Movies

8 Thoughts I Had While Watching ‘Monica’

Published

4 months ago

6 May 2026

Ene Unazi

Photo - Facebook

Uche Montana’s ‘Monica’, inspired by true events, has triggered mixed emotions since its release on 7th March, 2026. The sequel came out 3rd May, 2026 and became the record-breaking film to gain 10 million views in two days, and is running on 13 million views now, with strong audience reaction. Having watched the movie, here are eight thoughts.

Monica’s Story Shows the Harsh Reality Many First Daughters Face:

The movie depicts family struggles that many people experience within their homes. The story chronicles the life of some firstborn daughters who sacrifice their lives for the ones they love. Hence, it resonated with a lot of viewers who have experienced this reality.

Monica is the first daughter and born of her family who had to sacrifice her education and life since childhood, hawking her mother’s Pap and taking charge just so the home could be in order. Her siblings despised her at every slightest chance without second thought and got away with it because no parent could stand up for her. Monica couldn’t even stand up for herself, thereby losing her identity and self-worth. This part is largely portrayed in ‘Monica’ 1.

Photo – Facebook

Each Character a Different Layer of Family Dysfunction:

Every action, word, and expressions were so intentional so as to send the message the movie had to pass.

Each character carried every stigma that individuals face in life. Some people are Monica, who lose their voice and self-esteem, having to bear the consequences and responsibilities they didn’t choose for themselves but had to accept since it appeared so. They think that if they do not fill in the gap, who will? This has caged several individuals in trauma and unhealed wounds.

Bobo became a replica of his dad because he wasn’t taught quickly who a man should be by his father. His father wasn’t a good representation of such a figure. Bobo learnt quickly how to be lazy and irresponsible.

Chika, on the other hand, cares less about anyone’s emotions and sacrifices. She became ruthless since her mother always had her back in everything. An honest thought is that she took after her mother.

Mama Monica taught us how wrong parenting and favouritism can cause harm to children. Leaving us to wonder if she was also operating on unhealed trauma. She is the primary antagonist in the film, shaped by her role as a mother and the choices she makes.

Monica’s Sacrifice Became the Heart of The Story:

Monica didn’t have to take up responsibilities she was forced into. But it turned out so for her. As though it was her purpose to shoulder the consequences of her failed parents.

She sacrificed her education, life, money, time, and even her lover without a payback.

Identity can be lost in situations where you have to give your all without someone reminding you to slow down or even cut off to find yourself.

Mama Monica would always say she was the ‘pepper’ and the ‘salt’ in their home, but Monica was everything. When their father had kidney failure in ‘Monica’ 2 and no one could help with his dialysis, she stepped in without a second thought. In the middle of that, Bobo’s wife, Sharon, had an emergency labour of which she had to pay the hospital bills for her operation. Yet none of this was recognised and remembered by all of them.

Every sacrifice she made was a hope for approval, recognition, and love, yet that wasn’t in the picture.

Photo – Facebook

Consequences Eventually Caught Up with Everyone:

This is inevitable, and viewers anticipated it. When Chika double crossed Monica to marry Pascal, she didn’t expect he’ll die so soon from heart disease, leaving her as a widow who eventually loses herself and resolves to drinking. Mama Monica didn’t know she wouldn’t eventually be the one to dance with her daughter at her wedding and enjoy all the benefits that come with that moment. She lost it all.

Mama Monica faced humiliation from her children and ended up sick without having someone care for her like Monica would. Bobo became a baby daddy who couldn’t even fend for his daughter’s feeding nor feed his wife who leaves him for another man.

Papa Monica’s Failure Fueled the Family’s Collapse:

Papa Monica, simply existed in his home and made everyone suffer for his failure. Unsurprisingly, many view him as passive and ineffective. He was there. Physically present and incapable. A man sitting in a house he had no business calling his kingdom, while his wife made Pap to be sold on the streets by his first daughter, just to keep the family breathing.

