With the rise of streaming platforms and Nollywood’s booming YouTube scene, audiences have been spoiled with a wide variety of TV series to binge. But let’s be honest — not every show can keep you glued to the screen from start to finish or be worth sacrificing your evening (and your sleep schedule) for.
That’s why we’ve done the heavy lifting and rounded up the Nollywood series that had us hooked right from the very first episode.
Whether you’re in the mood for action, thrillers, office romance, or family drama, there’s something here for you.
Here are the top 10 Nollywood series that had us hooked from Episode 1.
1. To Kill a Monkey
Seasons: 1
Producer: Kemi Adetiba for Netflix
To Kill a Monkey follows Efemini, a young husband and father struggling under the weight of economic decline. Unable to make ends meet, he reconnects with Oboz, the leader of a gang of cybercriminals, who introduces him to the lucrative but dangerous world of online fraud.
Soon, Efemini and his family are living in abundance. But as is often the case, the good life comes with a price. His newfound wealth sets him on a collision course with danger, forcing him to search desperately for a way out before his choices put his entire family at risk.
With this Netflix original, Kemi Adetiba delivers a gripping reminder of how far society has drifted from the dignity of honest work—showing us that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Watch To Kill a Monkey on Netflix.
2. Smart Money Woman
Seasons: 2
Producers: Arese Ugwu
Smart Money Woman is based on Arese Ugwu’s bestselling book of the same name. It follows Zuri (played by Osas Ighodaro), a stylish, successful-looking Lagos woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself broke and in debt. From the very first episode, we’re thrown into the whirlwind of Zuri’s crumbling finances, relationship drama, and the pressure to keep up appearances in a city obsessed with status.
As Zuri navigates her personal crisis, her tight-knit group of friends—each battling their own money and life challenges—rally around her. The show’s mix of glamour, relatable mistakes, and laugh-out-loud moments makes it instantly binge-worthy.
At its heart, Smart Money Woman is a fresh, entertaining guide to financial literacy, friendship, and self-discovery, proving that the road to getting your life together can be messy, hilarious, and deeply inspiring.
Watch Smart Money Woman on YouTube.
3. Skinny Girl in Transit
Seasons: 7
Producers: Abimbola Craig for NdaniTV
First hitting YouTube in 2015, Skinny Girl in Transit has become one of Nollywood’s most beloved web series. It follows Tiwa (Abimbola Craig), a plus-size Lagos radio personality whose mother is on a relentless mission to see her married. From Episode 1, viewers are hooked by the hilarious—and sometimes painfully real—family drama, awkward dating encounters, and Tiwa’s personal battle with self-confidence and weight loss.
What starts as a comedic take on Nigerian family and dating culture grows into a heartfelt journey of self-love, career growth, and unexpected romance. Alongside Tiwa’s sharp-witted sister Shalewa (Sharon Ooja-Nwoye) and a cast of colourful characters, every episode delivers both laughter and feels.
Watch Skinny Girl in Transit on YouTube.
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4. Seven Doors
Seasons: 1
Producers: Femi Adebayo for Netflix
Released on Netflix in December 2024, Seven Doors is a royal drama set in late 20th-century Nigeria. It opens with a haunting image—seven women plunging to their deaths from a waterfall under a mysterious spell—a scene so gripping it’s impossible to look away.
The story follows Adedunjoye (played by Femi Adebayo), a reluctant city man forced into kingship. Soon after taking the throne, he learns his reign is cursed unless he opens the “seven doors,” a mystical quest tied to his family’s past. The tension between his love, his duty, and the kingdom’s survival drives the drama from the very first episode.
With its lush period setting, cultural depth, and themes of tradition, leadership, and redemption, Seven Doors combines mystery, romance, and mysticism into a binge-worthy series.
5. Baby Farm
Seasons: 1
Producer: Mo Abudu for Netflix
Premiering on Netflix this March, Baby Farm follows Adanna (Onyinye Odokoro), a pregnant young woman who turns to an NGO for help—only to find herself trapped in a brutal baby trafficking ring.
