THE LOCAL & FLY

In 2014, Nollywood filmmakers suddenly got an insight on how to achieve more. They started paying more attention to quality and then found a way to get closer to reach their full potential. The same year came Ayo Makun’s Nollywood movie “30 Days in Atlanta” which drew an audience from the America and the Carribean. Once they became mindful of the new audience, Nollywood had to adapt so as to keep the audience coming. For 2019 Nollywood is perfectly positioned for bigger treats.

Nollywood – Positive International Receptions

“30 days in Atlanta” further contradicted the belief that Nollywood movies lacked credibility. More entertaining storylines, as well as intelligent plots and dialogues, became a criterion for many of the Nollywood movies that followed. The bar had been raised.

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All these factors brought international critics reviewing Nigerian movies. Many of them gave these films positive ratings. Due to the many positive receptions of various Nollywood movies – both at the box office and from the critics – filmmakers also upped their game quantitatively and qualitatively.

Since then, more movies have stepped up to the new quality standard. Films such as “Fifty”, “Ghana Must Go”, “The CEO”, “The Arbitration“, “The Wedding Party“, “93 Days”, and “A Trip to Jamaica” have received acclamations.

One movie, however, that pushed the limits even further was “76“. It was once tagged “The Nollywood thriller with Hollywood Aspirations”. It was lauded and commended all over the world by a host of local and international reviewers and critics. The movie made an impact on Nollywood much bigger than its $3 million budget due to its reception. “76” also made history as the first Nigerian film to premiere at the BFI London Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival in the same year.

The Future is Already Here for Nollywood in 2019

After all these positive developments, people from all over the world are calling cinemas and asking specifically for Nollywood movies. Others go to the extent of mentioning the particular Nollywood film they want to see. Some years ago, the story was different as even Nigerians claimed they didn’t watch Nigerian movies.

In 2019 Nollywood may be on a journey to a point where the only movies that people want to see in the Nigerian cinemas are Nollywood films. The same was seen in the music industry some years ago. Who says it can’t happen in the film industry as well. The positive reception is everything Nollywood needs to conquer.

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