He simply proves that once a leader gives up, the followers will lose direction, or worse, turn a tyrant. He lost his voice in the home and became one who only nods to his wife. It’s not always the loud abuse that breaks a home. Sometimes it’s the silence. The man who cannot speak because he has nothing to stand on.

His inability to provide leadership created instability within the household. Someone who calls his children to order, speaks sense into the chaos, and anchors the house when everything shakes.

Papa Monica could not do any of that. And at the end, the weight of all he never did crushed him. The stress, the shame. When the Agbo, Mama Monica quietly administered, kicked in, his body gave out. Kidney failure. By the time he died, he had long become emotionally absent from his family. This character is a mirror. Somewhere, someone’s father is Papa Monica.

Monica’s Siblings Showed the Damage Within the Home:

In a typical African home, hierarchy comes with respect. This wasn’t the case in this movie. She did not receive love or respect from her siblings regardless of what she had to sacrifice for that.

This happens when parents fail to hold everything together. From a young age, Bobo and Chika would mock Monica of her lack of education and how she carried herself. She was reduced to nothing in front of them because her mother specifically treated her like an outcast.

Bobo slapping Monica when she stood up for herself to silence Sharon in ‘Monica’ 2 was the major humiliation she received from him. This was after he came to plead for forgiveness, unbeknownst to her, it was a way to lure her back to be used by him.

Photo – Instagram

The Film Exposes the Roles Families Force on Their Children:

This movie mirrors the harmful behaviour of some African parents towards their children. Most times, they force a fate on their children especially if it benefits them. A child can’t become an artist because the parents want him to become a lawyer or doctor to keep the family name or lift the family up.

Some project their insecurities and failures on their children. Papa and Mama Monica failed at provision allowing Monica to shoulder that. The family feeds, and pays their hospital bills when she provides.

Her dream was to build her own fashion house but that was about to be robbed by mother until Monica regained her senses and changed her story.

‘Monica’ Serve as a Reminder for First-born Children:

Most first born have accepted their fate to be the pillar of the home, forgetting they’re also part of the family. This movie is a reminder to first born that you shouldn’t lose yourself trying to pick up others who can’t do something for themselves.

Related Topics:Monica Monica2 Uchemontanamovie YouTube film

Up Next

5 Nollywood and African Films to Watch Before May Ends

Don't Miss

Toka McBaror’s ‘The Creek’ Trailer Drops, Full Cast (Bucci Franklin, Sam Dede, Sunshine Rosman) & What to Expect

Click to comment

Movies

“Dear Ajayi” Makes History as First Nigerian Production in Venice Days Competition | Watch Trailer

Published

3 days ago

1 September 2026

Laju Odogwu

“Dear Ajayi” Makes History as First Nigerian Production in Venice Damilola Orimogunje’s “Dear Ajayi” has been selected for the 2026 Giornate degli Autori, also known as Venice Days, at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The selection makes it the first Nigerian production to compete in the Venice Days section. The Nigeria-Germany co-production will have its world premiere as part of the competition.

Photo: 2o9ine Films

Set in 1990s southwestern Nigeria, “Dear Ajayi” follows two sisters, Ade and Titi Ajayi, whose lives have gone in very different directions. Ade is a committed Christian and the main breadwinner in the family, while Titi is an aspiring singer who has chosen a more independent path. When their paralysed mother requires care, the sisters have no choice but to come back together.

Orimogunje wrote and directed the film. The cast includes Bimbo Akintola as Ade and Tosin Adeyemi as Titi, alongside Lanre Hassan, William Benson, Antar Laniyan, Uzoamaka Power, Michelle Dede and Chioma Omeruah, (Chigul)

Photo: 2o9ine Films

Re Olunuga composed the music, while KC Obiajulu served as cinematographer. The film was produced by 2o9ine Films, with Mayana Films, Depth and Optics Productions and Zynox Productions joining as co-production partners.

