The Story⚡
From the top 30 movies watched by Nigerian Netflix subscribers in 2023, here are the top 7 key insights that might interest you.
Insights
1. Nigerian movies take the top 6 rankings on the overall top 30 rankings, with Jagun Jagun, a southwest epic, as the most-watched
Impressively, the top 6 most-watched titles on the platform are Nollywood titles. They are Jagun Jagun, The Black Book, Ijakumo, A Simple Lie, Before Valentine, and The Wildflower. Other Nollywood titles that joined the six on the top 10 are Ijogbon and The Wait, which were in the eighth and ninth positions, respectively.
Femi Adebayo’s Jagun Jagun, released on the 10th of August, 2023, ranked in the number one position. The title is an epic title that explores the political scenario of Nigerian society. The flick is Femi Adebayo’s second epic title after The King of Thieves, released to the box office on the 8th of April, 2022.
With the reception of Jagun Jagun among Nigerians, it can be assumed that Nigerians are fascinated by epic titles. Should we look forward to more such titles on the platform in the coming months?
2. Jennifer Lopez’s The Mother is the most-watched Hollywood title, beating Heart of Stone and Extraction 2
The Mother, by Jennifer Lopez, was released on the 12th of May, 2023. The action-thriller movie stars popular American singer Jennifer Lopez, along with other cast like Leslie Lluvet, Omari Hardwick, Gael Garcia Bernal, Joseph Fiennes, among many others.
The movie follows the story of an assassin forced to come out of hiding from some dangerous assailants to protect her daughter, whom she had left before. The action film is the most-watched film by Nigerians on the streaming service in 2023, beating popular American titles like Heart of Stone and Extraction 2, released on the 11th of August, 2023, and June 16, 2023, respectively.
3. Branded Nigerian Originals are ranked 1, 2, 8, 13, and 21 on the top 30 chart – 16.6%
Five Netflix Nollywood Originals made it to the top 30 list. They are Jagun Jagun by Femi Adebayo, The Black Book by Editi Effiong, Ijogbon by Kunle Afolayan, Blood Vessel by Charles Okpaleke, and A Sunday Affair directed by Walter Taylaur.
4. The most popular Nigerian theatrical title is Ijakumo
Out of all the box office Nollywood titles that later went to the streamer, Toyin Abraham’s Ijakumo was the most-watched on the streaming service. It ranked in the third position after Jagun Jagun and The Black Book.
Released in cinemas across Nigeria on the 23rd of December, the title grossed N278.49 million. It was co-directed by Adebayo Tijani and Steve Sodiya, starring Toyin Abraham, Lolade Okusanya, Kunle Remi, Olumide Oworu, Bimbo Akintola, and others.
It tells the story of a wealthy and flamboyant pastor living a double life and would later fall for a stripper who’s a member of his church. Notwithstanding, he is clueless about the fact that it is all a ploy by his ex-lover to avenge a wrong he had done to her.
5. The Nollywood demand percentage is set at 56.67%
The number of Nollywood titles that made it to the top 30 movies watched on the platform in 2023 is seventeen. Compared with 2022’s top 30 data, where only 9 Nollywood movies made it to the list, this is an improvement. It shows that the Nigerian subscribers on the streaming service demonstrated more trust in Nollywood products last year. It will be interesting to see more of this going forward.
6. The only African title to break through on the chart is the first-ever Zambian title on Netflix, Can You See Us
Can You See Us is a coming-of-age drama about a boy rejected by his father because he was born with albinism. He has to navigate a childhood of bullying, tragedy, and hope. Co-written by Andrew Thompson and Lawrence Thompson and directed by Kenny Mumba, the title was released on Netflix on the 27th of August, 2023. The movie, based on the story of John Chiti, stars Thabo Kaamba, George Sikazwe, Ruth Jule, Kanga Chileshe, Kondwani Elliot Zulu, and others.
Though the first Zambian title on the service, it was watched by Nigerians, and it ranked as the 29th film on the platform. It ranks before Leave The World Behind, an American horror drama based on the 2020 novel of Rumaan Alam.
7. Leo movie is the only animation on the top 30 chart, ranking in the 10th position
The second most-watched Hollywood title is an animation, Leo, a musical comedy film co-directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim. It was written by Robert Smigel, Adam Sandler, and Paul Sado.
The title launched on the service on the 21st of November, 2023.
Top 30 Data Rankings
