For most people, the most relaxing activity to engage in is watching a movie. For 90 minutes or more, our comfort movies give us the chance to leave our worries at our doorsteps and get sucked into this whole new world.
In most cases, we tend to go back to the same movies for this reason. We watch them on our bad days and good days too. We grow so attached to these movies that they become our lifeline.
Comfort movies provide us with the perfect escape, and the major reason we stick to them is because of familiarity. Familiarity provides us with a sense of safety.
There are several reasons why we pick our comfort movies, whether consciously or unconsciously. For these nollyphiles, their reasons range from relatable storylines to emotional depth.
Ebube
Twitter: @The_Ebube
IG: @_ebuube
For Ebube, an associate living and working in Lagos, she finds herself going back to the same two movies, like clockwork. Jade Osiberu’s directorial debut, ‘Isoken,’ holds a special place in Ebube’s heart. It is the perfect encapsulation of “God When.” It screams mushy love to Ebube.
While the movie is heralded for its portrayal of soft love, Ebube, like other critics, admires the social commentary it made on society’s expectations for women in their 30s. It also has a certain pop of colour. OG romcomssieurs fell in love with the montage of Isoken and Kevin.
The epic ‘King of Thieves’ directed by Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani has also won Ebube’s favour. The language sealed the movie as a favourite. But she was also drawn to this story of the peaceful kingdom of Ajeromi perturbed by a terrorist because of location and dialogue. The music also did a number on her. She has gone back to the movie several times because of the music and even recites the lines with the actors
Ebube has lost count of the number of times she has seen both movies. She watches them on gloomy and gladdened days. When Lagos traffic has dealt with her, she’s coming home to these movies. If burdened by the plummeting state of naira, she presses play on any of the movies. Her friends know if she is hosting them, they would be seeing the movies. Basically, to Ebube, these movies are her emotional crutches.
Rebecca
IG: @revytheexplorer
YouTube: @Revy The Explorer
Rebecca, a writer and Youtuber, grew up watching the Scrooge franchise. These stories feature mean protagonists whose lives are transformed by traumatic events. It is no wonder that the Lasisi Elenu-led comedy ‘The Razz Guy’ based on an arrogant executive who loses his voice preparing for a business meeting caught her eye.
‘The Razz Guy’ gives Rebecca the opportunity to bathe in nostalgia, dwell on times when she was unbothered by the cost of fuel, and sort. Beyond the storyline, which is reminiscent of the scrooge, Rebecca had always loved Lasisi Elenu since his car rant days. He is quite the comic character and makes her watch experience seamless.
Rebecca also likes that the comedy doesn’t try to insert over-the-top antics. The movie takes itself seriously in the way it passes moral lessons to the audience, but at the same time, it is unserious.
She first watched the movie two years ago and has seen it approximately seven times since then. Rebecca never misses an opportunity to yap about ‘The Razz Guy,’ and it is the movie she uses to lure people into the Nollywood club.
Enit’ayanfe
Twitter: @OsumareAyomi
The movie ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ produced by Funke Akindele is a fave in Enit’ayanfe’s household. Since its premiere, the LinkedIn ghostwriter has seen the movie a total of fifteen times. He saw it twice in the cinema and thirteen times on streaming.
Enit’ayanfe describes the movie as “hawk-eyed,” as it gives a closer gaze at the social conundrums of being a single mother and raising five sons in a country with harsh economic realities.
While the movie showcases the character’s motivations for certain frowned upon actions, it does not paint them as saints. And this honesty comforts Enit’ayanfe. He has always been comforted by honesty, even when it comes with brutality.
‘A Tribe Called Judah’ reminds him of his mother’s struggles, but it also hints at his mother’s grit. Her ability to make the best out of any situation. Fifteen is only a small number to Enit’ayanfe, as he plans to see the melodrama again and again, probably till he is old and grey.
Nehita
IG: Nehita_Williams
Twitter: nehznichegurl
Kicking off your shoes, lying on the couch, popcorn in a bowl, and Kunle Afolayan’s ‘Anikulapo’ on screen is the definition of comfort to Nehita, an executive virtual assistant and scriptwriter. A fan of folklore, Nehita absolutely loves how Afolayan combines the former with emotional depth and stunning visuals.
The lessons on greed have stayed with her ever since. A romance girlie, she enjoyed the love between Saro and Arolake. It was comforting and playful till the betrayal, which stung Nehita.
Her second go-to movie is the dramedy ‘Chief Daddy’ directed by Kunle Afolayan, which centres the Beecroft family after the loss of their patriarch. His death leaves the big family clamouring for their share of his wealth. Nehita is drawn to the story because she can relate to the family dynamics of the Beecrofts.
It is the perfect Friday night watch, and when she needs something playing in the background, she reaches for it. It is an easy watch because of the humour.
Zulu
Twitter: @Zulu__a
It has become a ritual for Zulu to watch ‘Lara and the Beat’ every quarter. The romantic musical, which shows two sisters, Seyi Shay and Somkele Iyamah, trying to salvage their late parents’ empire, was directed by Tosin Coker. Zulu, a hard-working lawyer by day and dedicated Nollphile at night, can’t quite put her finger on why ‘Lara and the Beat’ has become a part of her quarterly routine.
Zulu woke up one day and realised it was ingrained in her. But as with most comfort movies, it soothes her. She admits to Vector’s smile being a major reason she watches the movie. And we can’t fault her. Vector indeed has an infectious smile.
The YouTube romcom ‘The Boy Before Me’ has also proven itself worthy of Zulu’s affection. The performances by the leads, Emmanuel Nse and Angel Unigwe, are what stole her heart. She fell in love with the characters as they fell in love. It came to YouTube in April 2024, and she has already seen it four times and is preparing for her next rewatch.
Timi
Twitter: @teemee_lehin
Despite his school load, Timi never misses an opportunity to watch ‘Isoken’ and the Niyi Akinmolayan film, ‘A Naija Christmas’. He believes that both films are as Nigerian as they can be because what could be more Nigerian than marriage? We love a good wedding. They are also the equivalent of American Hallmark movies.
Timi finds comfort in these movies because they don’t stress the viewers out. They are swoon-worthy and cosy. By the end of both films, you are all up in your feelings. Like with most groundbreaking romcoms, they renew one’s hope in love and romance.
The dating scene might make one feel like all the princes have been taken and the frogs are roaming the street, but these films make Timi believe again.
The comedy is also enjoyable. Timi finds himself laughing out loud each time he tunes in. He likes that they don’t take themselves seriously, as life is already intense enough.
Our comfort movies are so much more than movies. We live in the worlds of the characters and know them as much as we know our siblings. We even know what their next line is and say it with them.
They are like our best friends, as they have seen us on our worse and better days. And just like best friends, they have and continue to comfort us.
What are your comfort movies?
