Four Nigerian films open in Nigerian cinemas over three Fridays in November (6, 13 and 20), and a fifth, Dear Ajayi, goes from a limited run to a wide release. A Netflix series returns for its second season, and an Abuja-set film is launching with community screenings in Abuja and Lagos. Below is what's coming, who made each one, and how it's being released. The how matters as much as the what if you're planning your own film.
Friday 6 November: Loving Itohan
Loving Itohan opens in cinemas across Nigeria on 6 November, distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. It's a romantic drama about Itohan, her childhood love story and the experiences that shape it, directed by Orobosa Ikponmwen and starring Nancy Isime, Uzor Arukwe and Obehi Aburime, with Martha Ehinome, Dorathy Bachor, Chioma Nwosu and Grace Dein Coker.
Behind the camera, it's a Greoh Studios and NIP Studios production. Nancy Isime is also its executive producer, her first time in that role. The film's soundtrack single, "Itohan", by Isime and Hammerboi, came out on 23 October as part of the build-up to release.
Friday 13 November: three films on one day
The 13th is the crowded date. Three Nigerian films open on the same Friday through three different distributors, so they'll be competing for screens and for the same weekend audience.
Dear Ajayi (FilmOne)
Damilola Orimogunje's Dear Ajayi goes on wide release in Nigerian cinemas on 13 November, after a limited run in select cinemas that began on 18 September. It's set in 1990s south-western Nigeria: two estranged sisters, Ade and Titi Ajayi, have to live together again to care for their paralysed mother. Bimbo Akintola and Tosin Adeyemi play the sisters, with Lanre Hassan and Uzoamaka Power.
It took a long road to Nigerian screens. The film spent eight years in development and was shot in Ibadan, with KC Obiajulu as director of photography. It's a Nigeria–Germany co-production, made under the 2o9ine Films banner with Mayana Films (Germany), Depth & Optics Productions and Zynox Productions. It premiered at Venice Days on 10 September 2026, the first Nigerian production selected there, and won two prizes, the Bisato d'Oro for Best Cast & Performances and the CICT-UNESCO Enrico Fulchignoni Prize. It's now Nigeria's submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.
Issakaba: The Return (Blue Pictures)
Twenty-five years after the original, Issakaba is back. Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, who directed the 2001 film, directs again, and Sam Dede returns as Ebube, with Iyabo Ojo, Chidi Mokeme, Regina Daniels and Nosa Rex. The new film brings the vigilante story into present-day Nigeria. Blue Pictures is distributing it.
Five Figurines (Cinemax)
Akay Mason directs Five Figurines, the first feature from his company Element24Media, released through Cinemax. The cast is Bimbo Akintola, Ini Edo, Odunlade Adekola, Ireti Doyle and Uche Montana. That puts Bimbo Akintola in two films opening on the same day.
Friday 20 November: Ray of Hope
Kayode Kasum directs Ray of Hope, the first feature from Porshe Studios Africa, which opens in cinemas across Nigeria on 20 November through Cinemax. It's set in the fashion world, and the cast includes Jide Kene Achufusi, Sunshine Rosman, Stan Nze, Bucci Franklin, Uzor Arukwe and Zack Orji.
It opens on the same day FilmOne releases The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. That means it shares the weekend, and cinema screens, with a Hollywood franchise.
On Netflix: The Covenant, Season 2
Vincent Okonkwo's The Covenant, a VSL Media production, returns for a second season on Netflix. The producers' official trailer gives the premiere as 9 November, though some industry newsletters have reported 6 November. Netflix hadn't listed the season when we checked on 23 October, so look for the date on Netflix itself. Season 2 adds a storyline in South Africa.
The first season arrived on Netflix on 12 December 2025, and it's on Netflix in Nigeria: five episodes, with Gideon Okeke, Zubby Michael, Uzee Usman and Sola Sobowale in the cast.
In Abuja: Daddy Bear in community screenings
Not every film starts with a cinema chain. Daddy Bear, directed by Hajarat Alli and Korede Azeez for Cardinal Productions, is being shown in community screenings in Abuja and Lagos across November and December. No confirmed venues had been announced when we wrote this, so follow the film's own site for listings.
It's an Abuja story. Fahd, whose wife dies in childbirth, raises his 10-year-old daughter and a newborn in a multicultural Muslim household. The tagline is "A film about fathers who show up". Principal photography began on 15 August 2026, with Fadamana Okwong as cinematographer, Adio Solanke as editor and Jonathan Ainwonkhai as composer. The film was supported by Africa No Filter's Entertainment and Media Hubs Program, powered by CcHUB's Creative Economy Practice.
Early December: what's next
- 4 December: Jagun Jagun 2: War of Warriors on Netflix, according to Femi Adebayo.
- 4 December: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives in Nigerian cinemas. Daniel Oriahi directs this adaptation of Lola Shoneyin's novel, which was selected for TIFF 2026's Centrepiece programme.
- 11 December: The Four: No One Fights Alone, directed by Funke Akindele, in Nigerian cinemas through FilmOne.
- 16 December: Bestie, in Nigerian cinemas through FilmOne, with presales from 1 November.
Three ways to get a film seen
This month's slate shows the three routes Nigerian films are taking right now. Most go to cinemas through a distributor: FilmOne, Blue Pictures and Cinemax between them carry every November cinema release above. Some go to a streamer. And Daddy Bear is building its audience screening by screening, with grant support behind it. We looked at why independents are doing well in The State of Nollywood in 2026.
Look at the credits too: the same actors turn up across several of these films. If you're 18 to 65, you act, and you're based in or around Abuja, we keep an open casting pool. You can submit your details once and we'll come back to you when a role fits. And if you're making something of your own, we offer production services and rent camera, lighting and sound kit from our rental page.
Poster: 2o9ine Films.
