THE EVOLUTION

How a once struggling industry is now valued at over $6.4 billion.

OF NOLLYWOOD

ABOUT NOLLYWOOD

Nollywood is the nickname for the Nigerian film industry, derived as a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood.

While the origin of the name Nollywood is a hotly debated topic, what is not contested is that when it comes to making movies, Nollywood is a true powerhouse! In fact, it is the second-largest film industry globally in terms of the number of films it produces.

Every year, it produces a whopping 2,500 movies, which is even more than what Hollywood puts out. The only industry that produces more films is Bollywood in India. Interestingly, Nollywood movies were known for using budget-friendly and guerrilla-style filmmaking tactics.

However, things are changing now. In this new era of Nollywood, movies are receiving more funding, resulting in higher-quality productions. Because of this, the once-struggling industry is now worth over $6.4 billion, a significant increase from its turbulent past.

SO HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Nollywood's journey can be divided into four major eras. Each era has played a crucial role in propelling the industry to its current level of success by presenting unique circumstances.

COLONIAL ERA

GOLDEN AGE ERA

HOME VIDEO ERA

NEW NOLLYWOOD ERA

ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

Colonial Era (1900s - Late 1950s)

During this period, Nigerian-made movies were scarce. Instead, films were created by colonial filmmakers, often sponsored by the Colonial Film Unit.

This unit produced around 200 films, which were shown in various colonies using mobile cinemas operated by locals and attended by community leaders.

By the 1920s, cinemas gained popularity in Lagos, with major venues like Rex Cinema and Regal Cinema established across the country.

EXPLORE THIS ERA

ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

Golden Age Era (Late 1950s - 1980s)

The Golden Age era of Nigerian cinema spanned from the late 1950s to the late 1980s and is widely regarded as the most significant period in the history of Nigerian cinema.

During this time, Nigerian movies were first shot on celluloid and graced the screens of both cinemas and televisions.

This also saw Nigerian movies showing a distinctive Nigerian aesthetic and cultural identity.

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ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

Home Video Era (1980s - Late 2000s)

With the fall of cinema culture and the rise of television, VCR, and CD technology, a new era of Nollywood emerged.

These films were often of low quality, scrappy, and released in quick succession due to a lack of proper funding and expertise by practitioners.

At its peak, Nollywood was estimated to be producing about 50 movies weekly. However, despite the scrappy nature of the industry at the time, it dominated African screens through great performances by actors and telling culturally relevant stories.

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ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

New Nollywood Era (Late 2000s - Present)

This is the current phase in Nigerian cinema. It is defined by a major shift in the method of film production, from the home video format, back to the cinema method, which constituted the films produced in the Golden Era.

The Silverbird Group is the first company to launch a series of modern cinema houses across major cities in Nigeria.

Not long after the establishment of Silverbird Cinemas, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Ozone Cinemas, and Filmhouse Cinemas were also launched, creating competition in the cinema business.

EXPLORE THIS ERA

ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

Colonial Era (1900s - Late 1950s)

EXPLORE THIS ERA

ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

Golden Age Era (Late 1950s - 1980s)

EXPLORE THIS ERA

ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

Home Video Era (1980s - Late 2000s)

With the fall of cinema culture and the rise of television, VCR, and CD technology, a new era of Nollywood emerged.
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These films were often of low quality, scrappy, and released in quick succession due to a lack of proper funding and expertise by practitioners.

EXPLORE THIS ERA

ERAS OF NOLLYWOOD

New Nollywood Era (Late 2000s - Present)

EXPLORE THIS ERA

THE FUTURE OF NOLLYWOOD

Nollywood has made remarkable strides since its inception in the 1990s, emerging as a formidable cultural and economic influence not only within Nigeria but also on a global scale. With the current success of Nollywood, we can predict the following:

BETTER PRODUCTION QUALITY

Nollywood filmmakers are expected to invest more in production quality and distribution infrastructure, which could improve the reputation and competitiveness of Nollywood films and increase their revenue and profitability.

INCREASING GLOBAL COLLABORATION

Nollywood filmmakers are likely to collaborate more with other film industries around the world and with international stars and studios, which could enhance the quality and visibility of Nollywood films and foster cultural exchange and dialogue.

EXPLORING DIVERSE THEMES

Filmmakers are exploring more diverse themes, such as mental health, social justice, and even LGBTQ+ issues.

EXPLOSIVE INDUSTRY GROWTH

The United Nations has reported that film industries in Africa could quadruple their revenue to $20bn (£15bn) and create an extra 20m jobs in creative industries, and with Nollywood being the biggest producer of movies in Africa, it will be the major force to contend with in the coming decades.

With all these going on, there is no doubt that Nollywood's future looks brighter than it ever has.

COMPULSORY CINEMA

Immerse yourself in Nollywood’s best with movies you can’t afford to miss.

LIVING IN BONDAGE

THE WEDDING PARTY

RATTLE SNAKE

THE FIGURINE

KARASHIKA

OCTOBER 1

ISSAKABA

LIONHEART

AKI NA UKWA

KING OF BOYS

OSUOFIA IN LONDON

CITATION

BLOOD SISTERS

ANIKULAPO

DANGEROUS TWINS

BATTLE ON BUKA STREET

IRAPADA

GANGS OF LAGOS

SUGAR RUSH

JAGUN JAGUN