When digital platform Afrikmedia, in collaboration with Afriknollyhub, released its Top Nollywood Films of 2025 list on Instagram, mixing cinema releases with films from streaming platforms, especially YouTube, I was surprised by how much I agreed with it. That reaction caught me off guard, because I’ve always been wary of comparing Nollywood YouTube movies to those made for the big screen, let alone placing them side by side for recommendations or awards.
My hesitation has always been about how these films are made. Cinema films usually come with bigger budgets, tighter production standards, and a clear expectation of quality. YouTube movies, on the other hand, can break all those rules and still rack up millions of views—for free. Meanwhile, audiences are paying to watch films in cinemas or on SVOD platforms.
So at first glance, lumping them together feels odd. But the more I thought about it, the more it started to make sense. Whether a film is showing in the cinema, on Netflix, Circuits, Kava TV, EbonyOn Plus, or on YouTube, it’s still competing for the same thing: attention. Storytelling, performances, emotional payoff—these things don’t change just because the platform does.
That’s when it clicked for me. Maybe the real issue isn’t where Nollywood films are shown, but the lack of consistent standards across the board. If they’re all being watched, discussed, and ranked together, then perhaps Nollywood filmmaking needs some level of regulation and creative standardisation—regardless of platform.
Not to limit creativity or accessibility, but to protect the quality and future of the industry. To me, that feels like the real conversation we should be having.
- Jimi D Baldheaded Guy