Key Events and Milestones That Shaped Nollywood in 2024

2024 was a year of box office records, more international milestones, and disruption in film distribution. Despite challenges like reduced funding from major streaming platforms and uncertainties, Nollywood remains resilient and poised for more milestones in 2025. 

Let’s call this a 2024 News Wrapped for the Nigerian Film Industry.

Box Office Records

• A Tribe Called Judah (2023): In January 2024, Funke Akindele and Adeoluwa Owu’s A Tribe Called Judah (2023) became the first Nigerian film to surpass ₦1 billion in box office revenue, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
• Malaika (2023): Toyin Abraham-led Malaika, directed by Steve Olufemi Sodiya, grossed over ₦300 million, surpassing her previous hit Ijakumo to claim a spot in the top 10 highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time.
• Queen Lateefah (2024): Queen Lateefah, directed by Adeoluwa Owu and produced by Wumi Toriola, grossed ₦364 million within 10 weeks of its September release, earning a place among the top 10 highest-grossing films.
• Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024): Funke Akindele and Tunde Laoye’s Everybody Loves Jenifa set a new opening day record with over ₦45 million on December 13. It crossed the ₦1 billion mark within 19 days, further cementing Akindele as Nollywood’s Box Office Queen.

Streaming and Film Distribution

• Prime Video Funding Cuts: In January, Prime Video announced reduced funding for African and Middle Eastern projects to focus on their European Originals. While existing contracts will be honoured, this slowdown affected the commissioning of new Nigerian titles.
• Showmax Relaunch: In February, Showmax relaunched with a revamped brand design and app, premiering 21 African original projects at the same period. This included Nigeria’s Flawsome S2, The Counsellor, and Igbo Apprenticeship System documentary series Freemen.
• Nile Media Entertainment Launch: Moses Babatope’s Nile Media Entertainment kicked off its cross-regional distribution arm with Omoni Oboli’s Wives on Strike 3: The Uprising, premiering in Nigeria and showing in selected cinemas across Africa, Canada, Ireland, and the UK.
• Netflix Alleged Exit Hysteria: Despite dropping should-be hits like Oloture: The Journey, Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, Lisabi, and the Femi Adebayo-led Seven Doors, Netflix had a noticeably less busy year. Things came to a head at the Zuma Film Festival in December, when industry veteran Kunle Afolayan suggested that the streamer might exit Nigeria, causing panic. However, Netflix clarified its commitment to Nigerian content, and Afolayan later explained that it was a misunderstanding, urging Nigerian filmmakers to focus on alternative channels of distribution. 
• YouTube Boom: In 2024, Omoni Oboli, Bimbo Ademoye, Mercy Johnson, Ini Edo and other Nollywood names embraced YouTube for their film releases. Influencer Enioluwa Adeoluwa also made his debut as a film producer on the platform with the star-studded YA series, All of Us. 
• Circuits Platform: December saw the launch of Circuits, a Nigerian virtual cinema streaming platform offering pay-per-view access to Nollywood titles, starting with films like Asiri Ade, The Weekend, Ruthless, Blacksmith: Alagbede, and Seven Doors.

International Recognition

• The Weekend (2024): The Weekend (2024), directed by Daniel Oriahi, became the first Nigerian film to premiere at Tribeca. It also earned 16 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) nominations, winning Best Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography in November.
• Freedom Way (2024): On September 7^th, Afolabi Olalekan’s Freedom Way had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It won the Jury Award at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and screened at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival in December. 
• The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos (2024): This Agbajowo Collective film had its world premiere at TIFF and screened at AFRIFF. It later won the Best Sound and Best Costume awards at the Zuma Film Festival in December.
• Orah (2023): In 2024, Lonzo Nweke’s Nigerian-Canadian revenge thriller bagged 9 nominations at the AMAA awards. Oyin Oladejo—the lead actress—was also nominated for Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards.
• Hadu (2024): Smids Animation Studios’ Hadu, directed by Damilola Solesi, won Best Animation at AFRIFF and the Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Festival. It will also be screened at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2025.
• 1 Woman, 1 Bra: The Kenyan-Nigerian project directed by Vincho Nchogu and produced by Josh Olaoluwa secured a €200,000 grant from Biennale College Cinema and will premiere at the 2025 Venice Biennale as one of four final selections.
• Deep Dish Dimples: Josh Olaoluwa also became the first international fellow of Hollywood’s Film Independent Project Involve, producing Deep Dish Dimples as part of the program. The short film will premiere at the 2025 Directors Guild of America in January.
• Baby Girl:  Priye Diri earned a spot at the Film Independent 2024 Global Media Makers L.A. Residency with her narrative feature Baby Girl, set for production in 2025.
• In the Shadows of Good Fortune: Babatunde Apalowo and Kemi Lala Akindoju’s latest project was selected for the Marrakech International Film Festival as part of the 7^th Atlas Workshops Post Production Lab.
• Mami Wata (2023): In 2024, C.J. Obasi’s Mami Wata (2023) —Nigeria’s selection to the 96^th Oscars for Best International Feature Film—added nominations for an Independent Spirit Award and an NAACP Image Award to its already impressive list of over 25 national and international recognitions, including the 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography, Dublin International Film Festival’s Best Cinematography Award, Mashariki African Film Festival’s Best Feature Film Award, Septimius Awards’ Best Experimental Film, etc. 

More

• Breath of Life (2023): On May 11^th, BB Sasore’s Breath of Life nabbed 5 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), including Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Movie, and Best Director, after bagging 11 nominations at the award.
• Phoenix Fury (2024): Ifeoma Chukwuogo’s feature debut, Phoenix Fury, clinched the Best Film and Best Director awards at the 13th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), taking home a cash prize of  ₦4.5 million. 
• First Features Initiative: The First Features Initiative by Steve Gukas’ Natives Filmworks and Dotun Olakunri’s MichelAngelo Productions empowers emerging Nollywood filmmakers to make their first feature films. Spanning diverse genres, the films have blended seasoned actors with newcomers. Through the initiative that has showcased new voices, 2024 gave us films like It Blooms in June, Kill Boro, A Father’s Love, At Ease and A Danfo Christmas.

Looking Ahead of 2025

All eyes are on how Nollywood will navigate its distribution woes. Funke Akindele is set for an early year release of her romantic offering Finding Me, Kunle Afolayan’s Recall is expected to hit the cinemas as the filmmaker dips toes into YouTube waters, Niyi Akinmolayan is going further into family entertainment with a slate of children programming for YouTube, more Yoruba epics are on the way, and there are more First Features films on the horizon (plus other works yet to be revealed).

While the Nigerian entertainment industry is projected to generate $14.82 billion in revenue at the end of this year, funding and distribution may present challenges. Still, Nollywood’s persistence provides a cushion for new milestones and more global recognition in 2025. 

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