What does Nollywood look like when seen through the eyes of its most devoted watchers? In this conversation, we sit with three die-hard Nollyphiles whose watch time in 2025 borders on professional research. Each has seen well over a hundred Nollywood films in 2025 alone, and they’re coming with unfiltered takes.
From the actors and actresses who stole their hearts (and screens) to the films they couldn’t stop thinking about to the phrases and inside jokes Nollywood gifted us, they break down what 2025 truly meant for the industry—beyond box office numbers and press headlines.
When did you realise you loved Nollywood movies so much?
Anjola: I’ve always been a fan. It’s always been like this for me. Nothing really changed or there was no realisation or anything like that. I’ve just always gravitated towards Nollywood.
Tolu: For me, there was no growing into it exactly. So, I actually grew up watching Nollywood. And I’m not even the only one that is a Nollywood fan. I mean, my mom and my sister are all Nollywood fans. There was really no realisation. I was born into it.
Ebube: I didn’t realise. This was what I was born into. It’s not a realisation. It’s just when you know, like it’s your first touch with entertainment. If you ever had your first.
Did you keep track of how many movies you have seen this year?
Tolu: I do. I have watched 103 so far.
Ebube: I have seen 179 and will be watching more, as we have December releases coming too.
Anjola: 320
Wow. What’s your typical Nollywood movie-watching setup? Are you a “Friday night cinema” person, a “Sunday afternoon couch” viewer, or an “anytime, anywhere” watcher?
Ebube: Okay, so there are two angles for me. So I watch Nollywood anywhere, anytime. And I mean anywhere and also schedule watch times in my calendar. My calendar is not strict because of YouTube movies; I just watch them when they are announced.
Tolu: So I can watch it anywhere, anytime. But I think one of my most important routines is when I am eating. I need to be on my YouTube. They must go hand in hand. That’s how to enjoy the food. So that is one routine I always follow. So that means I mostly watch movies every day.
Anjola: For me, there’s really no method to it. It’s just anywhere I feel like whenever I feel like, which is practically every day. Sometimes I watch a new thing; other times I go back to old things. I like watching something to put myself to sleep. It’s just part of my routine.
Fantastic. Anytime anyday divas. If you had to describe 2025 Nollywood in just three words based on what you’ve watched, what would they be?
Anjola: All I can say is ‘hm’. I think YouTube is to be blamed for the not-so-good movies we have this year. I believe it is due to a lack of gatekeeping or vetting. Basically, Nollywood put me through all the emotions in 2025.
Tolu: Mine is ‘ah’. For me, we had some ‘ah’ moments and some ‘ahhh, what are these ones doing? ‘ I had some movies I really enjoyed. I really enjoyed ‘The Party’. We had some really cliché storylines too.
Ebube: So you realise that some people are capable of doing the things that they did last year. And then you see it and you’re like, “Wow.” Then you see some things and you’re like, “Interesting.” So it was eye-opening. I can’t give context. It was overall just a mix of emotions. For context, Daniel Etim Effiong’s directorial debut was really good. I enjoyed watching ‘The Herd’. And some were ‘wow’ but in the negative way. Overall there were highs and lows.
What’s one trend or theme you noticed appearing across multiple films last year?
Tolu: There were a lot of romance movies last year. Biodun Stephen also addressed important topics with her movies. And there were lots of war movies (epic).
Ebube: 2025 was heavy on romance and cinema. There was a lot of attention to soundtracks and a heavy focus on production design too. The look and the feel of the cinema movies.
Anjola: Romance really sold last year.
Let’s talk about performances. Which actor or actress absolutely ATE their role in 2025? Who made you forget you were watching a movie?
Anjola: You already know my faveee, Uche Montana. She really ate last year. Her role in ‘How we Got Here’ was really good. So ‘How We Got Here’ was really good and then ‘Seventh of The Third’ – that one I saw at a limited screening thing. It’s a Best Okodugha film. It was so good. I mean, the story could have been better. But I’m just talking about the acting now, not like the plot or anything like that. I liked Ifeoma Fafunwa in ‘The Lost Days’ on Prime.
