Nollywood became famous for producing feature-length films. But in the past few years, young Nigerian filmmakers have been producing short films that equally pack a punch and keep viewers entertained.
No other platform is a perfect destination to watch these short films like YouTube, where a treasure trove of top-notch productions and stories that resonate with everybody sits.
These ten picks cover all the bases, from laugh-out-loud church satire to hard-hitting dramas.
Here are the best Nigerian short films to watch on YouTube:
1. Something Sweet (2025)
Running time: 29mins
Director: Dika Ofoma
Genre: Romance
Since its inception, Zikoko Magazine has been known for telling human-centred stories. Now, those stories are coming to life as part of a new anthology of short films produced by the magazine called Zikoko Life. Something Sweet, one of the shorts, explores an unconventional romance.
Directed by Dika Ofoma, one of Nollywood’s most promising realist filmmakers, the story follows Ziora (Michelle Dede), a successful woman in her 40s who finds herself drawn to a younger man, Leke (Ogranya), challenging ageist double standards.
The film gives insights into how social judgment and age affect romantic choices, particularly for women. Through brilliant storytelling and stellar performance, Something Sweet reframes what intimacy can look like for older women, offering a thoughtful perspective to mainstream love stories.
2. Dices (2021)
Running time: 14mins
Director: Sandra Tetteh
Genre: Drama
While the title may give off a vibe that the movie is about a board game, this intense drama shines light on the stories of male survivors of sexual abuse, a rare territory for Nollywood.
Daniel Etim-Effiong stars as David, a young man grappling with trauma. As a child who was abused, the trauma still shows up in his adulthood and some of the decisions he’s made.
The story blurs time and space to reflect how memory and trauma continue to affect people even long after the initial cause. The sound design and acting create a sensory experience that puts you inside his mind. Dices is a bold, moving, and important story. It does a great job of pushing conversations on masculinity and emotional healing.
3. The Verdict (2024)
Running time: 10mins
Director: Stanley Ohikhuare
Genre: Drama
The Verdict is a powerful drama based on true events. The movie reenacts the case of Laveena Johnson, a 19-year-old Nigerian-American in the US Army. Laveena died under suspicious circumstances that the military labelled a suicide.
With actress Zainab Balogun leading the charge, The Verdict exposes the injustice as supporters fight for the truth. It’s a gripping, emotional short (under 20 minutes) that will keep you on edge. You’ll watch it for the strong storytelling and to see how real-world issues are tackled in short-film form.
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4. My Body, God’s Temple (2025)
Running time: 36mins
Director: Uzoamaka Power
Genre: Romance
Another short film from the Zikoko Life anthology, My Body, God’s Temple, follows a married couple, Omasilu (Uzoamaka Power) and Zion (Andrew Yaw Bunting), who struggle with sexual intimacy.
As a christian, Omasilu prays about everything, so when she gets married and begins to struggle with vaginismus, she takes it to God. But she soon realises the answers to her problems might lie in a library instead.
Directed by Power, this short tackles the ways in which years of consuming purity culture can come to hunt women and for some, for life. But where the film truly succeeds is in reinforcing that even in marriage — that especially in marriage — only a few things are as sexy as consent.
ALSO READ: The 10 Best Nollywood Movies That Capture The Essence of Lagos
5. Ijo (2022)
Running time: 14m 53s
Director: Fatima Binta Gimsay
Genre: Drama
In Ijo, a young man coping with heartbreak finds unexpected solace in dance. The film follows his emotional release through movement, as he confronts and processes the pain and betrayal from his relationship.
Featuring Genoveva Umeh and Charles Etubiebi, Ijo presents a vulnerable depiction of men in an industry that has only depicted men as straightjacket providers. The movie is fresh and soulful.
6. Widow’s Mite (2022)
Running time: 11m
Director: Ese Ariremu
Genre: Tragedy
A dark social drama set just after the #EndSARS protests, Widow’s Mite follows Obiageli, a widow accused of murdering her husband. In a shocking turn, her in-laws subject her to rituals that are supposed to prove she, in fact, is not responsible for his death.
Years after the world began to pay attention to the plight of women who lose their husbands in many Nigerian societies, very little has changed. Widow’s Mite yet again invites us to have compassion, especially for grieving wives.
7. Fishbone (2020)
Running time: 33m
Director: Editi Effiong
Genre: Thriller
A gritty thriller set in the slums of Makoko, Fishbone follows Mama T (Shaffy Bello), a ruthless drug baroness who sells counterfeit medicine for profit. The film uses stunning drone shots and moody lighting to contrast the wealthy and the oppressed.
It’s fast-paced and violent, revealing how the poor are exploited. If you’re into action and social commentary, Fishbone is sure to keep you glued to your screens.
8. What’s Left Of Us (2025)
Running time: 27m
Director: Olamide Adio and Victor Daniel
Genre: Drama
There are only a few productions from Nollywood that have captured the nuances of modern Nigerian marriage, the lies religion tells women and the decisions they have to make to survive with such truthfulness.
Also from Zikoko Life, in What’s left of Us, Mariam (Tolu Asanu) and Aliu (Caleb Richards) are married. They had both agreed to have a big family, but when reality set in, Mariam began to reconsider a decision she made when she was too young to understand its real-life application.
Olamide Adio and Victor Daniel offer a raw and deeply vexing story. How can women have so few choices? Yet every day, this is what we offer women as choice.
9. Oga John (2019)
Running time: 10m
Director: Tolu Ajayi
Genre: Drama
Oga John is a tense mental-health drama in just 10 minutes. Here, Alero (Ade Laoye) quietly shops for rat poison, a chilling hint she’s planning suicide. The scene plays out with almost no dialogue, just a lonely shop and a blaring radio. Oga John (the shopkeeper) notices her despair and tries to help.
The film sets out to increase awareness about mental health issues in Nigeria, with superb show-don’t-tell filmmaking. By the end, viewers get a stark look at OCD and depression in Lagos.
This film is worth watching because it packs a powerful message with very few scenes and tense shots that hit hard, a rare Nollywood piece on mental illness.
10. Bariga Sugar (2017)
Running time: 21m
Director: Ifeoma Chukwuogo
Genre: Drama
A heartfelt story of innocence and hope. This 21-minute film follows Ese, an 8-year-old girl growing up in a Lagos brothel, who befriends Jamil, a 10-year-old boy in the brothel next door. Their sweet friendship brings joy into their hard lives – Jamil dreams of being a doctor, and Ese whimsically wants to be “queen of Bariga Sugar.”
The movie beautifully contrasts the characters’ innocence with the grim reality around them. It’s touching and optimistic, reminding us “of the beauty that can emerge even in the most challenging circumstances.” It’s a perfect emotional watch for viewers who value stories of resilience.
