15 best Nollywood movies of all time: greatest films to watch
The Nigerian film industry is known globally for producing Nollywood movies, also known as Naija films. The history of the industry dates back to the late 19th century. Over 2,500 films are released annually in this industry, and some are a must-watch in 2023.
Source: UGC
Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry, is ranked the second-largest film production industry globally after Hollywood. There are thousands of Nollywood movies to watch in 2023.
Best Nollywood movies of all time
Below are some of the top-rated Naija films of all time. They are exciting to watch, and numerous people have watched them more than once.
15. Osuofia in London
- Rating: 6.7
- Year: 2003
- Director: Kingsley Ogoro
Kola Munis, Emeka Obiakonwa, and Kingsley Ogoro wrote Osuofia in London. The film is about Osuofia, a man who lives in rural south-eastern Nigeria. One day, he receives the news of his brother's death in London.
He inherits all his brother's money and travels to the United Kingdom. In London, city slickers try to take advantage of him after becoming wealthy.
14. Oracle
- Year: 1998
- Director: Andy Amenechi
Oracle is one of the best Nollywood movies of all time. The film stars Ejike Asiegbu, Peter Bunor, and Pete Edochie.
In the movie, gangsters known for terrorising people are dared to steal the mask of Okpakiri. They embark on a mission to steal it, but is it right to steal from the spirits?
13. Vuga
- Year: 2000
- Director: Simi Opeodu
Chiwetalu Agu, Segun Arinze, and Regina Askia are some of the stars in Vuga, which is one of the Nollywood movies to watch in 2023.
The film tells a tale of a sturdy man who lives in the village. He has the ability to save his community from terror.
12. Phone Swap
- Rating: 6.4
- Year: 2012
- Director: Kunle Afolayan
While Phone Swap is not one of the latest Nollywood movies, it is a must-watch in 2023. Nse Ikpe-Etim, Wale Ojo, and Joke Silva feature in this production.
In Phone Swap, Mary, a fashion designer, and Akin, her arrogant boss, swap their phones accidentally in a busy airport. Each has to carry out the other's assignments.
11. Fifty
- Rating: 6.1
- Year: 2015
- Director: Biyi Bandele
Fifty is one of the Naija movies you should watch soon. The script was written by Kemi Adesoye, Bola Agbaje, and Biyi Bandele.
The plot revolves around four Nigerian women at the peak of their careers. They must balance their careers with their personal lives and family.
10. October 1
- Rating: 6.4
- Year: 2014
- Director: Kunle Afolayan
Tunde Babalola wrote October 1, a production starring Sadiq Daba, Kayode Olaiya, and Ademola Adedoyin. The production is set in 1960 as Nigeria prepares for independence from the British.
At the time, a serial killer repeatedly targets young women. An experienced detective embarks on a mission to discover and arrest the killer.
9. Lionheart
- Rating: 5.7
- Year: 2018
- Director: Genevieve Nnaji
Renowned Nigerian actress Genevieve Nnaji wrote, directed, and starred in Lionheart. This 2018 production is one of the Nollywood movies on YouTube.
The film is about a young woman who pulls up her socks and runs a company in a male-dominated industry. She does her best to prove her worth to her father and the world.
8. Rattle Snake
- Rating: 7.8
- Year: 1995
- Director: Amaka Igwe
In Rattle Snake, Ahanna's father passes away, and his mother unwillingly abandons him. He is forced to grow up quickly and take care of his siblings.
He plots revenge against his wicked uncle. In the meantime, he engages in petty crime to earn a living.
7. The Figurine
- Rating: 4.4
- Year: 209
- Director: Kunle Afolayan
Wale Adebayo, Kate Adepegba, and Kunle Afolayan are some of the stars in The Figurine. The film is about two friends and a girl.
The friends' lives change when one of them discovers a mysterious figurine called Araromire. The figurine brings good luck and fortune to their lives.
6. Isoken
- Rating: 6.5
- Year: 2017
- Director: Jadesola Osiberu
Dakore Akande, Joseph Benjamin, and Marc Rhys are among the stars in Isoken. Isoken is a beautiful and successful 34-year-old woman.
Her family and community are worried because she is not married at 34. Her mother orchestrates meeting with Osaze, who she considers the ultimate Edo man for her daughter.
5. The Bling Lagosians
- Rating: 6.6
- Year: 2019
- Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
The Bling Lagosians is one of the must-watch Nigerian movies. It stars Gbenga Titiloye, Elvina Ibru, and Osas Ighodaro.
The movie is about members of the Holloway family who work on solving their problems. They also prepare for the year's biggest social event, i.e., Mopelola's party.
4. Living in Bondage
- Rating: 7.0
- Year: 1992
- Director: Chris Obi Rapu
Kenneth Nnebue and Okey Ogunjiofor are the screenplay writers for Living in Bondage. In this production, a down-and-out businessman uses witchcraft to get ahead of the rest.
3. King of Boys
- Rating: 6.1
- Year: 2018
- Director: Kemi Adetiba
Sola Sobowale, Remilekun Reminisce Safaru, and Adesua Etomi-Wellington are some of the stars of King of Boys. The film centres around the life of an astute businesswoman.
The powerful businesswoman's political ambitions are threatened by her underworld connections. She goes through a power struggle that could potentially cost her everything.
2. Confusion Na Wa
- Rating: 7.1
- Year: 2013
- Director: Kenneth Gyang
Confusion Na Wa is a dark comedy-drama about a group of strangers whose lives become intertwined within 24 hours. Their union comes after finding a phone owned by Emeka.
They read through the contents and decide to blackmail Emeka. A series of events leads to their downfall.
1. Igodo
- Rating: 7.8
- Year: 1999
- Directors: Andy Amenechi and Don Pedro Obaseki
Sam Dede, Amaechi Muonagor, and Charles Okafor are some of the stars in Igodo. The film centres around the lives of seven ferocious warriors.
The warriors are sent to the land of the living dead on a mission. They must find a specific weapon that can save their community from an unbreakable curse.
Which is the best Nigerian movie?
The best Naija films of all time include Igodo, Confusion Na Wa, King of Boys, Living in Bondage, The Bling Lagosians, Isoken, The Figurine, Rattle Snake, and Lionheart.
What is the highest-grossing Nigerian movie?
Some of the top-grossing Naija films of all time are Omo Ghetto; The Saga, The Wedding Party, The Wedding Party 2, Chief Daddy, and Sugar Rush.
Are Nollywood movies on Netflix?
Yes, if you have been wondering where to download Nollywood movies, you can access some on Netflix. You can download them for later viewing on your phone or another device.
Which is the best Nollywood movies download site in 2023?
The best site to download Nollywood movies is one that is legal, e.g., Netflix. Note that some sites may require a subscription fee.
There are thousands of Nollywood movies to watch today. We hope you get the chance to watch the best ones of all time from the list explored above.
READ ALSO: Top 20 best South African movies ever made: Have you watched them all?
Briefly.co.za recently published a list of the best South African movies ever made. South Africa has a vibrant film industry that has produced some of the top-grossing films on the continent.
Mzansi movies add a unique African touch to the global film industry. They are unique because they promote South African culture.
Source: Briefly News
Favour Adeaga (Lifestyle writer) Dr. Favour Adeaga is an author, speaker, and coach. He graduated with a degree in Mass Communication from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigeria. He did his internship at The Nation Newspaper and taught diploma students in Newspaper and Magazine courses at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. He has curated the facts and life hacks category since 2018. Dr Favour is the author of several books available on Amazon. He currently lives in Nigeria. Email: favouradeaga@gmail.com
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