From its opening minutes, the show delivers an emotional gut punch: Adanna’s hope quickly turns to horror as the “Evans Foundation” reveals its true nature. What follows is a tense, gripping fight for survival, solidarity, and justice.
Directed by Kayode Kasum and Walter Taylaur, with creative input from Mo Abudu, the series features standout performances from Onyinye Odokoro, Rita Dominic, Genoveva Umeh, and Langley Kirkwood.
6. Cheta’m
Seasons: 2
Producers: Africa Magic & Showmax
Cheta’m is an epic drama steeped in love, betrayal, and the clash between destiny and free will. The opening episode wastes no time pulling viewers into the tangled lives of Nnanna and Adanna, star-crossed lovers whose relationship is threatened by deep-seated family rivalries and the invisible hand of spiritual forces.
From the start, the stakes are high—sacred traditions, political ambition, and forbidden romance collide in a way that keeps you guessing who to trust. The series blends contemporary Nigerian storytelling with the grandeur of a period epic, featuring lavish costumes, authentic cultural rituals, and high emotional drama.
At its heart, Cheta’m is a sweeping tale about love tested by fate, proving that some stories grip you from the very first scene and refuse to let go.
7. Wura
Seasons: 3
Producers: Rogers Ofime for Showmax
Debuting in 2023, Wura has been called Nigeria’s first telenovela-style daily drama—and from Episode 1, it’s clear why viewers can’t get enough. The series introduces Wura Amoo-Adeleke (Scarlet Gomez), a charming yet ruthless CEO of Frontline Gold Mine. On the surface, she’s a loving wife and mother; behind closed doors, she will stop at nothing to protect her empire.
The first episode wastes no time revealing Wura’s dual nature, setting up a world of lies, ambition, and high-stakes business moves. The tension between her polished public image and her cold-blooded private dealings creates an addictive push-and-pull that keeps you watching.
Packed with family drama, corporate intrigue, and jaw-dropping twists, Wura proves that when power is on the line, nothing—and no one—is off limits.
8. Far From Home
Seasons: 1
Producers: Chinaza Onuzo and Dami Elebe
Released in 2022, Far From Home follows Ishaya Bello (played by Mike Afolarin), a talented and ambitious teenager with big dreams of becoming a successful artist. When he hears about Wilmer Academy—a prestigious school for the wealthy offering a chance to study at the London Art Institute—he makes a desperate move. Ishaya steals from the wrong person to fund his way in.
But getting into the school is only the beginning. To keep up appearances and meet the demands of his new life, Ishaya soon finds himself caught in the dangerous world of drug dealing.
The series boldly explores Nigeria’s class divide, shedding light on the harsh realities and impossible choices faced by students from low-income backgrounds trying to break into elite spaces.
Watch Far From Home on Netflix.
9. Little Black Book
Seasons: 2
Producer: Olawale Adetula for The Naked Convos
Tade returns to Nigeria and begins working with Leo, a charming but reckless entrepreneur struggling to keep his business afloat. Determined to keep things strictly professional, Tade finds herself increasingly drawn to Leo’s bad-boy charm.
As their chemistry grows, the line between business and pleasure blurs. But when Leo’s ex-girlfriend resurfaces, Tade is forced to question her place in his life — and whether pursuing love with her unpredictable boss is worth risking the job she desperately needs.
Watch Little Black Book on YouTube.
10. Shanty Town
Seasons: 1
Producers: Chineye Chichi Nworah for Netflix
After the death of her long-lost twin sister, Idong (Ini Edo) infiltrates Shanty Town, a corrupt fiefdom ruled by the brutal crime lord Scar (Chidi Mokeme). Determined to uncover the truth, she investigates the events that led to her sister’s death and the workings of the underground crime ring.
Her search soon reveals that the rot runs far deeper than the streets of Shanty Town, reaching the very top of Lagos politics.
With gripping performances and unflinching storytelling, Shanty Town exposes the dark underbelly of Lagos—where power, greed, and survival collide.
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