These days, it feels like there’s fresh news about coronavirus everywhere you turn. We understand that you want to take your mind off things, and that’s why we’ve curated this list of Nollywood movies you can watch again.
1. The Figurine
It’s hard to believe that this movie was released 11 years ago! This slightly scary movie featuring Ramsey Nouah, Omoni Oboli, and Kunle Afolayan is still a good one. If you haven’t watched it, this is a Nigerian take on the classic Western horror movie.
Picture this – four NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) members stumble upon a mythical statue that gives the finder seven years of good luck followed by seven years of hardship. This movie will play some mind games on you and keep you guessing till the end.
2. Lionheart
‘Lionheart’ stars Nollywood favourites like Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, and Pete Edochie, as well as music artistes Onyeka Onwenu, Peter Okoye and Phyno. The movie follows the story of Adaeze (Nnaji). Her father’s health is threatened, so she has to work with her uncle to save his indebted business and from being bought over by greedy businessman, Igwe Pascal (played by Kanayo O. Kanayo)
‘Lionheart’ won a lot of acclaims when it was released and was the first Nigerian movie acquired by Netflix.
3. October 1
We need more stories like this one! ‘October 1’ was set in the days before Nigeria’s independence from Britain. In the movie, Inspector Danladi Waziri (Sadiq Daba) has been sent by the British Government to discover the perpetrator of a series of killings that have been occurring in a South Western Nigerian village.
I liked this movie especially because of the lovely setting it used, and the themes explored in the movie – tribalism, paedophilia, imperialism, integrity – which we don’t see often enough in movies.
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4. The Wedding Party
Of course, you remember this one. The movie was directed by Kemi Adetiba and features a host of popular Nollywood actors who each bring their individual flavour to the movie.
Banky W and Adesua Etomi play Dunni Coker and Dozie Onwuka, a couple about to wed, but enough happens from the morning of the wedding to the reception to make Dunni reconsider her decision. The movie is a hilarious, yet accurate representation of a Nigerian wedding.
P.S: The scene where Sola Sobowale (playing Dunni’s mother) dances into the reception venue is still golden!
5. ’76
“’76” is a historical fiction movie set six years after the Nigerian Civil War. In the movie, Captain Joseph Dewa (played by Ramsey Nouah), an army officer from the middle belt marries a woman from South Eastern Nigeria – Suzy (Rita Dominic). Captain Dewa is later wrongly implicated in the military coup of 1976 and in the killing of General Murtala Mohammed.
Fun fact – The Nigerian military spent seven months investigating the script before granting approval for the movie. They were also involved in training the movie’s actors.
6. King of Boys
Again directed by Kemi Adetiba, this movie got lots of rave reviews when it was released. If you’ve seen it before, it’s not a bad idea to see it again before the sequel is released. It tells us the story of the protagonist, Alhaja Eniola Salami (Sola Sobowale) as she is drawn into a power struggle over her political aspirations.
Rappers like Illbliss and Reminisce put up a great performance in this movie despite ‘King of Boys’ being their acting debut. The movie is about 3 hours long though, so make sure the popcorn and drinks are on standby.
7. Up North
In ‘Up North’, a spoiled billionaire’s son (Banky W) finds himself by going through with his NYSC posting in Bauchi instead of redeploying to Lagos as planned. He discovers love, friendship, and learns to take a stand for things he believes in, and against his overbearing father (Kanayo 0. Kanayo).
The movie showcases the beautiful landscape of Northern Nigeria and features other actors like Hilda Dokubo, Rahama Sadau, Ibrahim Suleiman, amongst others.
Which of these Nollywood movies will you be watching again?