The Story ⚡
Prime Video in 2023 bagged the most licensed titles from Nollywood Producers.
The strategy of outputting recent theatrical titles seemed to work in its favour as local box office consumer favourites charted in the topmost rankings.
Here is the full top 30 data and below are the top 15 Nigerian titles on the platform from January through December 2023 via Flix Patrol.
Top 15: A Young Time Ago
Directed by Tolu Awobiyi, A Young Time Ago tells the story of a man who tells a beautiful stranger his young love-gone-sour story. Fate plays a hand in this tale of dreams, friend zones, revenge, hope, and redemption.
Starring are Omotola Akinde, Sophie Alakija, Favour Ayah, Jola Chills, Daniel Effiong, Timini Egbuson, Adodo Emmanuel, Victor Gbemiga, and a host of others.
Release date 1st September 2023.
Top 14: Tiger’s Tail
Tiger’s Tail is directed by Victor Okpala. It is a romantic thriller film that tells the story of Amara Nzewi, a recent UK graduate of psychology, who has no idea she is stepping on the wrong toes when she starts a foundation to rehabilitate street boys but things get ugly when she is kidnapped by the ruthless gang leader, Tombra Tiger.
Starring are Akintoba Adeoluwa, Iremide Adeoye, Desmond Agbo, Natacha Akide, Yvonne Oluwatosin, Eniola Badmus, Ajiboye Bukunmi, Stephen Damian and many others.
Release date 22nd July 2022.
Top 13: The Blood Covenant
Directed by Fiyin Gamba, The Blood Covenant tells the story of three ambitious young men, Eddy, Jite, and Osiano, who are in their late twenties and struggling to make it in life. Tired of being looked down upon, they embark on a relentless quest for the high life, chasing easy money, fast cars, and fame; willing to do whatever it takes no matter what it costs them.
The amazing stars include Uzor Arukwe, Shalewa Ashafa, Tobi Bakre, Omowunmi Dada, Demi Banwo, and many others.
Release date 5th April 2023.
Top 12: Raised Apart
Raised Apart is a captivating story that revolves around a pair of identical twins who, by a twist of fate, were accidentally switched at birth and subsequently raised in different environments. As destiny weaves its intricate threads, their paths eventually cross, leading to a reunion filled with both humour and profound life-altering consequences.
Starring Ireti Doyle, Bovi Ugboma, Chioma Omeruah, and many others.
Raised Apart is directed by Ken Ogbo
Top 11: Love in a Showroom
Directed by Tolu Lordtanner, Love in a Showroom is a romantic comedy film that tells the story of a nutty delivery man and a female manager who got locked up in a furniture showroom, Cupid strikes in the weirdest of circumstances.
Starring are Daniel Onome Ajose, Tolu Akande, Tolu Akande, Omobolanle Akinde, Nancy Isime, Broda Shaggi, Mawuli Gavor, Kalu George, and many others.
Release date 15th September 2023.
Top 10: Love in a Pandemic
Love in a Pandemic is a romantic comedy film, written by Amaka Chidioka and directed by Akay Ilozobhie.
This is a love story that happened amidst one of the most unforgettable moments in human history, the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the story of Bolanle who met the man of her dreams Alex but how does their newfound love survive the uncertain world of a pandemic?
The amazing cast includes Uche Nwaefuna, Nancy Isime, Teniola Aladese, Deyemi Okanlawon, Uche Obunse, Ronke Odusanya Harriet Akinola, Eso Dike, and many others.
Release date: 10th February 2023.
Top 9: Imade
Imade, directed by Toyin Abraham, tells the story of a lady called Imade who decides to look for a job to support her hardworking husband, she is met with a side of him she thought was long buried.
Starring include Lateef Adedimeji, Deyemi Okanlawon, Jessica Obasi, Modola Osifuwa, Adeseye Adeshina, Oluwatosin Hassan, and the host of many others.
The release date on Prime Vide is 2nd June 2023.
Top 8: Sista
Directed by Biodun Stephen, Sista tells the story of a struggling mother who faces her worst nightmare when the father of her children comes into their lives and completely steals their attention all for himself.
Starring are Deyemi Okanlawon, Bisola Aiyeola, Kehinde Bankole, Tope Olowoniyan, Blessing Jessica, Chris Iheuwa, and a host of others.
Sista was released to cinema on 5th August 2022 and then released to the streaming platform on 23rd June 2023.
