The Nigerian film industry, Nollywood has continued to soar higher, cementing its status as a global powerhouse of cinematic storytelling with a rich display of cultures and traditions.
Nollywood has captivated audiences worldwide, delivering a stunning variety of movies that span drama, romance, action, and comedy. This year, filmmakers such as Funke Akindele, Biodun Stephen, Femi Adebayo, Bolanle Austen-Peters, Jadesola Osiberu, Kemi Adetiba, Kunle Afolayan among others have pushed creative boundaries, using innovative storytelling techniques, breathtaking cinematography, and top-notch performances that resonate deeply with viewers.
Glamsquad looks at the top 15 Nigerian movies in 2024, showcasing Nollywood’s ability to entertain local and international audiences. These films redefine and explore pressing societal issues.
Everybody Loves Jenifa (Funke Akindele)
Everybody Loves Jenifa is a movie produced by Funke Akindele, a lawyer, actress, and filmmaker fondly known as Jenifa. It is a follow-up to her TV series Jenifa.
The movie tells the story of Jenifa, a woman who runs an NGO and is loved by everyone in her community. However, a new neighbour who also runs an NGO by the name Lobster arrives and takes the spotlight. Interestingly, his NGO is just a cover to scam humanitarian organizations around the world for grants.
The movie is packed full of A-List actors such as Falz, Omotunde Adebowale David (Adaku), and Olayode Juliana, Jackie Appiah, Nancy Isime, Lateef Adedimeji, Bisola Aiyeola, Chimezie Imo, Omowunmi Dada, Destiny Etiko, Chy Nwakanma, Patience Ozokwor, Jide Kosoko, Ayoola Akinyoola, Michael Uba, Tobi Makinde, Hilda Baci, Wendy Ubakanma, Paschaline Alex, D’banj, Layi Wasabi and Cute Abiola, Kamo State among others.
‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’, made history by breaking Nollywood’s box office records, earning the highest opening-day gross in the industry’s history. The movie is set to surpass Funke Akindele’s other films, which currently rank among the top three highest-grossing Nollywood movies. These films include A Tribe Called Judah, Battle on Buka Street, and Omo Ghetto (The Saga).
Seven Doors (Femi Adebayo)
Seven Doors is a movie that resonates with Africa as a whole; it exposes the truth in the saying that “Life is more spiritual than physical”.
The movie tells the tale of a newly crowned King, the ‘Onilara of Ilara’ who is determined to uphold justice and serve his kingdom with integrity. However, soon after ascending the throne against his will, he finds himself plagued by crises that manifest in mysterious and unsettling ways because of the greediness of one of his forefathers who killed his brother to become king and sought to live longer.
The movie cast includes Femi Adebayo, Chioma Akpotha, Adebayo Salami, Ronke Oshodi, Muyiwa Ademola, Jide Kosoko, Aisha Lawal, Yinka Quadri, and Gabriel Afolayan, among others.
Alakada: Bad and Boujee (Toyin Abraham)
Alakada: Bad and Boujee is a sequel of Toyin of Toyin Abrahams’s Alakada. The movie follows Yetunde, a young girl from a humble background grappling with an inferiority complex. Desperate to fit in, she fabricates stories and lies about her financial and social standing.
The movie’s cast includes Toyin Abrahal, Bimbo Ademoye, Bimbo Akintola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Chimezie Imo, Idowu Adeyemi, Ik Ogbonna, Ini Edo, Kola Ajeyemi, Lizzy Jay, Odunlade Adekola, Okusanya Lolade, Olumide Oworu, Ronke Odusanya amongst others.
The movie earned ₦58 million in its first weekend at the Box Office.
Queen Lateefah (Wunmi Toriola)
Wunmi Toriola combined the vibes of Jenifa and Alakada in Queen Lateefah to create an excellent blend of drama, comedy, and romance.
Queen Lateefah shows the difference between life in the ghetto and the luxury of the rich. Queen Lateefah dreams of living big and acts like a very important person, even though she lives in a run-down “face-me-I-face-you” house. While she pretends to belong to a wealthy class, her life is far from the fancy hotels and high-end places she admires.
The casts include Wunmi Toriola, Kunle Remi, Femi Adebayo, Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi), Nancy Isime, Lateef Adedimeji, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Fausat Balogun, Fathia Williams, Rotimi Salami, Jumoke Odetola among others.
Thinline (Mercy Aigbe)
Thinline delves into the secret lives of religious men and how they appear and paint a perfect picture in public, produced by Mercy Aigbe.
The movie delves into the life of Pastor Raymond, a charismatic preacher renowned for his spirit-filled sermons. However, his world teeters on the brink of collapse when a prostitute, with whom he had an affair, blackmails him. Consumed by fear of exposure and disgrace, Raymond struggles to confront the consequences of his transgressions.
Thinline’s cast includes Mercy Aigbe, Olaiya Igwe, Prisma James, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Yekini Ibrahim, and Yvonne Jegede, among others.
Farmer’s Bride (Adebayo Tijani)
This is a tale of love, societal expectations, and the clash of traditions in the quest for happiness.
Farmer’s Bride is a movie set in 1980 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. It tells the story of Odun, a wealthy but lonely farmer, who marries a young bride, Funmi, in search of companionship. However, their marriage faces turmoil as Funmi battles unhappiness and begins a forbidden affair with Odun’s nephew. Their actions spark a chilling tale of love, betrayal, and supernatural retribution.
