By Elsie Udoh
There is no denying the tremendous transformation that has saturated the Nigerian film industry, Nollywood, these past few years.
Nigerian movies have now become a delight to watch with the plots and character action more real than ever. It is no wonder why Nollywood has been ranked as one of the top three biggest film industries in the world.
The previously predictable and drag movies have become exciting with unpredictable plots and are now a pleasure to view for many Nigerians and your weekend can never go wrong watching Nollywood movies. They are a perfect dose of relaxation to help you unwind and release the stress of the week’s work.
So whether or not you are a movie lover, especially if you are a movie lover, we have taken the time to carefully hand-pick five top Nollywood movies from the studios of Jade Osiberu and the likes that will give you just the zest you need to start a wonderful weekend.
These movies can be streamed on Amazon Prime Videos or Netflix, so read carefully, make your pick and get started to having the best weekend ever, we won’t judge.
1. Gangs of Lagos
This movie produced by Jade Osiberu carries a strong theme of friendship, family ties and betrayal while portraying the thuggery and gang culture in Lagos, Nigeria.
Gang of Lagos tells the story of Obalola (Tobi Bakre) and his friends, Gift (Adesua Etomi-Wellington) and Ify (Chike-Ezekpeazu Osebuka). The trio grew up in the rough streets of Isale Eko, Lagos. Obalola, shaped by a difficult childhood, grows to be a thug. However, his dreams and sensitivity as well as his loyalty to the chairman of the Road Workers Union, Kazeem (Olarotimi Fakunle) stand out in the movie.
Kazeem’s persona on the other hand portrays the length at which Nigerian leaders are ready to go in search of power. However, it sends out a strong lesson that your current circumstance is not a barrier to achieving great strides in life as we see Kazeem rise to power despite being uneducated.
Gangs of Lagos makes a gritty and compelling watch, not only for its striking and hard-hitting visuals but also for its devastating relevance in the present day, given the recent 2023 elections experience.
The film also rightly captures the rough, yet somewhat charming aesthetic of Isale Eko. What is most interesting about the high concrete structures used to house its residents is that the viewer gets a distinct sense of fragility and instability, almost as though depending on which way the wind blows, it could all come crashing down like a house of cards. This instability, of course, is a sentiment that many Nigerians are likely to have felt over the past couple of weeks and know too well.
The movie is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Videos and should definitely make your watchlist.
2. A Sunday Affair
This movie gives off a blend of friendship, loyalty, romance, forgiveness and a touch of tragedy. What’s most striking about the movie is that while it is a Nigerian movie, it doesn’t give off the almost predictable style of Nollywood movies.
A Sunday Affair revolves around the lives of two best friends, Uche (Nse Ikpe-Etim) and Toyin (Dakore Egbuson-Akande). Uche lives a wild and carefree life with her sexual interests in married men making it obvious that she is not open to commitments. Toyin, on the other hand, longs for true companionship. She seems to have had it bad with relationships and is seeking companionship with a child which she wishes to have alone. However, despite their differences, the duo are inseparable.
The highlight of the film kicks off when the best friends unknowingly find their love interests in the same man, Oris Erhuero (Sunday) and for the first time, it seems like Uche has finally found the one whom she is willing to be committed to.
Sunday, on the other hand, wilfully plays both ladies while he claims that he loves them both and just when he is ready to settle for Uche after much pressure from his brother (Alex Ekubo), Toyin is diagnosed with stage III Cervical Cancer. This leaves Sunday stuck! He loves Uche but cannot bear to leave Toyin heartbroken in her state.
While the story twist is engaging, Sunday appears to have eaten his cake and yet still had it. Toyin, on the other hand, depicted a character with a deep understanding of friendship and loyalty. We see this in how she reacted after finding out about the affair between her boyfriend and fiance. Although her reaction can be said to be as a result of the fact that she knew she was dying, it is commendable and worth emulating.
This movie is a perfect fit for a Saturday movie night date with your loved one, family and friends. Grab your popcorn and enjoy.
3. Dark October
Dark October reveals everything you need to know about the dangers of jungle justice. Adapted from a true life story, the 1 hour, 49 minutes movie centres on the life of Tizzy (Chuks Joseph) a student passionate about music. Together with his friend Big L (Munchaii Okpara), he struggles to achieve his dream.
Their dreams, however, are short-lived after they become victims of jungle justice in a bid to retrieve the money owed to them by a friend, Moses.
Dark October makes an interesting watch with its apt portrayal of jungle justice and apart from its few cinematic flaws like poor scripting and poor execution, it is a movie that should definitely make your watch list this weekend.
And by the way, the movie features the debut of popular blogger, Linda Ikeji as it is her first movie production. You can proceed to check out the movie on Netflix.
4. The Trade
Based on a true life story, the movie centres on Dike Maduka (Blossom Chukwujekwu), known simply as Eric by his cohorts who is an elusive kidnap kingpin that has evaded arrest for almost 2 decades whilst running probably the most successful kidnapping operation ever in the country. Eric’s mode of operation has confounded the police who have been unable to trail his activities. Eric evades capture until a mercurial police officer and head of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Superintendent Khalid Abubakar (Ali Nuhu), leads an investigation into his case. Assisting his capture is a kidnap operation gone wrong of a rich businesswoman (Rita Dominic).
The Trade is a film that is properly executed. It is a film that is made carefully, with an adequate but not over-ambitious plot that is shot in a relatable manner. The Trade resists the temptation to devolve into an action-filled film but instead focuses more on the character and the progression of the plot. This helps it to retain its soul, leading viewers to be more invested in the story.
5. Shanty Town
This list will not be complete without the addition of Shanty Town. Incredible acting, great plot and proper scripting are what characterise this movie.
Shanty Town explores the lives of sex workers, gang leaders, and corrupt politicians in Lagos and features the appearances of Nollywood stars including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ini Edo, Chidi Mokeme, Nse Ekpe-Etim, Shola Shobowale, Shaffy Bello, Ali Nuhu, Uche Jombo, Zubby Michael, Nancy Isime, Yaw Naija, Omowunmi Dada, Mercy Eke, Shola Sobowale, Regina Daniels, Judith Audu and Peter Okoye.
Hurry now and log onto Netflix to see what awaits you in Shanty Town. You won’t regret it.
