Why We Should Watch Nollywood Movies Beyond Just Reviews

I’ll be honest—I’m one of those people who love watching movies based on reviews. If someone watches a movie and casually tells me, “That film is nice, you should check it out,” my interest is already activated. Sometimes, I don’t even ask for details; that single comment is enough to push me to search for the movie and watch it myself.

This is how powerful reviews are. They influence our choices more than we realize. But the more I watch Nigerian movies, the more I’ve come to understand that reviews, as important as they are, should not be the only thing that determines whether a movie is worth watching or not.

Reviews are personal. They are based on individual taste, mood, expectations, and even timing. A movie someone calls “too slow” might be exactly what another person needs—deep, emotional, and thoughtful. Another film that gets criticized for being “too dramatic” might actually reflect real-life Nigerian experiences. When we rely too much on reviews, we sometimes deny ourselves the chance to discover movies we would genuinely enjoy.

This is where storytelling outside the screen becomes very important, especially in Nollywood.

Before anyone presses play on a movie, the first thing they usually see is the synopsis. That short description is supposed to introduce the story, create curiosity, and help viewers decide if the movie matches their interests. Unfortunately, many Nigerian movies don’t take this part seriously enough. Some synopses are too vague, some reveal too much, and others don’t even explain what the movie is really about.

A strong synopsis doesn’t need to be long or complicated. It just needs to be clear, honest, and engaging. It should tell viewers what kind of story they’re about to watch, who the main characters are, and what problem or conflict drives the movie. When done well, a synopsis gives people confidence to watch a movie—even without reading reviews.

This is something movie writers, producers, and directors should pay more attention to. The work shouldn’t end when filming is done. How a movie is presented to the audience matters just as much as the movie itself. Actors may attract attention, especially popular ones, but star power alone cannot sustain interest. People want to understand the story they are about to invest their time in.

Nollywood has grown tremendously over the years. Our stories are richer, our production quality is improving, and our movies are reaching global audiences. To keep this growth going, we need to communicate our stories better. A well-written synopsis helps viewers connect emotionally even before watching the first scene.

At the same time, viewers also need to change how they approach movies. Reviews should guide us, not control us. Instead of depending entirely on someone else’s opinion, we should read the synopsis, understand the story, and decide if it speaks to us personally.

In the end, movies are meant to be experienced, not judged in advance. When Nollywood combines strong storytelling with clear, engaging synopses, viewers won’t watch movies just because of reviews—they’ll watch because the story truly interests them. And that’s how meaningful connections between films and audiences are built.