Emeka Nweze
Nollywood is growing in leaps and bounds, with better stories, better equipment, and ground breaking movies. The rapid growth can be attributed to the ever increasing budgets and investments. This has provided more opportunities and avenues for filmmakers to explore more possibilities, and make better quality films.
Here is a list of Nollywood movies with the biggest budgets on record.
1. Half of a Yellow Sun (2013)
Estimated Budget: ₦1.3 – 1.6 billion
Half of a Yellow Sun is a 2013 Nigerian historical fiction drama film directed by Biyi Bandele and based on the novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The film is a love story that follows two sisters who are caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War.
2. ’76 (2016)
Estimated Budget: ₦600 million
A soldier gets accused of being involved in the unsuccessful 1976 military coup and assassination of General Murtala Muhammed, and the heavily pregnant wife gets entangled in an emotional dilemma.
3. The CEO (2016)
Estimated Budget: ₦600 million
The CEO is a 2016 Nigerian film directed by Kunle Afolayan, starring Kemi Lala Akindoju, Hilda Dokubo, Jimmy Jean-Louis and Angélique Kidjo. It tells the story of five of top members of a company, who are sent to a retreat and told one of them will become the new CEO. The cordial atmosphere quickly turns into a competition to see who can outdo all the others.
4. 93 Days (2016)
Estimated Budget: ₦400 million
It tells the story of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Nigeria and its successful containment by health workers from a Lagos hospital. It stars Bimbo Akintola, Danny Glover and Bimbo Manuel.
5. October 1 (2014)
Estimated Budget: ₦330 million
October 1 staring Sadiq Daba, is set in 1960, and tells the story of Nigerian police detective dispatched to investigate the murders of women in a small community before independence.
6. The wedding party 2 (2017)
Estimated Budget: ₦300 million
The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai brings us up to date with the newly-married couple who are now expecting a baby. Is reformed bachelor Dozie ready for this? Felix and Obianuju are still working on their relationship but has he given up ‘Small Chops’ for good?
7. The Wedding Party (2016)
Estimated Budget: ₦60 million
The Wedding Party is a 2016 romantic comedy drama film directed by first time director Kemi Adetiba. It premiered on September 8 2016 at the Toronto International Film Festival and released world wide on December 16 2016.
8. The Figurine (2009)
Estimated Budget: ₦50 – 70 million
The Figurine is a supernatural thriller, directed by Kunle Afolayan, starring Ramsey Nouah and Omoni Oboli. The film is about two friends who find a mystical sculpture that bestows good luck for seven years but has dark consequences in the years that follow those.
9. Okafor’s Law (2016)
Estimated Budget: ₦40 million
Okafor’s Law states that once a man has had a woman, he can have her again at any time, and Chuks (Blossom Chukwujekwu) a believer, in the law puts it to a test with past girlfriends over a 21-day period.
10. Last Flight to Abuja (2012)
Estimated Budget: ₦40 million
A Nigerian commercial plane experiences mid air difficulties and a series of flashbacks unravels the twists, turns and leaps of fate that put each passenger on that fateful flight. The film was directed by Obi Emelonye, and stars Jim Iyke, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde among others
