi Emelonye, Izu Ojukwu
Landmark films
Living in Bondage (1992), Saworoide (1999), The Figurine (2009), Half of a Yellow Sun (2013), October 1 (2014)
Legacy
A film industry owned and made by Africans for African viewers, which became a global model for low-cost popular filmmaking

What to look for

  • Strong storytelling: family drama, moral tales and thrillers told simply
  • Music, dress and talk rooted in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and Nigerian English
  • Mixing of tradition and modern city life, often with a moral at the end

If you are new to Nollywood, take a look at our guide to start.

ThunderboltNollywood · 10 filmsNollywood in 10 filmsNigeria makes more films each year than almost any country.START

Director guides

The FigurineNigeria · 7 filmsKunle Afolayan: Essential FilmsKunle Afolayan is one of the best-known filmmakers of Nigeria.START
Your ExcellencyNigeria · 6 filmsFunke Akindele: Essential FilmsFunke Akindele is one of the best-known filmmakers of Nigeria.START
Breaded LifeNigeria · 6 filmsBiodun Stephen: Essential FilmsBiodun Stephen is one of the best-known filmmakers of Nigeria.START

Famous Directors

Kunle AfolayanNigeriaTunde KelaniNigeriaIIzu OjukwuNigeriaBBiyi BandeleNigeriaKKenneth GyangNigeriaGenevieve NnajiNigeriaKemi AdetibaNigeriaFunke AkindeleNigeriaJeta AmataNigeriaObi EmelonyeNigeriaTTope OshinNigeriaMMildred OkwoNigeriaZZeb EjiroFranceCChico EjiroNigeriaFFaruk LasakiNigeriaKayode KasumNigeriaMMahmood Ali-BalogunUSATTeco BensonNigeriaNiyi AkinmolayanNigeriaBolanle Austen-PetersNigeriaDDare OlaitanNigeriaBiodun StephenNigeriaSSeyi BabatopeUSAIshaya BakoUSA
See all 37 directors
MMoses InwangNigeriaTTunde OlaoyeUSAFFrank Rajah AraseGhanaTTade OgidanUSAEEmem IsongNigeriaUyaiedu Ikpe-EtimNigeriaAbba MakamaUSAFemi OdugbemiUSASteve GukasNigeriaNneka OnuorahUSAOOkey IfeanyiNigeriaMMichael AkinrogundeNigeriaEEbele OkoyeNigeria