Top 7: The Trade
Inspired by true events, The Trade is a drama crime film starred by Blossom Chukwujekwu, Shawn Faqua, Rita Dominic, Denola Grey, Angel Unigwe, Ali Nuhu, Mercy Aigbe, Stan Nze, Charles Inojie, and many others.
This is the story of a notorious cunning kidnapper who goes by the name Eric who has been ravaging the southern part of Nigeria for over a decade. He finally undertakes a job that brings the law closer than ever before.
The Trade was directed by Jade Osiberu and released on Prime Video on 17th March 2023.
Top 6: Palava
Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan and produced by Inkblot Production, Palava is a family comedy film released to cinemas on 9th December 2022.
Palava tells the story of a high-life musician, Osa Wonda, riding on the second wave of success, he finds himself in the middle of controversies that can tear his life apart.
Starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Iyabo, Jemima Osunde, Mercy Aigbe, Beverly Osu, Bisola Aiyeola, Segun Arinze, Linda Ejiofor, Chinedu Ikedieze, Beverly Naya, and a host of others.
Top 5: Hey You!
Hey You! is a romantic comedy film produced by Anthill Production Studio. This film stars Temitope Olowoniyan, Timini Egbuson, Stan Nze, Rotimi Salami, Efe Irele, and Rita Anwarah amongst others.
A shy nerdy guy meets a sexually confident woman via an adult adult-only-only website, but her life is complicated by the obsessive interest of other men.
This romantic comedy film is written and directed by Uyoyou Adia.
Release date on Prime Video 18th November 2022.
Top 4: Gangs of Lagos
Directed by Jade Osiberu, Gangs of Lagos is a Nigerian gangster thriller film with a group of friends who each have to navigate their own growing up on the bustling street of Isale Eko, Lagos.
Starring Tobi Bakre, Chike, Adesua Etomi, Iyabo Ojo, Bimbo Ademoye, Tayo Faniran, Olarotimi Fakunle, Mr Macaroni, Eniola Badmus, Chioma Akpota, Wasiu- Alabi Pasuma and many others.
Gangs of Lagos was released to Prime Video as the first Amazon Original Movie from Africa on 7th April 2023.
Top 3: Battle on Bukka Street
Directed by Funke Akindele and Tobi Makinde, Battle on Bukka Street is a comedy-action film about a lifetime rivalry among two half-sisters. These two continually find themselves at loggerheads when they decide to start a food business on the same street.
The amazing stars include Mercy Johnson, Funke Akindele, Sola Sobowale, Tina Mba, Moshood Fattah, Wunmi Toriola, Tobi Makinde, Bimbo Ademoye, Mike Afolarin and a host of others.
The film was released to cinemas on 16th December 2022 and released to Prime Video on June 16, 2023.
Top 2: King of Thieves
King of Thieves is a Yoruba thriller film from the production of the Nollywood duo, Femi Adebayo’s Euphoria 360 and Niyi Akinmolayan’s Anthill Studios. It was directed by Adebayo Tijani and Tope Adebayo.
Also known as Ogundabede, King of Thieves is a story of a famous town and prosperous kingdom of Ajeromi. Life was easy for the people of the town until a vindictive bandit threatened their peace.
Starring include Odunlade Adekola, Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, Toyin Abraham, Adebayo Salami, Ibrahim Chatta, Segun Arinze, Peju Ogunmola, Dele Odule and a host of others.
The film was released on the 8th of April 2022.
Top 1: Brotherhood
Directed by Loukman Ali, Brotherhood is a crime-action thriller film that tells the story of twin brothers Wale and Akin who fall on opposite sides of the law after years of fighting to survive on the streets of Lagos.
It is produced by Jade Osiberu and stars Tobi Bakre, Falz, Boma Akpore, Basketmouth, Sam Dede, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Mr Macaroni, Toni Tones, and Zubby Michael amongst others.
Brotherhood tops the streamer chart of the 15 most popular Nollywood titles on Prime Video in 2023. The film was released to cinemas on 23rd September 2022 and released on Prime Video on 7th January 2023.
In Summary
The top-ranking Nollywood data signals how it has been able to capture the attention for the service.
In 2022, the top 30 titles featured 53.3% of local content whilst the last year 2023 saw a great jump to 83% which is quite astonishing.
2024 data on consumer preference is uncertain as the new restructuring might affect what consumers get to access on the service.
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