Nollywood faces a major setback as international movie streaming platform Netflix announces the cancellation of its Nigerian Originals eight years after it launched in 2016. This news triggered murmuring among Nollywood fans and movie lovers.
According to NollyWire, Netflix ceased operations in Nigeria in November 2024, cutting off the financial backing that streaming platforms had been providing for Nigerian movie production. This led to the cancellation of Netflix Nollywood movies.
The cancellation of Nigerian Originals marks a major setback for Nollywood’s efforts to achieve global recognition. It also deals a heavy blow to numerous Nigerian filmmakers who had relied on Netflix to bring their stories to an international audience.
However, renowned movie star and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan spoke at 2024 Zuma Film Festival, confirming that Netflix had ceased commissioning new Nigerian originals.
He revealed that, unlike many of his peers, he was fortunate to secure a third season for his hit series Anikulapo before the platform’s decision.
Afolayan, who described it as a big blow to the industry, also saw it as a wake-up call for the movie industry. He also called on the Nigerian government to invest in Nigerian movie industry.
He also shared that he is now faced with the challenge of finding new platforms to distribute his films, following Netflix’s quiet exit from Nigeria.
In his words, “First of all, I have always said that film does not have a language; we all grow up on Indian movies, Chinese films and we watch without subtitles and still with excitement and understand it. You will still catch the story.”
“You know Nigeria is an interesting country because the industry is segregated. You have the English films, Yoruba film, Kannywood and many other woods.”
“Coming to Netflix, It is a big blow. I have been thinking in my head that how can we come from earning dollars and then, thinking how one will put our films. Three years ago, we signed on three movie projects. It was like a contract whereby they don’t care if you produce movie for another platform, just give us one movie per year so that you will be creative. In that way, you have a guarantee and funds.”
Fans who learnt about Netflix exiting Nigeria flooded the comment section with their thoughts. Some reactions are shown below:
slimtmusic said, “We need to own our platforms, support ourselves and push ourselves. For Netflix it will always be business as usual. Hollywood content has become predictable and highly boring , African Folktale in its highest cinematography form is yet to realize its full potential, an untapped market plus we have the numbers. A goldmine waiting to be found. But will Nigerian /african filmmakers take up this challenge? Only time and faith will tell ❤️.”
ikegod.chielo said, “Wait.. What?????? Whyyy???”
_seunajayi said, “We move… They were never supposed to be the industry’s Eldorado. We need to start making global projects and focus on selling to the rest of Africa and the world. We also need to take ourselves more seriously.”
vtekdawesome said, “We as a collective did this to ourselves. No actual ownership of our space (most investors are either scared or are more interested in showing that growing). The country constantly hammering down on the people so people cant conveniently subscribe. The fact that filmmakers keep making SHINY SUBPAR MOVIES (i see the reviews on the int’ platforms and most are below poor). Oh, and the fact that we did not give our industry respect by producers underpaying workers (netflix sees that we dont value ourselves). This was inevitable.”
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