5 Nollywood and African Films to Watch Before May Ends

If your watchlist has been dry lately, this is a good time to pay attention to what Nollywood and African cinema have been putting out. Beyond the loud blockbusters and trending titles online, there are films carrying strong performances, emotional storytelling, and characters that actually stay with you after the screen goes off.

Here are five Nollywood and African films worth watching before May ends.

1. Call Of My Life

Produced by Adesanya Damilola, this romantic drama stars Beverly Osu, Zubby Michael, Patience Ozokwor, Nkem Owoh, and Uzoamaka Power. The film follows Soluchi, a young woman trying to heal from heartbreak after being abandoned by someone she deeply loved. Things begin to shift after an unexpected phone call connects her to a new person who slowly changes her perspective on love and second chances.

What makes the film stand out is how grounded it feels. It does not try too hard to be dramatic. The emotions are simple, relatable, and believable.

2. The Boy Who Gave

Directed and produced by Allison Precious Emmanuel, this film stars Allison Precious Emmanuel himself alongside Blossom Chukwujekwu and Tina Mba. The story centers on Idah, a young man forced to raise his siblings after losing both parents.

This is one of those films that quietly hits hard. It focuses on sacrifice, survival, and family responsibility without turning the story into emotional manipulation. The performances carry the weight of the film, especially in scenes showing the pressure of growing up too quickly.

3. The Fisherman

Directed by Zoey Martinson and produced by Luu Vision Media, the film stars Ricky Adelayitar, Endurance Dedzo, and William Lamptey. The story follows a retired Ghanaian fisherman whose life changes after he finds himself on an unusual journey involving a talking fish and a dream of owning a boat.

As strange as that sounds, the film works because it fully embraces its style. It blends humor, fantasy, and real-life struggles in a way that feels fresh for African cinema. The cultural setting also gives the film a strong identity instead of making it feel generic.

4. The return of Arinzo

Produced by Iyabo Ojo with a powerful line of casts: Funke Akidele, Scarlet Gomez, and Mercy Aigbe. The film is a thriller, and crime. A tale of vengeance. It follows the story of a rising actor who returned home with his fiancée to support his father’s presidential campaign. Their return sparks a brutal, 17-year-old scandal tied to a political figure, forcing buried secrets, betrayal, and the truth behind Arinzo’s death into the open.

5. This Is Not A Nollywood Movie

Directed by Wale Ojo and starring Chidi Mokeme and Bimbo Akintola, this film takes a different route by poking at the industry itself while still telling an entertaining story.

Okechukwu Nwadibe, a washed-up director from Nnewi, dreams he’s won an Oscar and decides it’s a sign. With his ever-loyal friend Pius Godloves You, he heads to Lagos for a chaotic comeback. One bad decision leads to another until a shady loan from a gangster changes everything.

It is self-aware, funny in parts, and surprisingly reflective about fame, filmmaking, and the pressure behind the scenes.