A good movie is more than just good stories or big moments; it’s about performances that feel real. The kind where the actors’ names don’t matter and all the viewers see are the characters. In the spirit of thespian excellence, I curated a list of 15 Nollywood movies that contain exceptional performances.
15. Muri & Ko (2024)
Running time: 1h 43m
Director: Biodun Stephen
Genre: Comedy, Thriller
Muri (Kunle Remi), a petty thief and debtor, steals a car and doesn’t realise that he has kidnapped a boy named Cole (Fiyinfolu Asenuga). In the middle of the state-wide search for Cole, a tender bond forms between both of them.
These two characters carry the whole movie with inviting comedy and layered vulnerability. Kunle Remi’s performance grounds Muri’s anxiety and desperation in a bad economic state. Cole, on the other hand, stays assured, surprisingly and rarely sentimental. Their chemistry and strong acting sustain the movie.
Watch Muri & Ko on Prime Video.
14. Man of God (2022)
Running time: 1h 51m
Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Genre: Drama
This movie tells the story of Samuel (Akah Nnani), the son of a strict pastor who rejects his father’s rigid faith to chase worldly success. As he rises financially and morally drifts from how he was raised, the movie tracks his internal collapse and reckoning.
Akah Nnani, in his role as a pastor, captures the agonising conflict of a man who wants to be good but loves the world too much. Supporting acts by Osas Ighodaro (Teju) and Dorcas Shola-Fapson (Rekya) provide the needed mirrors for Samuel’s descent. It’s rooted in church culture and ambition, and it interrogates prosperity gospel and generational conflict.
13. Gangs of Lagos (2023)
Running time: 2h 4m
Director: Jadesola Osiberu
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Set in Isale Eko, this crime thriller follows Obalola (Tobi Bakre), Gift (Chike), and Ify (Adesua Etomi-Wellington), three childhood friends navigating thuggery and violent patronage systems in a crime world. Tobi Bakre delivers a breakout performance, portraying Obalola’s transformation from hopeful youth to hardened enforcer, marked by internal conflict. Chike brings a strong emotion to Gift (AKA Pana), while Adesua injects steel into Ify’s arc. Their acting elevates the movie by humanising characters shaped by systemic violence.
Watch Gangs of Lagos on Prime Video.
12. Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman (2022)
Running time: 1h 36m
Director: Biyi Bandele
Genre: Drama
Based on Wole Soyinka’s classic play, this movie focuses on Elesin Oba (Odunlade Adekola), the King’s horseman, who must commit ritual suicide to accompany his deceased King to the afterlife. However, an intervention by the British colonial officers triggers a catastrophic series of events that threatens the kingdom’s balance.
In this epic, Odunlade Adekola reminds us why he is a Yoruba movie legend. He brings a theatrical presence to his role that demands both arrogance and despair. Shaffy Bello (Iyaloja) also delivers a great performance, serving as the movie’s moral compass.
Watch Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman on Netflix.
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11. Breath of Life (2023)
Running time: 1h 54m
Director: BB Sasore
Genre: Drama
Timi (Wale Ojo) is a man who has everything: faith, family and a bright future, until a tragic encounter with a violent gang leader strips him of his joy. Decades later, a young, optimistic Elijah (Chimezie Imo) enters his life as a houseboy, slowly chipping away at Timi’s stony heart and teaching him how to live again.
Wale Ojo (Timi) portraying the transition from a happy young man (Ademola Adedoyin) to a cynical and suicidal hermit is a captivating character development and performance, though heartbreaking to watch. Chimezie Imo (Elijah) is the anchor that brings light to the screen and makes their grumpy-meets-sunshine dynamic work beautifully. Genovevah Umeh’s role as Anna is brilliant too. Some of the best Nollywood performances of the 2020s are here.
Watch Breath of Life on Prime Video.
10. Lionheart (2018)
Running time: 1h 35m
Director: Genevieve Nnaji
Genre: Drama
When her father (Pete Edochie) falls ill, Adaeze (Genevieve Nnaji) steps up to run the family’s transport business. However, in a male-dominated industry, she must work alongside her uncle, Godswill (Nkem Owoh), to save the company from bankruptcy and prove her worth.
Genevieve Nnaji (Adaeze) delivers a masterclass performance in this movie, with dialogues and expressions that convey a woman’s determination and strength. Nkem Owoh (Godswill) balances his signature comedic flair with a protective attitude that will remind you of one of your uncles. Together, along with a supporting cast that all bring their A-game, they make Lionheart a heartwarming family drama.
9. The Black Book (2023)
Running time: 2h 4m
Director: Editi Effiong
Genre: Action, Thriller
Paul Edima (Richard Mofe-Damijo) is a man who has spent years hiding his dark past as a formidable hitman and living the life of a devoted deacon. But when his only son, Damilola (Olumide Oworu), is framed for a high-profile kidnapping and murdered by a corrupt police unit, Paul realises that turning the other cheek won’t bring justice. He is forced to dust off his old skills and go on a scorched-earth mission to retrieve “The Black Book”, a ledger that contains the secrets of Nigeria’s shadow government, to clear his son’s name and take down his former boss.
RMD displays a father’s grief and the cold precision of a killer with such conviction that you’ll wonder if he’s the same person so popular for being a romantic lead. The chilling, old-school villainy of Alex Usifo (General Issa) also elevates the movie.
Watch The Black Book on Netflix.
8. Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story (2020)
Running time: 2h 25m
Director: Ramsey Noauh
Genre: Action, Thriller
After witnessing his father’s downfall and his family’s collapse, Ahanna (Stan Nze) assembles “The Armadas,” a high-tech heist crew. As they pull off daring robberies, Ahanna finds himself trapped in a life of crime, betrayal and the realisation that the past he’s running from is exactly what’s driving him to ruin.
He brings a “leading man” charisma and criminal flair with a soul slowly rotting from the inside. He’s supported by Bucci Franklin (Nze) and Osas Ighodaro (Amara), who create a high-stakes world where the glamour is just a thin veil for their collective trauma.
Watch Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story on Netflix.
READ NEXT: 10 of the Greatest Nollywood Actresses Ranked by Range
7. Sistà (2022)
Running time: 1h 34m
Director: Biodun Stephen
Genre: Drama
Sistà (Kehinde Bankole) is a hardworking single mother who sacrifices everything to raise her two children after their father (Deyemi Okanlawon) abandoned them years ago. When he suddenly reappears in their lives as a wealthy, successful man wanting a relationship with his kids, Sistà must confront her past and fight for the family she built from nothing.
Kehinde Bankole (Sistà) gives what many consider the best performance of her career. She captures the righteous fury, exhaustion and the fierce love of a woman who has been pushed to the edge. The tension between her and Deyemi Okanlawon (Fola) is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
6. Fine Wine (2011)
Running time: 1h 38m
Director: Seyi Babatope
Genre: Romance
George (Richard Mofe-Damijo) is a wealthy, divorced man in his fifties who unexpectedly falls for Teni (Ego Nwosu), a young woman who is just starting her life. As they navigate the societal judgment of their age gap and George’s own insecurities, the movie explores whether love gets better with time or if the gap is too wide to bridge.
Richard Mofe-Damijo (George) is the silver fox who brings a soft charm to a role that could have easily felt predatory in lesser hands. Ego Nwosu (Teni) holds her own against the veteran. Their romance feels believable.
5. Ijé: The Journey (2010)
Running time: 1h 43m
Director: Chinese Anyaene
Genre: Drama
When Anya (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde) is accused of murdering her husband in Los Angeles, her sister Chioma (Genevieve Nnaji) travels from Nigeria to help prove her innocence. As the trial unfolds, secrets from their childhood in Nigeria surface.
This is the legendary pairing of two of Nollywood’s biggest titans. Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde deliver performances that are both contrasting and complementary. Omotola’s role as a woman falling apart, while Genevieve remains steady and provides the movie’s emotional support.
Ijé: The Journey is streaming on Netflix but is unavailable in Nigeria.
4. The Trade (2023)
Running time: 2h 8m
Director: Jadesola Osiberu
Genre: Crime, Drama
Inspired by true events, the movie tells the story of Eric (Blossom Chukwujekwu), a notorious and elusive kidnapper who has terrorised the country for years. On his trail is a dedicated police officer (Ali Nuhu) who is determined to bring him down. This is a game of cat-and-mouse.
The Trade quickly gets your attention.Blossom Chukwujekwu (Eric) is chillingly good as a loving family man at home and a cold-blooded monster in the field. He avoids the cartoon villain trope by making The character’s intelligence and ruthlessness feel terrifyingly real. The supporting cast, such as Nse Ikpe-Etim and Chioma Akpotha, brought their A-game too.
Watch The Trade on Prime Video
3. Saworoide (1999)
Running time: 1h 45m
Director: Tunde Kelani
Genre: Drama, Politics
In the ancient town of Jogbo, a corrupt king, Lapite (Kola Oyewo), ascends the throne and refuses to undergo the traditional rites meant to bind him to his people. As he siphons the town’s resources and suppresses dissent, a group of traditionalist youths use the “Saworoide” (a brass bell drum) to spark a revolution and restore justice.
Kola Oyewo is the typical corrupt leader, while actors like Lere Paimo (Balogun) give performances worthy of his status. Kunle Afolayan (Aresejabata) gives an early glimpse of the star he would become. The whole acting is rooted in Yoruba oral tradition
2. Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story (2023)
Running time: 2h 2m
Director: Kayode Kasum
Genre: Drama
Set against the backdrop of the Igbo Apprenticeship System (Igba-Boi), this movie follows Áfàméfùnà (Stan Nze), a successful businessman, as he is interrogated after his friend and former colleague is found dead. Through flashbacks, we see the journey of loyalty, betrayal and the making of a man in the competitive world of commerce.
Stan Nze (Áfàméfùnà) and Alexx Ekubo (Paulo) create a fascinating dynamic of friendship turned sour. The movie captures the specific nuance of Igbo culture and the grit required to survive the apprenticeship system.
Watch Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story on Netflix.
1. With Difficulty Comes Ease (2024)
Running time: 1h 48m
Director: Korede Azeez
Genre: Drama
Zainab (Uzoamaka Power), a young woman living in Northern Nigeria, deals with the sudden loss of her husband and the traditional expectations placed upon widows. As she navigates her grief and the pressures of her family, she finds an unexpected connection that challenges her to find her own strength and create a new future for herself.
Uzoamaka Power continues to be a revelation, delivering a fantastic performance that shows the suffocating nature of grief. This drama relies entirely on her strength to carry the weight of resilience and courage in the face of despair.
Watch With Difficulty Comes Ease on Prime Video.
