2022 was a special one for Nollywood, interesting movies were produced and released, writers were more adventurous with their ideas and Nollywood viewers were treated to interesting and exciting stories. While most of these movies were initially released on the big screens, some of them have been re-released on streaming platforms. If you were unable to squeeze some space into your schedule to go see these films at the cinema or simply want to rewatch them in your own space, they are now available on streaming platforms- Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Here are 2022 Nollywood cinema movies already available…
Author: Ayodele Olawumi
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Crime dramas have always been a constant offering in Nollywood. Recently, there has been a renaissance of crime dramas in the industry, notably starting with Kemi Adetiba’s King Of Boys. Since then, there have been several more, including Brotherhood, The Trade, and Rising City of Dreams, all of which depict gritty crime stories (some of which are purportedly based on true events). This fever is still raging as there are several titles whose releases are anticipated: Gangs of Lagos, No Man’s Land, and even more to come in the KOB world. It is undoubtedly exciting times for Nollywood viewers, who…
In recent years, one of the most committed crimes in Nigeria has been kidnapping, with an increase in the number of reported kidnapping cases, including a recent high profile case where passengers on an Abuja to Kaduna train were attacked and kidnapped. The kidnapped victims were not released to their families until hefty sums of ransom were paid to secure their release. I can’t say if I feel like The Trade couldn’t have come at a better time, because of the current state of insecurity in the country and how it captures a possible scenario, but it does address a…
In 2019 we were thrust into the life of stylish detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) in Knives Out when he was summoned to solve the mystery of the murder of author, Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). Thrombey left behind a large estate which his relatives and dependent friends bicker over, making them all suspects in his murder. I was actually drawn to see the movie because I had seen Lakeith Stanfield, who plays a police detective in the movie. Drawn into the plot, I solved the mystery alongside Blanc (he beat me to it anyway). I had seen and read numerous…
On a small scale, like your neighborhood pastor whose altar was discovered to have a pot buried beneath it or Muslim clerics who were found to have been abusing wards placed in their care, and on a larger scale, like the revelation of boys abused by Catholic priests around the world, religious institutions have always made the news. These institutions and their practices have always been a hotbed for stories to be told via existing media, such as novels, films, etc. Usually, the hypocrisy of the institutions and their principals is on display. Adebayo Tijani-directed Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper…
I remember, over a decade ago, getting a glimpse of the last ten minutes of a movie someone was watching on their PC. I saw some blue beings fighting against humans, and the blue beings achieved victory in the end. The movie was called Avatar, and having only heard about and never seen the Avatar of the anime genre, I confused it for that, and I was quickly and playfully corrected by those around me and informed of the distinction between the two. I also got an ineffective crash course on the plot and premise of the film and learned…
It’s the end of the year and we have another blockbuster from Funke Akindele productions, this time under her Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network banner. The food selling profession is one that is always filled with drama, from scandalous reports of them spicing up their food spiritually to guarantee an inflow of customers to the rivalry between food sellers. This competition makes them resort to several antics ranging from physical to the spiritual to denigrate their rival’s business and enjoy a monopoly in the business. Battle on Buka Street tells such a story but with more intricacies and different levels of…
Street gangs are a familiar phenomenon to almost all Nigerians, with their presence in every part of the country, especially in places like markets, car parks, etc. Their several activities can’t go unnoticed: supremacy battles, market tax collection and even involvement in government elections. Everyone has either witnessed a street gang activity or has heard of them and the deeper world of criminal street gangs are engaged in. Nollywood seems to have taken a new interest in portraying Nigeria’s crime scenes on screen and interesting stories have been released; Rising: City of Dreams joins a list of films in this…
Niyi Akinmolayan directs Palava, a lighthearted flick that explores the chaotic life of a randy musician and his daughters from several mothers. Osagie ‘Osa-Wonder’ (Richard Mofe Damijo), a once-forgotten highlife musician, has his career suddenly revived by a viral song, but his old habits continue to dog him and the shadows of his past follow him. Problems start when a former assistant posts a video carrying a baby boy that she claims to be Osa-Wonder’s. This puts everything in jeopardy, including endorsement deals and his relationship with his five daughters (Bisola Aiyeola, Beverly Naya, Beverly Osu, Jemima Osunde, and Linda…
The Stand Up, directed by Jide Oyegbile, is a story about a young man’s journey from Warri to becoming a top standup comedian in Lagos against the backdrop of the wild crime scene of both cities. Ovie (Paul Olope) is our lead, a Warri boy who works as a security guard with his father. One night, his father is shot and killed, and on the day of the burial, a local don, Devwor (Richard Mofe Damijo), comes out of nowhere with documents bearing proof that Ovie’s father owes him a whopping sum of two million naira, which Ovie has to…