The film received support from the Hubert Bals Fund+ Europe, while Luminalia is handling its world sales

Photo: 2o9ine Films

Ahead of its Venice premiere, the first trailer gives viewers a look at the Ajayi family and the strained relationship between the two sisters.

Dear Ajayi will have its press and industry screening on September 4, with public screenings scheduled for September 10 and 12 during Venice Days.

Watch the trailer below.

Movies

5 Nollywood Films to Stream on YouTube

Published

1 week ago

26 August 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: YouTube

YouTube is no longer limited to music videos, skits and short clips. Nollywood filmmakers have increasingly used the platform to release full-length movies, giving viewers another way to find recent Nigerian films without moving between different streaming services.

For anyone looking for something to watch, the options range from family drama and straight drama to comedy. Here are five Nollywood films currently available through the YouTube channels associated with their releases.

Alechenu – Family Drama (Biodun Stephen TV)

“Alechenu” is a family drama directed by Biodun Stephen and available on “Biodun Stephen TV” on YouTube. The film stars Royal Aziomaku in the title role, alongside Bimbo Ademoye, Mike Ezuruonye, Femi Adebayo and Blessing Jessica Obasi-Nze. Following its cinema release in July, the movie is now available for viewers who want to watch it on YouTube.

The film follows 13-year-old Alechenu, an autistic boy who leaves his home in Oyo and travels to Lagos in search of the mother he has never met. Armed with only a photograph and his birth certificate, he sets out to find her, but the search takes him into a family carrying secrets of its own. What begins as a young boy’s attempt to find his mother gradually becomes a journey into questions about his identity, his family and where he truly belongs.

Beauty of Us – Drama (NollyFamily TV)

“Beauty of Us” is a Nollywood drama starring Chinenye Nnebe and Daniel Etim Effiong. The full movie is available on “NollyFamily TV” on YouTube, where it is listed as “BEAUTY OF US (Full Movie) – DANIEL ETIM, CHINENYE NNEBE 2026 Latest Nollywood New Movie”.

The story follows characters whose relationships are tested by the choices they make and the circumstances they find themselves in. As personal interests and emotions begin to affect those relationships, the characters are forced to deal with the consequences of their decisions. With Nnebe and Etim Effiong leading the cast, the film offers a relationship-focused drama built around conflict, choices and the complications that follow.

Sibe – Comedy (Bimbo Ademoye TV)

“Sibe” is a comedy starring Bimbo Ademoye, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe and Deyemi Okanlawon. The film is available on “Bimbo Ademoye TV” on YouTube and runs for about 2 hours and 25 minutes. Ademoye takes on the title role, bringing the Sibe character she previously featured in her online content into a full-length movie.

The story follows Sibe as she finds herself caught up in a series of situations that turn everyday encounters into comic trouble. As the events unfold, her personality and the people around her drive the film’s humour, with one situation leading to another. For viewers who enjoy Bimbo Ademoye’s comedic roles, Sibe offers a longer story built around the character rather than a short online skit.

The Party Crashers – Romantic Drama (Omoni Oboli TV)

“The Party Crashers” is a 2026 romantic drama directed by Isioma Osaje and produced by Susan Ogutuga, with Omoni Oboli serving as executive producer. The film stars Michael Dappa, Sophia Chisom, Ihionu Sydney Chisom, Juliet Dunu and Chidera Frankline, and is available on “Omoni Oboli TV” on YouTube. It runs for about one hour and 34 minutes.

The film follows Chidi, a man buried in debt who presents himself as a successful logistics entrepreneur, and Amaka, an influencer whose glamorous lifestyle is also built on appearances. They meet at a lavish dinner and quickly develop a relationship, but their romance becomes complicated as Chidi’s creditors close in and Amaka’s carefully constructed image starts to fall apart. When the truth about their separate deceptions begins to surface, the couple must confront whether their relationship can survive what they have been hiding from each other.