Tolu: For me, I really like Sola Sobowale. I loved her performance in ‘I am Anis’ on Circuit TV. And I am a lover of Taye Arimoro in ‘Twin Deception’ on YouTube.
Ebube: Mercy Aigbe did it for me last year. She embodies her character so much. I remember seeing her in ‘My Mother is a Witch’. She really did some really good movies last year. I rewatched ‘Roses and Ivy’, and I loved Uche Montana. Etim Effiong in ‘The Herd’ and Femi Adebayo in ‘Seven Doors’ were male actors that stood out for me.
If you could only recommend ONE film from 2025 to someone who’s never watched Nollywood before, which would it be and why?
Ebube: It has to be ‘I am Anis’ on Circuit TV.
Tolu: Well, I really enjoyed ‘Ori: The Rebirth’, and ‘I am Anis’ stands out for me.
Anjola: If it is a short, it would be ‘My Body, God’s Temple’ or ‘Something Sweet’, and the feature film would be ‘How We Got Here’.
Which film had the best soundtrack? Any particular song that’s still stuck in your head?
Tolu: The ‘Red Circle’ soundtrack had me from the beginning to the end.
Ebube: My Best Soundtrack of the year was the soundtrack from ‘To Kill A Monkey’ by Oscar Heman-Ackah.
Anjola: I don’t have any soundtrack that comes to mind right now.
Which two actors do you think have the best on-screen chemistry right now? Who needs to be cast together in more films?
Ebube: Teniola Aladese and Ikechukwu Onunaku in ‘Little Black Book’. I need them to bring them back. For middle-age romance, I would say Shaffy Bello and Wale Ojo.
Tolu: I would say Kanaga Jnr and Bolaji Ogunmola. I love their chemistry in the movie where he was a younger guy, ‘Hearts Over Time’. I would like to see them again.
Anjola: Nothing is sticking right now.
If you could erase one Nollywood cliché from existence, what would it be?
Anjola: I think one thing that bothers me is that we are always serving divorce papers. We don’t do that in Nigeria.
Ebube: I want more realistic love stories. And maybe less divorce paper drama.
Tolu: Nothing comes to mind right now.
Which director is doing the most interesting work right now? Whose name in the credits makes you automatically interested?
Anjola: Biodun Stephen, Oyinye Odezea and Mazzini Pictures too.
Ebube: Blessing Uzzi, Dika Ofoma, Biodun Stephen and Neptune 3 Studios I love what they are doing. Neptune 3 Studios, if I see anything they are working on, I will always be there.
Tolu: The director of ‘To Kill a Monkey’ (Kemi Adetiba), Blessing Uzzi anyday anytime.
If your year of watching movies was a movie title, what would it be?
Ebube: ‘With Difficulty Comes Ease’
Anjola: ‘Hustle Code’
Tolu: ‘Built To Last’
Why so many deep titles? What’s the strangest place or time you’ve watched a movie this year?
Tolu: I watched a Nollywood movie the day my grandma was buried.
Anjola: I can’t think of a strange place right now. Because I watch Nollywood anywhere. Anywhere I can be using my phone, really.
Ebube: I watch Nollywood any place, anywhere, really.
Have you started using any catchphrases or quotes from movies in your daily life? What are they?
Ebube and Anjola Chorus: Odogwu Paranran, Achalugo. Brotherly from ‘To Kill A Monkey’
Tolu: Odogwu, pleaseeee! I have been using it on everyone and anybody these days.
Which actor or actress is about to be the Next big thing? Who should we all be watching?
Anjola: Sharon Rotimi for me!
Tolu: Darasimi Ogbetah. She’s going to be big!
Ebube: Sharon Rotimi is someone I am looking forward to her going big.
