In just a blink of our eyes, the middle of the year is already here right at our front, the year has gone by and so many things has happened, occurred and taken place in the world of Nollywood, from epic, adventure, thrilling drama, an outstanding amount of nollywood movies has graced the screen with all its goodies packed up for our entertainment.
Let’s rewind a bit to see what has happened in the Nollywood film industry since the beginning of 2025 up to this moment and what is next to expect. In early 2025, we began to get entertainment right in our faces from the release of Reel Love, which came perfectly at the season of love, Valentine’s Day. This love-themed drama starred the talented cast of Timini Egbuson, TJ Omusuku, Bimbo Ademoye, Funke Akindele, and more.
We also got After 30, with an excellent production design currently available on Prime, the high-emotion drama movie My Mother Is a Witch, starring Mercy Aigbe, alongside other brilliant actors and actresses, with exceptional acting. The Fire and the Moth, a catch-me-if-you-can movie, is another notable movie with action sauce, as is the most recent and anticipated movie, Red Circle.
2025 has also given the release of Nollywood movies on YouTube a big break. As we know, there are great movies on Nollywood that have gained numbers. Still, one really went big this year and that is the Omoni Oboli TV movie Love in Every Word, with a popular scene conversation clip that caught the internet’s attention when Odogwu (played by Uzor Arukwe) declared his marriage intention to Achalugo (played by Bam Bam), saying “Achalugo, I am going to marry you, you are going to be my wife…” That movie quote went viral. Everyone began to use it on social media, some used it to confess their love, and even made a song with the title “Achalugo“. It is a standout moment in the Nollywood industry in the first half of 2025, with the movie racking up 26 million total views in 3 months.
Another standout moment in Nollywood in the first half of 2025 is the AMVCA award night, one of Nollywood’s prestigious awards, celebrating the good works and recognition of standout movies. This year’s award night saw a good number of deserving award winners. To mention a few, this year’s 11th AMVCA highlight winners include Best Supporting Actor: Gabriel Afolayan for Inside Life, Best Lead Actor: Femi Adebayo for Seven Doors, Best Lead Actress: Chioma Chukwuka for Seven Doors, Best Make-up: Hakeem Onilogbo for Lisabi the Uprising.
In landmark achievement for the nollywood industry and cinema, British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr.’s Debut feature, My Father’s Shadow was officially selected for the 78th Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section, making it the first time a Nigerian fiction film has been included in the festival’s official selection, a lovely milestone if you asked me.
Moving on to the second half of 2025, there are still a couple of movies to expect as the year continues, one anticipated Nollywood movie that is long overdue to be released is the Ghanaian-Nigerian music executive Oscar Heman-Ackah’s movie Finding Messiah, the teaser trailer of which caught many’s attention last year, featuring a star cast of Bucci Franklin, Pete Edochie, Ngozi Ezeonu, Taiwo Ajayi-Lycett, Alex Usifo, and more. One interesting aspect is the locations in the trailer; from what we heard, it was designed to portray the fictional movie territory, Zambay. Finding Messiah is one of the top movies to look forward to in the second half of 2025.
Another movie to look out for as 2025 goes on is the release of a cinema sequel to Kemi Adetiba’s successful franchise, King of Boys. The voice teaser of the lead actress, Sola Sobowale, was released early January of 2025 with a special message revealing the title as King of Boys: The Beginning of the End. Everything seems set at 90% ready from the voice mail, and I look forward to it.
In the world of series, we also have season 2 of Blood Sisters to look out for, as it promises several twists and turns and will include additional new faces.
From record-breaking viral hits and prestigious international recognition at Cannes to celebrated award wins and diverse, engaging releases, Nollywood’s first half of 2025 has been a masterclass in growth and impact. The industry hasn’t just entertained; it’s captured imaginations, sparked trends, and broken new ground. This incredible foundation fuels immense anticipation for what’s next. The stage is now set for the second half’s heavyweights: the ambitious Finding Messiah, the highly awaited conclusion King of Boys: Beginning of the End, and the suspenseful return of Blood Sisters. If the first half of 2025 is any indication, Nollywood is ready to deliver an unforgettable finale to 2025.
Related: Why Loose Cannon Matters: Telling Untold Stories of Biafra’s Aftermath
