Honestly, if you are not currently stuck in a three-hour bottleneck on the Third Mainland Bridge, wondering why you agreed to go to a beach party at 2:00 PM, are you even in Lagos? December in Nigeria is a fever dream. It is a chaotic mix of loud music, expensive diesel, and that specific, dusty harmattan wind that makes your skin ashier than a chalkboard.
But eventually, the “outside” loses its charm. Your bank app starts sending you “low balance” notifications that feel like personal attacks, and your body decides it no longer recognizes the concept of dancing. That is when the real magic happens. You retreat to your living room, turn the AC down to a shivering 16 degrees, and let Nollywood tell you stories that feel like home.
Traffic, Small Chops, and Tears – The Ultimate Guide to Your Detty December Finest Movies
This year, the lineup is actually incredible. We have moved past the era of “glamour for glamour’s sake.” Our filmmakers are getting vulnerable, they are getting messy, and they are finally giving us the range we deserve. If you are looking to escape the sun or just need a reason to stay in your pajamas with a cold bottle of Maltina, here is exactly where you can find the best stories this season.
I have to start with Funke Akindele because, let’s be real, she owns December. After the record-breaking run of A Tribe Called Judah, she’s back with Behind the Scenes. It follows Aderonke, a woman who is essentially the “fixer” for everyone else but herself. It is one of those movies that makes you look at your own “strong friend” and wonder if they are okay. It’s got Tobi Bakre and Iyabo Ojo, so you know the energy is going to be through the roof.
The title alone is a mood, right? This one is produced by Ini Edo, and it is exactly what it sounds like: a family gathering that goes south faster than a Lagos danfo. There is a specific kind of trauma that only Nigerian family reunions can provide, and this film captures it with so much humor and scandal. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it is probably going to make you feel much better about your own relatives.
Toyin Abraham has this way of playing characters that remind you of at least three people in your extended family. In Oversabi Aunty, she plays that one relative who simply cannot mind her business. She manages to turn a wedding introduction into a crime scene of unsolicited advice. It is peak comedy, the kind you watch with your siblings while whispering, “That’s exactly like Mummy Grace.”
If you want something that feels a bit more “grand,” Niyi Akinmolayan’s Colours of Fire is the one. It is a fantasy epic starring Osas Ighodaro and Uzor Arukwe. There is something about watching a high-stakes, visually stunning Nigerian legend unfold while the harmattan haze is outside your window. It feels grounded but magical, a rare balance that Niyi usually nails.
I love a good meta-narrative. Directed by Wale Ojo, this one is about an aging director trying to make a comeback. It is self-aware, a bit campy, and features Chidi Mokeme (who I’m pretty sure hasn’t aged a day since 2004). It feels like a love letter to the industry itself, reminding us where we have come from while poking a little fun at our own tropes.
Jade Osiberu has this knack for making Lagos look like a dream you never want to wake up from. Technically a 2024 release, but it has become a staple. It captures the “shayo” and the “vibes” so perfectly that you can almost smell the suya through the screen. If you’re an IJGB (I Just Got Back) or just someone who loves the city’s romantic side, this is your vibe.
Sometimes you need a break from the loud comedies. Femi Adebayo’s historical drama on Netflix is a masterclass in tension. It is set in the 18th and 19th centuries, dealing with power and tradition. It is heavy, yes, but it’s the kind of “prestige TV” that makes you proud of how far our storytelling has come. Plus, the costumes? Stunning.
AY Makun and Toka McBaror teamed up for this action-thriller. It is about a waiter who gets caught in a hotel invasion. Think Die Hard, but with a Nigerian flavor. It is fast-paced and features a massive ensemble cast Regina Daniels, Deyemi Okanlawon, you name it. It is the perfect “popcorn movie” for when you just want to see things blow up.
This one is for the lovers of a good redemption arc. It follows a celebrity whose life implodes, forcing her back to the orphanage where she grew up. Shalewa Ashafa is brilliant here. It is a quiet, reflective movie that asks if we are more than our social media followers. Honestly? A bit of a reality check for the “soft life” era.
You can’t have a list like this without Jenifa. Whether she is in Ghana or Lagos, Funke Akindele’s most iconic character remains the heartbeat of Nollywood comedy. It is comfort food. It is the cinematic equivalent of a warm bowl of jollof rice at the end of a long day. You know what you’re getting, and you love every second of it.
What’s Next?
There is something so satisfying about watching these films while the rest of the world is screaming at a concert somewhere in Victoria Island. You get the drama without the sweat; the scandals without the expensive ticket prices.
I think we often forget that Nollywood is our mirror. It reflects the way we laugh at our own tragedies and the way we celebrate even when things are falling apart. So, while the “IJGBs” are busy complaining about the heat, you can be tucked away in your sanctuary, watching a masterpiece.
The year has been long. We have worked hard, we have survived the inflation, and we have kept our heads up. You deserve these few hours of escape. After all, the best way to end a “Detty” December is with a clean heart and a very long watchlist.
