Nollywood fans are up in arms over the industry’s repetitive casting and low-quality YouTube films, with many accusing producers of prioritizing quantity over quality.
Social media has been buzzing with frustration, as movie lovers voice their discontent.
The debate was ignited by popular social media personality Lizzy Adebayo, who took to Instagram to criticize the monotony of recent Nollywood productions.
Adebayo voiced her concerns over the frequent reuse of the same actors in multiple films and the lack of innovation in storytelling and production.
“Watching Nollywood movies on YouTube is wasting my Wi-Fi and data money,” she lamented.
She pointed to a few well-known actors, including Ruth Kadiri, Destiny Etiko, and Timini, who consistently appear together in the same films.
Adebayo expressed disappointment over the decline of Nollywood, comparing today’s output unfavorably to the industry’s more epic past. “There are no more moral lessons, no more new stories,” she said.
In response to the criticism, fans on X (formerly Twitter) weighed in. Muyiwa Okpa bluntly stated, “Same storyline, same actors, same setting… all rubbish!”
He added that he preferred Hollywood movies over Nollywood’s current offerings. Another user, Lynos Akali, praised streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon for providing high-quality, thrilling Nigerian movies.
“These movies must be of high quality and standard before being accepted,” he stated.
On the other hand, some defended the industry, pointing out that movie production is not cheap. Ony Factory argued that producers conduct research to cater to audience preferences, and criticized critics for expecting high-quality films for free on YouTube. “If it’s easy, come and do it,” he challenged.
As the debate rages on, it’s clear that Nollywood’s YouTube offerings are under the spotlight, with fans calling for an overhaul in both production values and storytelling.
