We are still in the early days of 2026. Optimism is high, and we are all eager to make moves that ensure we get the best out of the new year. Even if 2025 was a great year for you, there’s always room for improvement..
From career pivots to self-growth, we have curated a list of 10 Nollywood movies with timeless lessons to guide you through your journey of reinvention this year.
1. Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story (2023)
Running time: 2h 5m
Director: Kayode Kasum
Genre: Drama
After the sudden death of his friend and former fellow nwa boi Paul (Alex Ekubo), Afamefuna (Stan Nze) is thrust into a police investigation as the prime suspect.
In a world obsessed with overnight success, this movie serves as a solemn reminder that playing the long game pays off. By showcasing the intricacies of the Igbo apprenticeship system (Igba Boi), the story contrasts two paths: Afamefuna’s diligence and hard work are rewarded, while Paul’s desperate desire for fast money leads to his ruin.
2. Lionheart (2018)
Director: Genevieve Nnaji
Genre: Drama
Running time: 1h 35m
Adaeze (Genevieve Nnaji) has spent her whole life proving herself in her father’s company, only to watch him hand control to her uncle (Nkem Owoh) when illness slows him down. What do you do when the path to what you thought was yours gets blocked? How do you fight for what you feel you’ve earned without losing yourself in the process?
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to step up, Lionheart will remind you that your competence has always been enough. Sometimes, the detour is actually the path to where you belong.
3. The Arbitration (2016)
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
Genre: Drama
Running time: 1h 40m
This corporate drama follows Gbenga (OC Ukeje), a tech CEO, and Dara (Adesua Etomi-Wellington), his former employee and lover, as they face off in an arbitration panel after she accuses him of rape. What follows is a messy dissection of their relationship and business dealings.
There is a particular scene where Gbenga loses his temper during cross examination as Dara sits calmly in the courtroom. It is an important lesson to leave your emotions at the door. When you are confident in your truth, you don’t need to scream to be heard.
Watch The Arbitration on Netflix.
4. Sista (2023)
Director: Biodun Stephen
Genre: Drama
Running time: 1h 36m
A struggling single mother (Kehinde Bankole) works tirelessly to raise her two children after being abandoned by their father. Through sheer grit, she builds a life for them, only for the father to resurface years later, demanding a place in their lives.
If you have dealt with an ex who tries to minimize your value, you will understand exactly how Sista felt. This movie will fire you up to demand the respect you deserve.
5. Farmer’s Bride (2024)
Director: Adebayo Tijani
Genre: Period Drama
Running time: 1h 52m
Set in 1980s Ibadan, a wealthy farmer (Femi Branch) marries a young, unwilling bride (Gbubemi Ejeye). Funmi’s heart is not in the marriage, leading her to become unhappy and resentful. She then begins a secret affair with Odun’s nephew, Femi, which leads to tragic consequences for everyone involved.
Farmer’s Bride is a perfect example of how keeping mute about the things you want, and bottling your feelings might hurt you in the end. Whether it is a relationship or a job, suppressing your feelings to make others comfortable is a ticking time bomb.
Watch Farmer’s Bride on Netflix.
6. A Tribe Called Judah (2023)
Director: Funke Akindele
Genre: Drama
Running time: 2h 14m
A chronically ill single mother and her five sons struggle to make ends meet. When her health deteriorates further, her sons devise a high risk plan to rob a mall to pay for her medical bills. But while there, they run into a professional armed robbery gang at the same location.
While the brothers are completely different people, they still find a way to work together. This is because they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. 2026 is absolutely not the year to be a lone wolf. Look at your circle. Do they have your back like the Judah boys? Let the answer guide you.
Watch A Tribe Called Judah on Prime Video.
7. Breath of Life (2023)
Director: BB Sasore
Genre: Faith based Drama
Running time: 1h 53m
Timi (Wale Ojo), shuts himself away from the world after a tragic loss. This self imposed exile is brought to an end after he comes in contact with Elijah, his bright eyed housekeeper.
Through Elijah’s friendship, Timi learns to engage with the world again. It shows that you are never too old or too broken to start over. It is especially powerful in times where life feels like it is no longer worth it. Breath of Life is your wake up call to care again.
Watch Breath of Life on Prime Video.
8. A Simple Lie (2022)
Director: Biodun Stephen
Genre: Romantic comedy
Running time: 1h 30m
When Boma tries to win back her ex by telling him that she has cancer, her simple lie soon spirals out of control.
You will love A Simple Lie because it perfectly captures the downside of keeping up false appearances, or being who people expect you to be. This might be the push you need to stop spending all your energy pretending to be who you are not.
Watch A Simple Lie on Netflix.
9. Anikulapo (2022)
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Genre: Epic fantasy
Running time: 2h 22m
Saro (Kunle Remi), a weaver, gains the power to raise the dead, but is completely corrupted by his newfound abilities. His arrogance and entitlement ultimately lead to his downfall.
While the story is folklore, the lesson is still relevant; Unchecked ego will ruin you. The movie shows that treating people like stepping stones only leads to your own undoing. The life you want in 2026 cannot be built by stepping over people and treating them like trash.
10. Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story (2020)
Director: Ramsey Noah
Genre: Drama
Running time: 2h 15m
After young Ahanna (Stan Nze) witnesses a street mob lynch a thief, and his father tells him only poor people suffer such public humiliation, it solidifies his determination to seek a better life. This leads to him creating a criminal gang called the Armadas, pulling off a series of successful heists.
The film works because it doesn’t glorify or over-moralise Ahanna’s choices; it simply shows how each decision leads logically to the next. Rattlesnake is a story about growth but it is also about not being afraid to be the villain in your own story, if necessary. Your reinvention can simply be accepting that you don’t always have to be the good guy.
Watch Rattlesnake:The Ahanna story on Netflix.
