Nollywood is really making waves right now, and Netflix is definitely the venue where it is getting the most attention. If you have ever been through the process of endlessly scrolling through Netflix for hours without being able to decide what to watch, here is a very convenient way of looking at it: the industry of Nigerian movies is the source of the most fascinating, funny, and touching stories not only in Africa but also all over the world. So, if you are a movie fanatic or just in need of a refreshing and totally African genre, these Nollywood movies have already been waiting for you to start watching. Here is a top 10 list of Nollywood movies that are currently the best ones, and you can find them only on Netflix.
10. The Griot (2021)
The Griot (2021) delves into and unravels the power, love, and hate within the small Wakajaye village. Lakunle is depicted as a gifted but slightly shy storyteller, who lets his dominating friend Sanmi not only take over his tales but also his affection, that is, Tiwa. The cheating of the storyline and the fight to make your dream come true are the themes of the movie, that coincidentally Adedimeji Lateef and Temiloluwa Fosudo perform as the two characters. It is an extremely modern fable, but it also has a universal Nigerian soul.
9. Swallow (2021)
Kunle Afolayan’s Swallow tells the story of the 1980s. The Lagos setting, with its music, fashion, and tension, is depicted in the movie. Eniola “Niyola” Akinbo casts Tolani as a secretary who is going through a tough time as she is being targeted and facing systemic corruption. A friend provides Tolani with an opening into the drug trade, and only then does he face the choice of betraying his principles or simply surviving. It is based on the novel by Sefi Atta, and the plot is mainly about the struggle to achieve one’s ambition and maintain one’s morality in a society that is populated by women.
8. Elesin Oba: The King’s Horsemen (2022)
Transformed from Wole Soyinka’s similarly named classic play, this film tells the story of colonial Nigeria in 1943. Tradition prescribes that the horseman most familiar with the king, Elesin, should accompany him in death after the passing of the ruler. However, the colonial interference complicates matters, resulting in a cultural conflict with the themes of duty, destiny, and obligation as common ground. Odunlade Adekola delivers a powerful performance in this visually stunning biographical epic that both captivates and challenges.
7. Light In The Dark (2019)
Although it’s a poignant story, the piece doesn’t hesitate to touch on heavy topics. Inter-tribal couple Anna Dominic and Kalu Ikeagwu, who were violently burgled at home, are left with the aftermath, broken trust, and the fight for love. Director Ekene Mekwunye tells a simple, yet deeply human story of survival through sorrow.
6. Breaded Life (2021)
If you are a fan of soulful comedy, Breaded Life is sure not to let you down. One morning, Sunmisola (Timini Egbuson) discovers that everyone he knows has totally forgotten him, except for Todowede, a bread seller. What was initially a comedic plot turns out to be a sincere walkabout of identity, humility, and self-awareness. Biodun Stephen marries humor and sentiment successfully, thus making this one of the best Nollywood productions to watch.
5. Dark October (2023)
The movie is based on the ALUU4 disaster in which four university students lost their lives as a result of vigilante justice. This film not only talks about Chuks Joseph, Munachi Okpara, Kem-Ajieh Ikechukwu, and Kelechukwu Oriaku but also demonstrates their shared future as well as the danger of such a culture. It is hard to watch, but still obligatory.
4. Anchor Baby (2010)
Watching the story of Joyce, Omoni Oboli, and Paul, Sam Sarpong, an illegal Nigerian duo in the United States, Anchor Baby is a film that deals with how Joyce, the mother, by any means, gives birth in America to make her a resident. A suspenseful immigrant tale showing both the anguish and optimism of the migrant experience.
3. Dazzling Mirage (2014)
Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare’s novel, Dazzling Mirage, narrates the story of Funmiwo, Kemi Lala Akindoju, a sickle cell disease victim. In the face of social stigma and personal challenge, she achieved her goals in love, career, and home life. Dazzling Mirage by Tunde Kelani is the meeting of art and activism, a powerful peek into surviving and thriving with an incurable disease.
2. Òlòtūré (2020) & Òlòtūré: The Journey (2024)
Sharon Ooja (Sharon Ooja, Òlòtūré), a journalist in a candid drama, goes undercover inside a human trafficking cartel. The sequel, The Journey, tells the story of the director’s terrifying experience of trafficking abroad from Nigeria. Both are unflinching, moving, and revealing, with Sharon Ooja giving one of the best Nollywood acting performances in the last few years. As a result, they are the main global issues.
1. Jagun Jagun (2023)
Jagun is an epic that has had a massive impact on Netflix and is still the most-watched Nigerian film on the platform, mainly due to its spectacular battle scenes, the fate and power story, and the actors who perform their characters with authority and distinction. It is Nollywood’s breakthrough to the whole world, even beyond cinema, a cultural landmark.
Netflix did not suddenly catch on with Nollywood and is not going to fall out with it–quite the contrary, it is a trend for the future. As astonishing as it might seem, over 50 percent of the top titles on Netflix Nigeria that performed best in 2023 were Nollywood movies, which is a perfect indicator of success at the international level with indigenous movies. In other words, if you are a fan of the genre, you will be able to see your favorite movies, and if you are not, Nollywood is ready to offer you drama, comedy, or even thrillers. So stock up on popcorn, press play, and let Nollywood take you on an adventure–passport optional.