This year, every critic could select their top 5 films from a list of 58 released films across cinemas and streaming services (Netflix and Prime Video most notably). And they were awarded points as shown below:

1st place: 10
2nd place: 5
3rd place: 3
4th place: 2
5th place: 1

With 10 more participating critics than in 2022, they possess their tone and distinct approach to film criticism.
The results differ from What Kept Me Up’s list which we publish annually in the first week of December.

The participating critics are from publications like Afrocritik, Nollywood Reinvented, The Culture Custodian, Pulse Nigeria, and Open Country Mag, as well as freelancers and some others who run their audiovisual channels, like Iroko Critic, The Film Village, Tito Abumere, Halimah Yusuf and Popcorn and Reels.

This year, the critics also named their best directors and performances of the year. Each critic could select 3 names in each category, with each mention counting as votes for the filmmaker/actor. The names with at least 2 votes have made it to the list.

(Consideration window: Films released to the general audience for the first time between December 1, 2022 – November 30, 2023).

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2022 Critics Poll: The Best Nollywood Films, According to 21 Nigerian Critics from Around the World

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Best Films

1. The Trade (premiered in cinemas, now streaming on Prime Video)
2. Mami Wata (premiered in cinemas)
3. Gangs of Lagos (Prime Video)
4. Sista (Prime Video)
5. Jagun Jagun (Netflix)
6. Battle on Buka Street (premiered in cinemas, now streaming on Prime Video)
7. The Black Book (Netflix)
8. Big Love (premiered in cinemas, now streaming on Prime Video)
9. 4:4:44 (Prime Video)
10. Ijogbon (Netflix)

Best Directors

1. C.J. ‘Fiery’ Obasi, Mami Wata
2. Jade Osiberu, The Trade
3. Jade Osiberu, Gangs of Lagos
4. Kunle Afolayan, Ijogbon
5. Editi Effiong, The Black Book
6. Adebayo Tijani & Tope Adebayo Salami, Jagun Jagun
7. Biodun Stephen, Sista
8. Niyi Akinmolayan, House of Secrets
9. Tola Olatunji, Kanaani; Izu Ojukwu, 4:4:44

Best Performances

1. Blossom Chukwujekwu, The Trade
2. Kehinde Bankole, Sista
3. Tobi Bakre, Gangs of Lagos
4. Chioma Akpotha, Gangs of Lagos 
5. Olarotimi Fakunle, Gangs of Lagos
6. Najite Dede, House of Secrets
7. Daniel Etim-Effiong, Jolly Roger; Chike, Gangs of Lagos; Evelyne Ily, Mami Wata; Iyabo Ojo, Gangs of Lagos; Kelechi Udegbe, Mami Wata; Femi Adebayo, Jagun Jagun; Nse Ikpe-Etim, 4:4:44

 The names of the critics and how they voted can be seen here.

We would also like to urge more filmmakers to send screeners of their films to critics.

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(Edit: A previous version of this post wrongly had Nse Ikpe Etim’s performance in A Sunday Affair in the Best Performances category.)