Many would argue that some, if not most movies produced lately lack the ideal storylines people look forward to compared to the ’80s and 90’s when every movie produced had deep storylines that both old and young will learn one or two things from.
This equally explains why lots of actors feel it is better to bring back some of those evergreen movies for people to watch again. These days what producers often showcase in movies is just glamour, with little or no reasonable message to pass across. Some of these movies like Living in Bondage, Glamour Girls, Nneka the Pretty Serpent, and many others have been remade.
City People brings you an unofficial list of the best Nigerian evergreen movies ever produced spanning decades.
IGODO, THE LAND OF THE LIVING DEAD
It is a 1999 Nigerian adventure film that was produced by Don Pedro Obaseki and directed by Andy Amaechi. It features the legendary Pete Edochie, Sam Dede, Amaechi Muonagor, Charles Okafor, the late Prince James Uche, Nobert Young among others.
LIVING IN BONDAGE
It is a 1992/93 Nigeria two-part drama thriller directed by Chris Obi Rapu, and written by Kenneth Nnebue and Okechukwu Ogunjiofor. It featured stars like Kenneth Okonkwo, Nnnenna Nwabueze, Okechukwu Ogunjiofor, Francis Agu, Bob Manuel Udokwu, and others.
This movie Living In Bondage became a game-changer that changed and created the Nollywood we know today and it was after this very successful movie, that other movie producers started producing movies in Nigeria.
GLAMOUR GIRLS
It was the first Nigerian movie about runs. This movie existed even before the word “Runz” came into existence. Glamour Girls is a story about a village girl played by late. Jennifer who was convinced by her friend, played by Gloria Young to come get a job in Lagos to live a better life. It was released in 1994 and it featured stars like Liz Benson, Gloria Young, Sola Fosudo, Barbara Udoh, and others. Written and produced by Kenneth Nnebue, and directed by Chika Onkwufor.
MOST WANTED
It was produced in 1996 by Dozie Eriobu, directed by Tunji Bamishigbin, starring Liz Benson, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Ayo Adesanya, Bob Manuel, Genevieve Nnaji, Anta Laniyan, Wale Macaulay and Femi Brainard.
The movie launched the career of Genevieve Nnaji who played a cameo role of a television reporter. The movie had lots of similarities with the American movie “Set It Off”. The storyline is about a group of unemployed ladies who decide to rob to make money disguised as men.
NNEKA THE PRETTY SERPENT
It was produced by Okechukwu Ogunjiofor and directed by Zeb Ejiro in 1992. The blockbuster movie had that time starred Ndidi Obi as the lead character. Nneka was a mermaid disguised as a human whose mission on earth was to go after married men.
This movie starred actors like Eucharia Anunobi, Ngozi Ezeonu, Rita Nzelu, the late Sam Loco Efe, Kanayo O. Kanayo, and others.
AKI NA UKWA
It is a 2002 Nigerian family comedy. This movie launched the acting career of two actors Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze. It was directed by Amayo Uzo Philips and stars other actors like Amaechi Muonagor Oby Kechere, Frances Nsokwu, and others.
OSUOFIA IN LONDON
It is a 2003 Nigerian Comedy film produced and directed by Kingsley Ogoro. This film is rated as one of the highest-selling Nollywood films in history. It starred Nkem Owoh, and it was followed by a 2004 sequel titled Osuofia In London 2.
BLOOD MONEY
It is a classic Nigerian occult movie that was released in 1997, where the main character had to use people he knows and people he doesn’t know for rituals to acquire wealth after he lost his job as a banker. It was directed by Chico Ejiro and it features stars like Kanayo O. Kanayo, Zack Orji, Francis Agu, Sam Dede, and Ejike Aseigbu.
DIAMOND RING
This movie is unarguably one of Nollywood’s all-time favourite movies, it was released in 1998 and directed by Tade Ogidan. The movie is very entertaining and educative. The movie features stars like Richard Mofe Damijo, Sola Shobowale, Teju Babyface, the late Bukky Ajayi, and lots of others.
The storyline dwells on the fact that peer pressure is a serious issue in society, one should never underestimate the love of a parent and also it teaches that pampering kids is not love.MORTAL
INHERITANCE
It is a Nigerian film produced by Zeb Ejiro, directed by Andy Amenechi, and written by Bond Emeruwa. It was released in 1996. This was the classic movie that defined Omotola Jalade Ekeinde’s career as a brilliant actress. It featured stars like Omotola Jalade, Fred Amata, Kunle Bamtefa, and others.
BILLIONAIRES’ CLUB
Billionaires’ Club is a Nigerian movie about a family passing through the challenges of poverty and subsequently gaining wealth through a secret cult called the Billionaires Club.
The moving movie, which was directed by Afam Okereke and released in 1999, involves a secret society of men who use occult powers by sacrificing close ones to make “blood money.” The film has as its cast
HOSTAGES
This movie was produced in 1997 by Tade Ogidan. It won several awards at the Nigerian Movie Awards including Best Film, Best Actress, and Supporting Actress. It featured extensive police action and a great storyline full of chair-edge suspense. A story with great twists and turns. It stars Tope Idowu, RMD, Bimbo Manuel, Lanre Balogun, Anta Laniyan, and lots of others.
DOMITILA
It is a landmark film in the Nigerian home video. It kicked off the newly established trend of shooting films about “Single Girls” and their misadventures in big cities. The buzz for this film was remarkable and the word Domitila was on everyone’s lip. It was produced in 1996 and it featured stars like Kate Henshaw, Sandra Achums, Ann Njemanze, Ada Ameh, Charles Okafor, and others.
