2025 continues to be a banner year for Nollywood. In the first half of the year, we’ve reviewed 55 titles ranging from bold cinema debuts to streaming platform breakouts. While the full data from the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) for Q2 is still forthcoming, January alone recorded 27 official releases. That momentum carried through to June, and several projects have stood tall.

At NollyCritic, we’ve reviewed 23 cinema releases and dozens more across Streaming Platforms (Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Circuits TV), evaluating each with our internal rating metrics. This article presents our highest-rated titles so far rating from 3.5 and above.

Cinema Releases

The first half of the year brought 23 cinema titles to our desk. From intense thrillers to relatable dramas, here are the those that stood above the rest:

Blackout – 4.2/5
Directed by Okechukwu Oku and written by Ikenna Okpara, Blackout stars Padita Agu, Gideon Okeke, Blossom Chukwujekwu, and Nelson Iwu. It follows Judith, a woman trapped in a marriage born from a sinister spell. With gripping suspense, razor-sharp direction, and immersive performances, at 4.2 stars, it is not just our highest-rated cinema release so far this year but our highest rated movie ever.

Aso Ebi Diaries / Makemation / Something About The Briggs / The Masked King – 4/5
We had a four-way tie for second place, with each film bringing something distinct to the table:

Aso Ebi Diaries serves drama and fashion politics in equal measure. A fashion-driven Lagos drama led by Nancy Isime and Kunle Remi. Aso Ebi Diaries is a vivid take on identity, status, and the social pressures buried in Nigerian wedding culture. With sleek visuals and sharp dialogue, it balances satire and drama in a way that keeps audiences watching, and thinking.

Makemathttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt35820217/ion takes Nollywood into tech territory with an AI-centered family story. Directed by Chiemeka Osagwu, Makemation is a rare Nollywood family sci-fi drama centered on a tech-savvy girl whose AI prototype gains national attention. Featuring RMD and a strong ensemble cast, the film grossed ₦32.9 million in its first weekend. It explores innovation, fear, and belonging in a country on the edge of digital transformation.

Something About The Briggs delivers a grounded romantic drama anchored by Ariyike Dimples, Daniel Etim Effiong, Rita Dominic, and Stan Nze. Written and directed by Bukola Ogunsola, at its core is Sophie Briggs, a fiercely independent lawyer whose beliefs about love are shaken by a man who challenges her worldview. It balances family drama, emotional truth, and an explosive secret in a way that feels both familiar and fresh.

The Masked King explores silence, customs, and inherited power through the story of King Ensa. It leans into historical narrative with strong emotional texture and thoughtful direction that reflects on how societies preserve power.

RadioVoice – 3.9/5
A quietly moving drama that builds its emotional core through solid character work and strong performances—particularly from Nancy Isime. It’s a film that lets humanity guide the story, delivering a message about redemption without tipping into sentimentality.

Streaming Platforms

Only two Netflix series hit our radar this year, but one stood out as a clear winner.

Baby Farm – 3.85/5
A socially conscious limited series that tackles the underground baby-factory crisis with nuance and cinematic grit. Tense, timely, and emotionally resonant.

The Netflix film lineup has been underwhelming so far this year as no Netflix film got a 3.5/5.

While Q2 didn’t see many new Circuits TV releases, early-year titles gave us a strong entry:

Atiko – 3.85/5
A deeply emotional drama about tradition and spiritual reckoning. Threaded with themes of fate and sacrifice, Atiko unfolds with clever pacing and stunning visuals. It captures the tension between ancestral belief and personal agency.

Prime Video served up a few intriguing titles this year. These three stood out:

The Fire and the Moth – 3.75/5
A smartly written drama exploring crime and power dynamics. Ambitious and atmospheric, The Fire and the Moth blends political commentary with stylistic flair, landing confidently among Prime’s best this year.

Landline – 3.5/5
A time-loop thriller with solid tension and a strong central performance from Gabriel Afolayan. While some parts strain believability, and it ultimately fails to answer the main question it poses the audience, it’s a bold attempt at high-concept storytelling.

We only reviewed one Prime Video series this half of the year, but it held its own.

Grind (Season 2) – 3.5/5
The second season builds on its gritty Lagos underworld narrative with tighter direction and character arcs.

Final Thoughts

Cinema is clearly leading Nollywood’s 2025 output—Blackout, Makemation, and Radio Voice showcase its best work so far. In contrast, Netflix’s lineup has been underwhelming, with Baby Farm as the only standout. YouTube fare also trails, lacking strong content this half-year. Compared to 2024, the quality curve has dipped. For streaming platforms, Prime Video and Circuits TV delivered some strong contenders.

Special Mention: Shaping Us, an emotionally charged story about motherhood, friendship, and hidden truths. Set during a farewell gathering, its strong performances and layered storytelling earned it 10 nominations at the 2024 Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival. It earns a nod for its emotional depth with a rating of 3.5/5. The film is now available on Showmax.

There’s plenty more to come in the second half of the year. For now, these are the titles we believe have defined the year so far.

All ratings are based on Nollycritic’s internal review metrics and reflect the opinions of our editorial team.