Chika’s Secret – Drama (Uche Nancy TV)

“Chika’s Secret” is a Nollywood drama starring Ebube Obio and Mike Ezuruonye, with the full movie available on “Uche Nancy TV” on YouTube. The movie was uploaded on July 5, 2026, and has a runtime of about 1 hour and 37 minutes.

The film centres on Chika and the secret that gives the story its title, with events around her gradually bringing hidden issues to the surface. As the characters deal with the consequences of what has been kept from them, the story develops through personal relationships, difficult choices and revelations.

From family drama to comedy and romance, these five films offer different options for a Nollywood movie night.

Movies

5 Nollywood Films to Watch This Weekend.

Published

2 months ago

17 July 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: Instagram

If you’re planning a relaxed weekend indoors or looking for your next cinema outing, Nollywood has no shortage of compelling stories to keep you entertained. From crime thrillers and family drama to romantic comedies and culturally rooted epics, this list features something for every kind of movie lover. Whether you enjoy emotional storytelling, suspense or films inspired by Nigerian history and traditions, these five titles deserve a place on your watchlist.

The Return of Omotara Johnson – (2026/Crime drama Action-thriller)

The Return of Omotara Johnson marks Bukky Wright‘s return to one of her most iconic screen characters, nearly two decades after the original film became a favourite among Nollywood audiences. Directed by Adeoluwa Owu, the film follows Omotara, a woman determined to leave her troubled past behind and build a peaceful life with her son. That hope is shattered when he becomes the prime suspect in a murder case, forcing her to confront old enemies and buried secrets. Featuring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Chidi Mokeme, Timini Egbuson and Shaffy Bello, the crime drama combines suspense with emotional family conflict.

Apaara: The Outcast – (2026/Epic drama and historical thriller)

Apaara: The Outcast, directed by Damola Olatunji and Sunday Alabi Osibata, the film blends history, mythology and political intrigue into one gripping story. It follows a fearless freedom fighter whose struggle against corruption sparks betrayal, tragedy and a supernatural battle that stretches across generations. The cast includes Ibrahim Chatta, Muyiwa Ademola, Iyabo Ojo, Bimbo Ademoye, Adunni Ade and Antar Laniyan, making it one of the most ambitious Yoruba productions in recent times. Although it is scheduled to open in cinemas on July 24, its release is only a few days away, making it one to keep on your watchlist as you plan your next movie outing.

On Different Grounds – (2026/Romantic Comedy and Family Drama)

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mildred Okwo, the film centres on a wealthy separated couple who are brought back together during preparations for their daughter’s wedding. What begins as an uncomfortable reunion gradually turns into a heartfelt story filled with humour, awkward moments and the possibility of second chances. Led by Nkem Owoh, Jennifer Eliogu and Bob-Manuel Udokwu, the film balances laughter with genuine emotional moments.

Market People – (2025/Drama)

If you enjoy quiet, character-driven dramas, Market People is worth adding to your weekend watchlist. Directed by Jeremiah John, the film follows a grieving woman and a struggling writer whose lives become unexpectedly connected through an unusual housing arrangement. Starring Chimezie Imo, Elma Mbadiwe, Tina Mba, Francis Duru and Kelechi Udegbe, the film delivers a heartfelt story about healing, hope and the relationships that emerge in everyday life.

Alechenu – (2026/Emotional Family Drama)

Directed by Biodun Stephen, Alechenu tells the touching story of a young autistic boy who travels from Oyo to Lagos in search of the mother he has never met. Along the way, his journey uncovers long-hidden family secrets and changes the lives of everyone he encounters. Starring Bimbo Ademoye, Mike Ezuruonye, Femi Adebayo, Wumi Toriola and young actor Royal Aziomaku, the film explores family, identity and resilience while highlighting compassion and acceptance.

If you’re still deciding what to watch this weekend, these five Nollywood films are a solid place to start. Each one brings a different kind of story, whether you’re looking for suspense, laughter, heartfelt moments or a film that reflects familiar Nigerian experiences.