• The 10 Best Nollywood Movies to Watch on Netflix (April 2026)

    There’s something here for every kind of viewer.

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    Between the algorithm throwing random 2019 titles at you and your X mutuals hyping movies that turn out to be mid, finding something actually worth your two hours on Netflix can feel like a whole job. So I did the work for you.

    Whether you’re in the mood for an ancient kingdom warrior stealing from the rich, a wedding day that turns into a full-blown kidnapping nightmare, or a billionaire who fakes her death to test her family’s loyalty, there’s something here for every kind of viewer. These are the best ten Nollywood movies on Netflix that deserve your attention this month

    10. The Rise of Igbinogun (2021)

    Running time: 1h 52m

    Director: Ideh Chukwuma “Onesoul” Innocent

    Genre: Epic

    If you’ve ever fantasised about a Nollywood Robin Hood, but make it epic and a woman unhinged with a sword, then you have Igbinogun (Damilare Kuku). Trained by her father, Ogbu (Enyinna Nwigwe), she leads a ragtag gang of thieves on a mission to rob the rich blind and hand the proceeds to the poor. But things go sideways when she defeats the entire palace guard and challenges the Prince (Blossom Chukwujekwu), who is so shattered by the loss that he unalives himself.

    Now the kingdom is in complete chaos, and Igbinogun, who really just wanted to redistribute wealth, has to step up and lead her entire village.

    Watch Igbinogun on Netflix.

    9. Ile Owo (2022)

    Running time: 1h 35m

    Director: Dare Olaitan

    Genre: Drama, Romance, Thriller

    Busola (Immaculata Oko-Kasum) has the worst luck with men. Like, historically terrible. So when she finally meets Tunji Owo (Efa Iwara), a fine, attentive billionaire who sends flowers, gifts her jewellery, and takes her on dreamy dinner dates, she thinks God has finally logged into her account. But trouble is lurking at the corner.

    Tunji’s wealthy family, led by his parents (Akin Lewis and Tina Mba), is hiding a generational secret darker than anything Busola could have imagined: a centuries-old pact that demands the sacrifice of an innocent young bride to the spirit of Sagbadewe every twenty-five years. The deeper Busola goes into this family, the more she realises her fairy-tale romance is actually a well-set trap.

    Watch Ile Owo on Netflix.


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    8. Up North (2018)

    Running time: 1h 40m

    Director: Tope Oshin

    Genre: Comedy, Drama

    Bassey Otuekong (Banky Wellington) is a spoiled, Instagram-obsessed heir freshly back from abroad with zero interest in his father’s construction empire. His father, Chief Otuekong (Kanayo O. Kanayo), has had it up to here. When Bassey refuses an arranged marriage that would seal a business merger with Otunba Adetola (Akin Lewis), Daddy Dearest ships him off to Bauchi for NYSC as punishment.

    But Bauchi isn’t the punishment Bassey expected. He makes a ride-or-die friend in Sadiq (Ibrahim Suleiman), who steals nearly every scene he’s in with infectious energy and comedic timing. He catches feelings for Mariam (Rahama Sadau), a local teacher who first rescues him from a cultural misunderstanding that nearly got ugly. He also discovers a passion for coaching local girls in sports.

    Watch Up North on Netflix.

    7. Devil Is A Liar (2024)

    Running time: 1h 39m

    Director: Moses Inwang

    Genre: Drama, Romance

    Adaora (Nse Ikpe-Etim) is a successful real estate mogul and boss lady. The only problem? She’s the oldest of three sisters: Beatrice (Padita Agu) is married, Cheta (Nancy Isime) is having her introduction, and Adaora is still single, which means the family commentary is relentless. She meets Jaiye (James Gardiner), a young, fine, smooth-talking stylist.

    Jaiye’s true colours emerge quickly. He’s controlling, manipulative and working an elaborate scheme with his partner-in-crime, Anna (Erica Nlewedim). He demands Adaora terminate her pregnancy, strips her of her assets, fakes his own death and sends her to prison. When Adaora finally gets out and crosses paths with Jaiye, living his best life with a new family, the revenge arc kicks in.

    Watch Devil Is A Liar on Netflix.

