Nigerian Motion Pictures Coming To A Screen Near You
October bears must-see films from the Nollywood industry, and all we can do is anticipate. Below are 7 titles you should add to your watchlist.
Chrysé is back on your radar with usual good stuff, and this time it happens to be film recommendations—new releases and returning favorites alike. Just like other months, October is packed with beautiful pictures from Nollywood, some already released, while others are gearing for a grand entrance on our monitors, and so I am looking forward to being served from theaters to local TV stations and streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and even YouTube. You should definitely keep up!
To this effect, I curated a guide of seven (7) anticipatable titles (trailers inclusive) in alphabetical order, which will be showing in Nigerian cinemas and on global streaming services. The genres sweep through drama, supernatural thriller, romance, comedy, and history.
A NIGHT IN 2005 directed by Temidayo Makanjuola…in theaters October 11
The creators of this movie thought about me and had to make this… delusional much, but I am so convinced. The story is one of a woman haunted by a dark secret that was conceived in her teenage years. It also possesses bits of power and injustice. Ini Dima-Okojie (the woman in the above still) in one of my favorite themes? Secrecy? Fantastic! Give me five tickets! Not just her, they pulled out most of my faves for this one—Efa Iwara, Ireti Doyle, Teniola Aladese, Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Bimbo Akintola, etc.—incredible actors with immense talents. So even if the storyline fumbles (which is 95% unlikely), I am assured to come out with my head in one piece.
HIJACK '93 directed by Robert O. Peters…on Netflix October 25
This is yet another case of art imitating life, and if you happen to keep tabs on African history, you may have heard of the Nigerian Airways flight that was hijacked by a group of teenagers on its way to Abuja in 1993. Well, Charles Okpaleke and his production company are re-telling that story in a fictional capacity: four men hijacking an airplane with passengers onboard in an effort to dismantle their military-backed government, as they were not in agreement with the dissolution of the 1993 democratic elections. The film will air on the exact day it occurred, 31 years ago, and the producers have managed to put together a stellar lineup, from Bob Manuel to John Dumelo, Sharon Ooja, Nancy Isime, Efa Iwara (not him appearing in every paragraph of this log *side eye*), Jemima Osunde, Idia Aisien, and the infamous hijackers played by Adam Garba, Nnamdi Agbo, Oluwaseyi Akinsola, and Allison Emmanuel. Although I was nonexistent at the time of the real event, I am genuinely looking forward to the feelings this will induce.
INSIDE LIFE directed by Clarence Peters…on Netflix October 11
Being the brain behind thousands of music videos for over a decade with clientele running from 9ice to Davido, Clarence Peters has long ago cemented his place as a household name in Nigeria's entertainment scene; therefore, this transition to film directing is nothing strange. Having given us two short films and a TV show, the filmmaker is returning with a limited series, Inside Life, a supernatural drama set in a fictional world, capturing the lives of various characters grappling with dark, distinct, and unfortunate situations. It stars renowned actors like Scarlet Gomez (popularly known for her role in Wura), Gabriel Afolayan (Blood Sisters, Citation), Meg Otanwa (Freedom Way, The Wait), Jide Kosoko (To Freedom), Chioma Omeruah, a.k.a Chigul (Banana Island Ghost), etc.
SOFT LOVE directed by Holmes Awa…on Amazon Prime Video October 25
The producers of With Difficulty Comes Ease (2024. Amazon Prime Video), multiple award-winning film; Breath of Life (2023. Amazon Prime Video), etc., are back again to advocate for their place as one of the leaders in African cinema! Soft Love is a love story with strains of comedy and a unique merge of Nigerian and South African cultures. With lead actors Efa Iwara (Nigerian) and Cindy Mahlangu (South African), I cannot help but have high expectations for this film, and if you had a glimpse of their work ethic, you would too.
THE MEN'S CLUB 5: NEW GEN directed by Tola Odunsi…on Amazon Prime Video October 30
One thing Tola Odunsi would do is deliver the most amazing series to us on a platter, and TMC is not an exception, and if you have seen Flawsome series, Assistant Madams, or the previous seasons of TMC (from 2018 till 2022), then you are more than familiar with his resume.
The Men’s Club is a tale of brotherhood, centered around four men (played by Ayoola Ayoola, replaced by Pere Egbi from the 4th season, Efa Iwara, Daniel Etim Effiong, and Baaj Adebule), and how they relate to their romantic partners and the day-to-day happenings in each of their lives. After 4 strong seasons, they are circling back for their 5th season on Amazon Prime Video, introducing four additional main characters described as “The New Gen,” i.e., David Eyo, Paul Nnadiekwe, Chuks Joseph, and Okusaga Adeoluwa. You can find the first 3 seasons and 3 holiday specials on REDTV's YouTube channel and the 4th on Amazon Prime Video.
THE SMART MONEY WOMAN S2 directed by Bunmi Ajakaiye…on YouTube (Azuwa Studios) October 31
The Smart Money Woman, a dramatization of the bestselling 2016 novel of the same name by the author, Arese Ugwu…eventually executive producer, is coming back for its long anticipated second season, still on Azuwa Studios’ YouTube channel. The story is one of sisterhood amongst five ambitious girlfriends (played by Osas Ighodaro, Ini Dima-Okojie, Toni Tones, Lala Akindoju, and Ebenezer Eno), highlighting and encouraging financial literacy for women. Yes, the show is undoubtedly entertaining, but it also serves as a tutorship on investment and spending culture despite life challenges, which was one of my favorite things about it. I vividly recall watching the first season with my pen and notepad in hand as I was jotting down all the quotes on how to become a smart money woman. Arese, you will always be famous!
WIVES ON STRIKE 3: THE UPRISING directed by Omoni Oboli…in theaters October 18
Before I speak on this, I just have to put it out there: Omoni Oboli is a brilliant filmmaker! Her artistic development over the years and her adaptation to the African film market are beautiful to witness, and doing all these while basically living abroad? Her team must be excellent, and I am here for all that goodness and work ethic. Wives on Strike has been so good and successful, she had to make a third installment of the franchise, and we are all saying a loud ‘yes’ in unison (shhh, I said it on behalf of all of us). The previous story revolved around five women in a local community, with four of them denying their husbands of sex in a bid to motivate them to advocate for a young girl forced into marriage with a much older man by her biological father, which is a common practice in parts of our country, especially the northern region. But as seen in the trailer, you can tell they have another problem on their hands, which seems more dangerous—a child is kidnapped upon returning home, and his mother is in utter disarray. With looks of despair and defeat stuffing the atmosphere, the characters are more horrified and crushed than ever. I know it is just a movie, but I am sitting here crossing my fingers, hoping they come out of this one unscathed.
I would love to read your thoughts, so if after watching any of these titles, you feel the need to review or just rant about the story, send an email to chrysemagazine@gmail.com ! 
E N J O Y ! ! !