VIOLATED
It is a 1996 romantic drama film directed by the late Amaka Igwe and featured stars like Richard Mofe Damijo, Joke Silva, and Ego Boyo, produced by Ego Boyo Charles Igwe and others.
The film tells the story of a young man Tega from a wealthy background who falls in love with Peggy who came from a different background. However, their marriage is put to the test when hidden secrets unfold, Tega’s ex-wife re-appears in his life and he also learns about his ex-boss relationship with his wife when she was young.
ISAKABA
It is a 2000 Nigerian movie that was directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, it involves community vigilante boys fighting against criminality like armed robbery and murder cases that put fear and panic in the community. It stars Sam Dede, Chiwetalu Agu among others.
KARISHIKA
It is a 1996 Nigerian horror film whereby a girl “Karishika” who has been sent by Lucifer to the world to come and kill destroy and tempt people to increase the population in hell. It stars Bob Manuel, Becky Okorie, Sandra Achums, Amaechi Muonagor, Sunny MC Don, Adaora Ukoh, Andy Chukwu, Steve Eboh among others.
BLOOD SISTERS
Released in 2003 and directed by Tchidi Chikere, Blood Sisters is one of the Nigerian movies that confirmed the celebrated acting brilliance of the two biggest Nigerian actresses in history — Omotola Jalade and Genevieve Nnaji. In Blood Sisters, Genevieve (Esther) and Omotola (Gloria) are blood sisters, but Esther feels nothing but heated jealousy for her older sister, Gloria. She is constantly threatened by her sister’s better grades and luck with men.
The film is said to be the first popular film featuring Genevieve and Omotola together, in which Nnaji’s searing performance as a wicked sister and Jalade’s embodiment of the good sister role is believed to birth the rivalry and division among the fans of the two actresses.
THE LAST BURIAL
Is a 2000 Nigerian classic supernatural film, directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun, it tells the story of a man who had financial difficulties, as a result of his predicament, he was introduced to an occult group by his friends and along the line, more human sacrifices were involved. For years the man enjoyed a good life, and then it was time to die. When he died his burial created a lot of problems. The film was based on the real-life happenings surrounding the death of Ogbuefi Nnamani. It stars Clem Ohameze, Eucharia Anunobi, Amaechi Muonagor, Sam Dede.
SUICIDE MISSION
We loved Regina Askia’s character’s fashion choices, but she was crazy for using juju to put RMD’s character in a bottle, in the name of love. She also turned into a dog at the end, which was pretty memorable.
ABUJA LADIES
Here you’ll see a group of women more powerful than their husbands; dedicated to acquiring more power over each other. We stan powerful career women. Here’s part two, part three, and part four.
SHARON STONE
She’s the greatest player who ever lived. There are also two sequels because no one could get enough of Sharon.
GIRLS COT
Four babes in university end up blackmailing and scamming most of the government officials in the country. What’s not to love about a scamming squad?
GAMES WOMEN PLAY
You’ll see the lives of three friends and how their love lives play out after they play a game with irreversible consequences. Here’s part two, part three, and part 4.
RATTLE SNAKE
Ahanna has to grow up quickly, in other to cater to his two younger siblings after their dad mysteriously dies, and their mum unwillingly abandons them. While plotting for his revenge against his devious uncle, Ahanna went from a life of petty crimes to creating a well-structured team of criminals to carry out criminal operations in a bid to earn a living. Directed by Amaka Igwe, Stars: Ndidi Anyanuka, Francis Duru, Okey Igwe.
LIONHEART
Running a company can be challenging, especially for a female in a male-dominated industry. Looking to prove her worth, Adaeze steps up to the challenge when health issues force her father to take a step back. Directed by Genevieve Nnaji, Stars; Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie.
ORACLE
The movie Oracle movie is an adventure of 4 big guys who are sent to a secret mission on a hideous island to search for the mystery of oracle.
VUGA
Vuga is a 2000 Nigerian adventure film directed by Simi Opeodu. It tells the story of a strong man who uses his strength and ability to save his village from terror. In August 2018, the main character in the film, “Vuga”, was listed as one of the ten best Nigerian film characters of the 90s and 2000s.
76
’76, formerly Lions of ’76, is a 2016 Nigerian historical fiction drama film directed by Izu Ojukwu and produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa and Izu Ojukwu. It stars Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic, and Ibinabo Fiberesima.
Set six years after the Civil War, a young officer from the Middle Belt gets into a romantic relationship with an O-level student from the Southeastern region. However, their relationship is strained by constant military postings. The soldier gets accused of being involved in the unsuccessful 1976 military coup and assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, and the heavily pregnant wife gets entangled in an emotional dilemma.
IKUKU
“Ikuku,” the 1995 film that earned Nkem Owoh the legendary moniker “Osuofia.” This family drama follows a young man chosen by the gods to serve his people. Starring Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, and Sam Loco, and is directed by Zeb Ejiro.
THE FIGURINE
The synopsis of The Figurine (Araromire) shows that it is a story of two buddies and a girl…all down on their luck have their lives changed when one of them discovers ‘Araromire’ a mysterious figurine in an abandoned shrine which, according to legend bestows seven years of good luck. But no one told them about the next seven years… Director; Kunle Afolayan Stars; Wale Adebayo, Kate Adepegba, Kunle Afolayan.
By Benprince Ezeh
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