The Story⚡
Google released a list of the 10 most searched movie titles in 2023 of which Gangs of Lagos tops them all.
Tell Me More
It’s the end of the year and most organizations are taking inventory of yearly events, just as Google did with the most searched titles.
Google’s top ten most searched film titles include Gangs of Lagos, Jagun Jagun, Extraction 2, Oppenheimer, Barbie movie, Fast X, John Wick4, Blue Beetle, Creed 3 and Heart of Stone.
Top Ten Titles
Top 10: Heart of Stone
Directed by Tom Harper, Heart of Stone is an American spy action thriller film. Its plot follows an international intelligence operative who embarks on a dangerous mission to protect an artificial Intelligence system known as “The Heart”.
Starring are Gal Gadot, Alia Bhatt, Jamie Dornan, Matthias Schweighofer, Jing Lusi Sophie Okonedo, Glenn Close, Archie Madekwe, Jon Kortajarena and Paul Ready.
Heart of Stone was released on 11th August 2023 on the Netflix streaming platform.
Top 9: Creed 3
Creed III is a 2023 American sports drama film directed by Michael B. Jordan.
It is the third instalment in the Creed film series. The film stars Michael B. Jordan, Thessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu and Phylicia Rashad.
In this film, Adonis has been thriving in both his career and family life but then a childhood resurfaces with a face-off.
Creed III was released to the Nigerian cinemas on 3rd March 2023.
Top 8: Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is an American superhero film directed by Angel Manuel Soto, which was released on 18th August 2023.
The DC feature tells the story of a recent graduate Jaime Reyes is bestowed with an armor that grants him superpowers after being accidentally chosen by an ancient alien relic known as the Scarab.
The cast includes: Bruna Marquezine, Xolo Mariduena, Becky G, Susan Sarandon, Goerge Lopez, Elissa Escobedo, Raoul Trujillo, Adriana Barraza, Damian Alcazar, Harvey Guillen, Elpidia Carrillo and Brianna Quinn Lewis.
Top 7: John Wick 4
John Wick 4 is an action thriller movie and a continuation of the John Wick series.
The legendary hitman John Wick yearns for freedom as he takes his flight against the High Table Global who seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld.
The movie stars Keanu Reeves, Scott Adkins, Donnie Yen Bill Skarsgard, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama and Ian McShane.
John Wick 4 was directed by Chad Stahelski and released on the 24th of March 2023.
Top 6: Fast X
Fast X is directed by Louis Leterrier and released in Nigeria on 19th May 2023.
Fast X also known as Fast and Furious 10 tells the story of how Dom Toretto and his family outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. In this film, they must confront the most lethal opponent they have ever faced.
Starring is Vin Diesel as Tom Toretto, alongside a list of supporting cast including Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Daniela Melchior, Alan Ritchson, Helen Mirren and Jason Statham.
Top 5: Barbie Movie
The film stars Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, having the best time of their lives in the colourful world of Barbie Land. They both journey on the path to self-discovery following a consequential crisis.
The supporting cast includes America Ferrera, Kate Mckinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman and Will Ferell.
Barbie movie was directed by Greta Gerwig and released in Nigeria on the 21st of July 2023.
Top 4: Oppenheimer
Directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is a Hollywood scientific movie which tells the story of the American theoretical physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer who is appointed by Lt. Gen Leslie George to work on the top secret of the Manhattan project during World War II.
Oppenheimer and his team spent years developing atomic bombs, of which their work came to fruition as they witnessed the world’s first nuclear explosion.
The cast includes Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr, Emily Blunt, Devon Bostick, Josh Hartnett, Matt Damon, Gary Oldman, Rami Malek, Matthias Schweighofer, Josh Peck and Jack Quaid.
Oppenheimer was released into Nigerian cinemas on 21st July 2023.
Top 3: Extraction 2
Extraction 2 is a continuation of Extraction which was directed by Sam Hargrave and distributed on Netflix on 9th June 2023.
Extraction 2 is based on the novel Ciudad by Ande Parks and Anthony Russo. The film is a rousing action movie which tells a story of how Commando Tyler embarks on a dangerous mission to save a ruthless gangster imprisoned family.
The film stars Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Tornike Gogrichiani, Daniel Bernhardt, Tinatin Dalakishvili, Olga Kurylenko and Idris Elba.
Top 2: Jagun Jagun
Jagun Jagun tells the story of a maniacal warlord, Ogundiji who begins to feel threatened by the potential of a protégé, Gbotija who joined the elite army to avenge the death of his father.
Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo directed Jagun Jagun. and the film stars Femi Adebayo, Adedimeji Lateef, Bukunmi Oluwasina, Ibrahim Yekini, Fathia Balogun, Bimbo Ademoye, Mr Macaroni, Adebayo Salami and Muyiwa Ademola.
The film action epic acquired by Netlfix was released on Netflix on 10th August 2023.
Top 1: Gangs of Lagos
Gangs of Lagos was directed by Jadesola Osiberu and released on 7th April 2023 on Prime Video.
The first African Prime video original is a story about a group of friends that revolves around crime and violence since their childhood in Isale Eko. The journey of life began to unfold for Obalola, Ify and Gift after the death of their adopted father.
The cast includes Nollywood faves Adesua Etomi, Tobi Bakre, Tayo Faniran, Mr Macaroni, Chioma Akpota, Chike, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, Bimbo Ademoye, Olarotimi Fakunle, Eniola Badmus and Iyabo Ojo.
In Summary
This list to an extent reflects what most Nigerians enjoyed watching this year. With two Nollywood titles making the list, that is indeed a growth metric for the demand of big budget movies made for the local industry.
Thank you for reading
For Film/TV Executives, Shockng.com Covers the Business of Storytelling and the Biggest Creators in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Let’s be Friends on Instagram @ShockNG