Casts include Gbubemi Ejeye, Tobi Bakre, Femi Branch, Wumi Toriola, and Mercy Aigbe
A Ghetto Love Story (Basketmouth)
A Ghetto Love Story explores the intense romance between a young couple struggling against the weight of poverty, crime, and the harsh realities of their environment. Family expectations and conflicting dreams test their bond and threaten to pull them apart as they fight to hold onto their love.
The cast features an impressive lineup of stars, including Akah Nnani, Beverly Osu, Dibor Adaobi, Chioma Chukwuka Akpotha, Dorathy Bachor, Basketmouth, Jude Chukwuka, Adokiye Horsfall, Chimezie Imo, Efe Irele, Femi Jacobs, Bethel Njoku, Wale Ojo, Ehizojie Okoeguale, Patience Ozokwor, and Vandora Vanessa Williams, among others.
Lisabi: The Uprising (Lateef Adedimeji)
Lisabi is a Yoruba Epic movie that tells the tale of Lisabi, a clever and determined Egba farmer who led a rebellion against the oppressive Oyo rulers. Rallying the collective strength of his fellow farmers and seeking the support of deities, Lisabi fought to liberate the Egba people from tyranny and oppression.
Casts include Lateef Adedimeji, Adebimpe Oyebade, Roseline Afije, Adebayo Adebowale, Ibrahim Itele, Olarotimi Fakunle, Odunlade Adekola, Jide Awobona, Gabriel Afolayan, Ibrahim Chatta, Seun Akindele, Kelvin Ikeduba, Olumide Oworu, Boma Akpore, Kola Ajeyemi,
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti
This biopic tells the story of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the mother of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. It follows her journey from being the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School to her marriage to Israel Ransome-Kuti. Together, they fought against injustice and founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union. Their fight for fairness led to a violent clash with traditional and colonial leaders who opposed them.
The Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti cast includes Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Adunni Ade, Iyimide Ayo-Olumoko, Ibrahim Suleiman, Adebayo Salami, Omowunmi Dada, Jide Kosoko, Dele Odule, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Yewande Osamein, and Iremide Adeoye, among others.
House of Ga’a (Bolanle Austen-Peters)
House of Ga’a recounts the legendary tale of Bashorun Ga’a, the formidable prime minister and warlord of the Oyo Empire. Renowned for his unparalleled power, he instils fear in the very kings he helps appoint to the throne of the Alaafin of Oyo. Those who dare to defy him meet untimely and mysterious deaths. However, his unchecked arrogance and domineering ways ultimately set the stage for his dramatic downfall.
The cast of House of Ga’a includes Femi Branch, Funke Akindele, Temilolu Fosudo, Teddy A, Femi Branch, Femi Adebayo, Gabriel Afolayan, Toyin Abraham, Adeniyi Johnson, Lateef Adedimeji, Yemi Blaq, Mike Afolarin, Stan Nze, Ibrahim Chatta, Seun Akindele, and Bridget Nkem, amongst others.
Wives on Strike 3: The Uprising (Omoni Oboli)
Wives on Strike 3: The Uprising is the latest in the franchise Wives on Strike.
The movie follows Mama Ngozi, a local government chairman, as she navigates the pressures of her role while confronting a life-altering revelation about herself.
Omoni Oboli, Tomiwa Wategbe, Hilda Dokubo, Chioma Akpotha, May Yul Edochie, Okey Bakassi, Uche Jumbo, Uche Jombo, Ufuoma McDermott, and Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori (KieKie), among others
Tòkunbò (Ramsey Nouah)
The movie plays out like the real hurdle a struggling average Nigerian passes through to make it in life.
Tokunbo follows the gripping tale of a car smuggler who becomes unwittingly involved in the kidnapping of a government official’s daughter. As the stakes rise, he faces a harrowing dilemma: failing to complete the abduction could have devastating consequences for his own family. Con
The movie stars Gideon Okeke, Chidi Mokeme, Majid Michel, Adunni Ade, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Darami Nadi, and Tosin Adeyemi, amongst others.
Muri & Ko (Biodun Stephen)
Muri & Ko is a comedy that portrays a meeting point between the rich and the poor.
The story begins with Muri, a small-time thief who finds himself in deeper trouble after unintentionally kidnapping an eight-year-old boy, Cole, during a failed car theft. Initially focused on ditching the stolen vehicle, Muri’s plans spiral out of control with Cole in the mix. Over a chaotic 24 hours, Muri faces a whirlwind of unexpected events as he struggles to handle the situation without causing harm to the boy.
The casts include Kunle Remi, Fiyinfoluwa Asenuga, Bisola Aiyeola, Bucci Franklin, Femi Jacobs, Charles Okocha, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, and Emem Ufot.
All is Fair in Love (Deyemi Okanlawon)
The film centres on two best friends and business partners whose bond is put to the ultimate test when they both fall for the same woman, sparking a complicated love triangle that threatens their relationship and partnership.
Casts include Timini Egbuson, Deyemi Okanlawon, Buhle Samuels, Ireti Doyle and Lateef Adedimeji.
Momiwa (Biodun Stephen)
Momiwa is a movie that portrays the intimacy of family life. However, while it preaches forgiveness, it also sheds light on how love heals the deepest wounds.
The movie revolves around a man abandoned by his wife, leaving him to care for their two children. In the absence of their mother, the family’s housekeeper fondly called Momiwa steps in, becoming a pillar of support and holding the fractured household together. Trouble started when the wife who left came back pleading to be accepted into the family.
Casts include Uzor Arukwe, Iyabo Ojo, Blessing Obasi, Precious Udoh, Akpujiha Michael, Lilian Afegbai and MC Lively.
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