Top Nollywood Movies From Last Year You Should See

There’s a feeling that comes with having a quintessential cinema experience.

From comedy to thriller and drama, filmgoers have without doubt been blessed with a lineup of outstanding and well-made Nollywood movies.

This is a list of Nollywood movies that were creatively and visually appealing, despite their budget.

From “76” to “93 Days,” check out the top movies of 2016.

1. “76”

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"76" is a meticulously detailed Nigerian historical fiction drama about a young soldier accused of complicity in the abortive coup of 1976, and his pregnant wife who helps him prove his innocence.

This movie doesn't get its eminence from action pyrotechnics as a 'war film,' but from its dialogue, cast, plot and cinematography. For I1hr, 58mins, "76" successfully enthrals, making it impossible to sit through it without leaving with memorable moments or at least the urge to further be enlightened about the Nigerian history.

The Izu Ojukwu movie sparks a bygone era to life with impressive imagery, as he takes viewers back to the 70s via retro fashion, music and dance style. Ojukwu as a director is persistently curious, constantly looking for the small details that sell the emotion and underlying theme.

2. “The Arbitration”

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“The Arbitration” is an interesting and brilliantly scripted Nollywood movie, which focuses on Dara Olujobi, who was supposedly raped by her married boss and ex lover (Gbenga), and forced to give up her shares worth millions, after their affair ended.

The movie offers a fresh and  original story scripted by Chinaza Onuzo, and stellar performances from cast led by Ireti Doyle.

An intelligent script, the movie is brought to life by a talented director, Niyi Akinmolayan. Despite the film’s screenplay moving back and forth on a round table in a room with an arbitrator presiding over the proceedings, it is still easy to connect with the characters and their various emotions.

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The Wedding Party official poster

3. “The Wedding Party”

Kemi Adetiba's "The Wedding Party" creatively captures a typical Nigerian wedding (high-priced or inexpensive) and all the drama that could occur pre and post a wedding party.

The Wedding Party" benefits from the efforts of its apt cast. It is buoyed up by performances from both veterans and the younger actors. Sola Sobowale is most certainly the life of the movie and is at the top of her game playing the viewers favourite Tinuade Coker.

The direction is excellent. Adetiba doesn't let her picture dwadle. The movie kicks off exciting the audience, and moves at a pace that makes it interesting to watch.

4. “93 Days”

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93 Days The Movie

 

“93 Days” is a historic gripping documentation of the deadly disease starting from the day the day the Ebola virus came into Nigeria to the day the country was declared Ebola-free.

The movie director Steve Gukas tells this story through the eyes of those who first came in contact with the virus.

The movie producers (Bolanle Austen-Peters, Dotun Olakunri and Gukas) pay a lot of attention to detail, not just with the story but also the locations based in Lagos.

Buoyed by compelling performances, “93 Days” is a well researched documentary, which also marked a redefining moment in Nigerian cinema in 2016.

5.  “The CEO”

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The plot of the movie is an original one that explores blackmail, the corporate world, and as expected from the director Kunle Afolayan, superstition.

Set mainly on a beautiful beach resort on the outskirts of Lagos in Nigeria, the film is a mystery-thriller surrounding five top executives from across Africa who are dispatched on a one-week leadership retreat by a multinational telecommunications firm, Transwire, to determine which one to appoint as the firm’s new CEO.

The CEO” has brilliant visuals layered with witty lines exchanged between Rickard and Kola, Kola and Dr. Zimmerman (Angelique Kidjo), Kola and the Superintendent Ebenezer (Hilda Dokubo). With a clever casting, "The CEO" comes with good performances, strong and expected performances by all actors. Every actor does a brilliant job in their respective roles.

Afolayan smartly weaves a thrilling story, with every scene being relevant. The Kunle Afolayan technique of having the viewers think and ask questions with open-ended scenes, plot, and twist, isn't missing in "The CEO."

6. “Oloibiri”

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The movie is based on true life events; the abandonment of Oloibiri, the community where the country's first commercial oil discovery was made by Shell Darcy in June 1956.

With “Oloibiri,” Curtis Graham encapsulates the plight of the Niger Delta oil mining regions that has been abandoned by the Nigerian government and oil multinationals.

You come out of the cinema not only shaken with excitement from seeing a good Nollywood movie, but also with a touch of grief and anger at the plight of the Niger Deltans and the infamous militants.

it is still an entertaining and engaging watch with a fantastic choreography of fight scenes, and outstanding performances led by the legendary Richard Mofe Damijo.

7. “Green White Green”

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In this richly textured and frequently funny look at Lagos’ new generation, a

 group of young bohemian artists hang out and search for direction in their lives in the stagnant months leading up to the beginning of their university studies.

Amongst the various things they decide to do, they choose to make a movie. “Green White Green” humorously focuses on various topical matters affecting Nollywood and Nigeria as a whole. 

"Green White Green" is a refreshing and creative dose of comedy, which touches on different important themes and stereotypes, and still effortlessly gives a ch  in a movie.

8. “Ojukokoro”

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Ojukokoro

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An action comedy, “Ojukokoro”  tells the story of what happens when a cash strapped manager in a money laundering petrol station, decides to rob the petrol station that employs him but along this journey finds out that there are different kinds of criminals that are also interested in the same cash, and that a good reason isn't always a right one.

A star-studded movie, Dare Olaitan makes an assertion with his first feature film. Laced with adequate humour, “Ojukokoro” is a brilliant, well-made and entertaining action-packed movie with appreciable performances by a talented cast.

The film adopts the use of Pidgin English which presents the dialogue of the actors in such a way everyone can understand it.

9. “Gidi Blues”

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Banky W shares "Gidi Blues" poster on Instagram.

 

Akin is an indulged playboy from an affluent family who accidentally meets an interesting beauty in an unpredictable place. Nkem is a beautiful, confident but unusual young lady who devotes herself to her work as a community volunteer in the belly of the city’s worst slum. Their encounter drags Akin into a whirlwind experience that unravels his world.

“Gidi Blues” boasts of stellar performances led by Nancy Isime and Gideon Okeke. With “Gidi Blues,” Femi Odugbemi tells an original story in a simple but entertaining way, delivering a perfect cinematic experience.

The movie does what all great romance dramas do: It maximizes everything  promised by its premise through expert narrative and visual storytelling.

Credits: Pulse Nigeria