Top 100 rated films

  1. Diamond Ring 1998 · Tade Ogidan · IMDb 9.2
  2. Maami 2011 · Tunde Kelani · IMDb 8.7
  3. Mummy's Daughter- Part 1 & 2 2006 · Frank Rajah Arase · IMDb 8.5
  4. Dangerous Twins 2004 · Tade Ogidan · IMDb 8.3
  5. Saworoide 1999 · Tunde Kelani · IMDb 8.2
  6. Ìfé 2020 · Uyaiedu Ikpe-Etim · IMDb 8.0
  7. Madam Dearest 2005 · Tade Ogidan · IMDb 8.0
  8. Blood Diamonds 2004 · Teco Benson · IMDb 8.0
  9. Scores to Settle 1998 · Chico Ejiro · IMDb 8.0
  10. Warmth in Despair 2022 · Okey Ifeanyi · IMDb 8.0
  11. The Meeting 2012 · Mildred Okwo · IMDb 7.7
  12. Lugard 2021 · Tunde Olaoye · IMDb 7.7
  13. Once Upon a Honeymoon (2024) 2024 · Michael Akinrogunde · IMDb 7.6
  14. Iyore 2015 · Frank Rajah Arase · IMDb 7.5
  15. Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words 2024 · Nneka Onuorah · IMDb 7.4
  16. I Do Not Come to You by Chance 2023 · Ishaya Bako · IMDb 7.4
  17. In My Country (2017) 2017 · Frank Rajah Arase · IMDb 7.4
  18. Fine Wine 2021 · Seyi Babatope · IMDb 7.3
  19. Sitanda 2007 · Izu Ojukwu · IMDb 7.3
  20. Finding Me 2025 · Funke Akindele · IMDb 7.2
  21. Inalé 2010 · Jeta Amata · IMDb 7.2
  22. The Same Difference 2015 · Nneka Onuorah · IMDb 7.1
  23. Arugba 2008 · Tunde Kelani · IMDb 7.1
  24. Sistá 2022 · Biodun Stephen · IMDb 7.0
  25. Hotel Labamba 2023 · Biodun Stephen · IMDb 7.0
  26. Gold Statue 2021 · Tade Ogidan · IMDb 6.9
  27. Confusion Na Wa 2013 · Kenneth Gyang · IMDb 6.9
  28. Owo-Blow: The Genesis 1997 · Tade Ogidan · IMDb 6.9
  29. The Legend of the Underground 2021 · Nneka Onuorah · IMDb 6.8
  30. Kambili: The Whole 30 Yards 2021 · Kayode Kasum · IMDb 6.6
  31. Loving Amanda 2022 · Michael Akinrogunde · IMDb 6.6
  32. The Legacy of Rubies 2015 · Ebele Okoye · IMDb 6.6
  33. Ojukokoro: Greed 2016 · Dare Olaitan · IMDb 6.5
  34. Tango with Me 2010 · Mahmood Ali-Balogun · IMDb 6.5
  35. Onye Ozi 2013 · Obi Emelonye · IMDb 6.5
  36. 30 Days 2006 · Mildred Okwo · IMDb 6.5
  37. October 1 2014 · Kunle Afolayan · IMDb 6.4
  38. Your Excellency 2019 · Funke Akindele · IMDb 6.4
  39. Phone Swap 2012 · Kunle Afolayan · IMDb 6.3
  40. Something Like Gold 2023 · Kayode Kasum · IMDb 6.3
  41. 4th Republic 2019 · Ishaya Bako · IMDb 6.3
  42. Lunch Time Heroes 2015 · Seyi Babatope · IMDb 6.3
  43. Makemation 2025 · Michael Akinrogunde · IMDb 6.2
  44. Green White Green 2016 · Abba Makama · IMDb 6.2
  45. Journey to Self 2013 · Tope Oshin · IMDb 6.2
  46. Half of a Yellow Sun 2013 · Biyi Bandele · IMDb 6.1
  47. 93 Days 2016 · Steve Gukas · IMDb 6.1
  48. Citation 2020 · Kunle Afolayan · IMDb 6.1
  49. Breaded Life 2021 · Biodun Stephen · IMDb 6.1
  50. A Taste of Sin 2023 · Frank Rajah Arase · IMDb 6.1
  51. Nneka the Pretty Serpent 1994 · Zeb Ejiro · IMDb 6.1
  52. Fifty 2015 · Biyi Bandele · IMDb 6.0
  53. Road to Yesterday 2015 · Ishaya Bako · IMDb 6.0
  54. In Line 2017 · Tope Oshin · IMDb 6.0
  55. Badamasi (Portrait of a General) 2021 · Obi Emelonye · IMDb 6.0
  56. Truth Be Told 2023 · Nneka Onuorah · IMDb 6.0
  57. The Wedding Party (2016) 2016 · Kemi Adetiba · IMDb 5.9
  58. The Lost Okoroshi 2019 · Abba Makama · IMDb 5.9
  59. The Wildflower 2022 · Biodun Stephen · IMDb 5.9
  60. When Love Happens Again 2016 · Seyi Babatope · IMDb 5.9
  61. Lionheart (2018) 2018 · Genevieve Nnaji · IMDb 5.7
  62. A Tribe Called Judah 2023 · Funke Akindele · IMDb 5.7
  63. Everybody Loves Jenifa 2024 · Funke Akindele · IMDb 5.7
  64. The CEO 2016 · Kunle Afolayan · IMDb 5.7
  65. Black Mail 2022 · Obi Emelonye · IMDb 5.7
  66. Dwindle 2021 · Dare Olaitan · IMDb 5.7
  67. Oloture 2019 · Kenneth Gyang · IMDb 5.6
  68. Mama Drama 2020 · Seyi Babatope · IMDb 5.6
  69. Aníkúlápó 2022 · Kunle Afolayan · IMDb 5.5
  70. Up North 2018 · Tope Oshin · IMDb 5.4
  71. The Amazing Grace 2006 · Jeta Amata · IMDb 5.4
  72. Black November 2012 · Jeta Amata · IMDb 5.3
  73. The Royal Hibiscus Hotel 2018 · Ishaya Bako · IMDb 5.3
  74. Sugar Rush 2019 · Kayode Kasum · IMDb 5.3
  75. Omo Ghetto: The Saga 2020 · Funke Akindele · IMDb 5.3
  76. House of Money 2022 · Dare Olaitan · IMDb 5.3
  77. New Money 2018 · Tope Oshin · IMDb 5.3
  78. Battle on Buka Street 2022 · Funke Akindele · IMDb 5.2
  79. Ponzi 2021 · Kayode Kasum · IMDb 5.2
  80. Lisabi: The Uprising 2024 · Niyi Akinmolayan · IMDb 5.1
  81. A Naija Christmas 2021 · Kunle Afolayan · IMDb 5.0
  82. We Don't Live Here Anymore 2018 · Tope Oshin · IMDb 5.0
  83. Dazzling Mirage 2014 · Tunde Kelani · IMDb 5.0
  84. Fate of Alakada 2020 · Kayode Kasum · IMDb 4.9
  85. When Love Happens 2014 · Seyi Babatope · IMDb 4.8
  86. The Mirror Boy 2011 · Obi Emelonye · IMDb 4.7
  87. Quam's Money 2020 · Kayode Kasum · IMDb 4.6
  88. La Femme Anjola 2021 · Mildred Okwo · IMDb 4.6
  89. Blood Vessel 2023 · Moses Inwang · IMDb 4.4
  90. The Figurine 2009 · Kunle Afolayan · IMDb 4.4
  91. Last Flight to Abuja 2012 · Obi Emelonye · IMDb 4.3
  92. The Ghost and the Tout Too 2021 · Michael Akinrogunde · IMDb 4.1
  93. Amina 2021 · Izu Ojukwu · IMDb 4.0
  94. House of Ga'a 2024 · Bolanle Austen-Peters · IMDb 4.0
  95. Here Love Lies 2023 · Tope Oshin · IMDb 4.0
  96. Big Love 2023 · Biodun Stephen · IMDb 3.9
  97. Sanitation Day 2021 · Seyi Babatope · IMDb 3.8
  98. End of the Wicked 1999 · Teco Benson · IMDb 3.6
  99. Chief Daddy 2: Going for Broke 2021 · Niyi Akinmolayan · IMDb 3.2
  100. To Freedom 2023 · Biodun Stephen · IMDb 1.9