    6. A Lot Like Love (2023)

    Running time: 1h 35m

    Director: Shitty Taiwo

    Genre: Romance, Thriller

    Fanna (Rahama Sadau) is the pampered daughter of a mogul, married to Abdul (Ibrahim Suleiman), a man from humble beginnings who makes up for his lack of pedigree with an overwhelming love for his wife. Their life together looks picture-perfect. They plan a romantic anniversary getaway to keep the spark alive. But on their way to the trip, Abdul gets kidnapped, and suddenly Fanna’s fairytale crumbles into a nightmare that forces her to question everything she thought she knew.

    Watch A Lot Like Love on Netflix.


    READ NEXT: The Best Nollywood Movies to Watch on YouTube (April 2026)


    5. Mati a Zazzau (2022)

    Running time: 1h 51m

    Director: Yaseen Auwal

    Genre: Drama

    Mati a Zazzau is the first Kannywood film to ever land on Netflix. That alone makes it historic, but the movie itself is a proper ride. Mati (Sadiq Sani Sadiq) is a cunning trickster who flees the village of Rimau after duping basically everyone he could find. He lands in the Kingdom of Zazzau, where he discovers that his late father, Alhaji Mudi Rimau, left behind a massive fortune buried somewhere.

    Naturally, Mati wants that money. But he’s not the only one. The village head and several other interested parties also have their eyes on the treasure, and they’re willing to play just as dirty.

    Watch Mati a Zazzau on Netflix.

    4. Thinline (2024)

    Running time: 1h 55m

    Director: Akay Mason

    Genre: Drama

    Pastor Raymond Njoku (Uzor Arukwe) is the kind of preacher everyone loves. He’s spirit-filled sermons, gives practical marriage teachings, has a devoted wife in Damilola (Mercy Aigbe) and a congregation that hangs on his every word. Then he runs into Annie Coker (Uche Montana), a bold, seductive sex worker with a kleptomaniac streak, during a conference trip.

    What starts as a chance encounter quickly turns into something much darker. Annie, sensing an opportunity, blackmails Raymond, threatening to expose him and destroy everything he’s built, from his ministry to his marriage and entire reputation. Then Annie turns up dead. Now, we have a full-blown whodunit.

    Watch Thinline on Netflix.

    3. The Herd (2025)

    Running time: 

    Director: Daniel Etim-Effiong 

    Genre: Drama, Thriller

    Daniel Etim-Effiong’s directorial debut follows Gosi (played by Effiong himself), a man privately dealing with his wife Adama’s (Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman) recurring cancer scare, as he travels to Ekiti for his best friend Fola’s (Kunle Remi) wedding to Derin (Genoveva Umeh). The celebration is beautiful. It’s all nice and great.

    Then everything shatters on the drive to the hotel when their convoy is ambushed by armed gunmen disguised as cattle herdsmen. Fola is killed. Gosi and Derin, along with other motorists, are dragged into the bush. The kidnappers demand fifty million naira. This movie is a mirror held up to Nigeria’s insecurity crisis.

    Watch The Herd on Netflix.


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    2. Son of the Soil (2025)

    Running time: 1h 46m

    Director: Chee Keong Cheung

    Genre: Action, Thriller

    Zion Ladejo (Razaaq Adoti) is a dishonourably discharged Nigerian Special Ops soldier who returns to Lagos from the US after his sister’s tragic death. Haunted by his past and consumed by grief, Zion embarks on a violent one-man mission to find and destroy the criminal network responsible.

    What follows is bone-crunching fights, chaotic keke chases through Lagos markets, and one wild scene where Zion stumbles out of an ICU in a backless hospital gown and fights his way through the city.

    Watch Son of the Soil on Netflix.

    1. Behind the Scenes (2025)

    Running time: 2h 23m

    Directors: Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye

    Genre: Drama

    Funke Akindele doesn’t miss at the box office. Behind the Scenes, which made over 2.7 billion naira to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, is proof that she understands her audience to the T. This movie tells the story of Aderonke “Ronky-feller” Faniran (Scarlet Gomez), a wealthy and generous real estate mogul who pours into everyone around her without ever asking for anything in return.

    Her older sister Adetutu (Funke Akindele) is entitled and scheming. Her younger brother Adewale (Tobi Bakre) is the spoiled lastborn who always has his hand out. The people she calls friends? Loyalty isn’t their strongest suit. When Ronke reaches her breaking point, she hatches an elaborate plan to fake her own death, to see who truly has her back when the money and favours stop flowing. The results are devastating.

    Watch Behind the Scenes on Netflix.


    ALSO READ: Female Nollywood Characters You Had a Crush on Growing Up


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