May has been an interesting month for Nollywood; we have welcomed two veterans, Tade Odigan and Chico Ejiro, the former impressed with his comic masterpiece—Gold Statue—while Mr. Ejiro’s Night Bus to Lagos did not leave much of an impression.
As expected, there have been a few romance stories. Don Omope came with Makate Must Sell, a copycat of Jade Osiberu’s Isoken that never reaches the heights of Osiberu’s terrific debut, and Moses Inwang, the director of Omotola Jalade’s last movie, Alter Ego, gave us Cold Feet, a boring romantic drama that never really found its feet.
We also witnessed The Delivery Boy, the brilliant directorial debut of cinematographer Adekunle Nodash Adejuyigbe. And there is Kunle Afolayan’s Mokalik, which opens on the last day of the month.
So, while May has been quite diverse and seen releases from some of Nollywood’s best, June seems like a rollercoaster of romance and comedies. Read on for a list of the most anticipated Nigerian films opening this June.
1. Mad About You (2019)
Blossom Chukwujekwu, who has been on a roll this year—he played the lead in Loving Daniella, Let Karma¸ and Joba—leads this romantic comedy about a successful Nollywood actor and its actor fiancée who is “a troublesome and egocentric wannabe Hollywood actor.”
Cast: Blossom Chukwujekwu, Linda Osifo, Annie Idibia, Ifu Ennada, Chinyere Wilfred, Stephen Damian, and Uche Nwaefuna.
Director: Victor Okpala.
Release Date: June 7.
2. Mother and Daughter-in-law (2019)
Kehinde Olorunyemi explores the complexities of the relationship between mothers and daughters-in-law in Nigeria.
When three mothers go to visit their married sons, they get into avoidable drama with their daughters-in-law, just when the situation is being managed, they find out they are the topic of a novel being written by one of the daughters-in-law cousins!
Cast: Shaffy Bello, Rachel Oniga, Jide Kosoko, Ebele Okaro, Kenneth Okolie, Iyabo Ojo, and Monica Friday.
Director: Kehinde Olorunyemi.
Release Date: June 7.
3. Coming from Insanity (2019)
Coming from Insanity was due to open in April but the producers had a change of mind because they feared Avengers: Endgame would have distorted the market; now that the Endgame’s madness has subsided, the film is being released.
In the mid-nineties, a 12-year-old boy (KOSSI) with genius-level intelligence, is one of many children trafficked through the Nigerian borders from Togo. He ends up with the Martins, an upper-middle class family of 4 in Lagos. At their home, he will work overtime for his meals and shelter as a houseboy.
Cast: Gabriel Afolayan, Sani Danja, Bolanle Ninalowo, Damilola Adegbite, Udoka Oyeka, Dakore Akande, Sharon Ooja, and Odunlade Adekola.
Director: Akinyemi Sebastian Akinropo.
Release Date: June 14.
4. The Bling Lagosians (2019)
A blockbuster comedy centered on throwing the ultimate Lagos party for the “1 percent of the 1 percent of Lagos”
The Holloways are one of Lagos’ most prestigious Families. They holiday in Europe, dress like royalty, hobnob with the political class and own the city’s most luxurious high-rise, St. Ives Towers. Their family name is a synonym for class and poise. When Mopelola Holloway, the sophisticated matriarch of the family, announces that she’s throwing a party for her fifty-first birthday—to top the headline-making shindig she threw the year before for her fiftieth—she unwittingly sets a series of events in motion that will have repercussions far from pleasant for the Holloway household.
Cast: Osas Ajibade, Alexx Ekubo, Ayoola, Bam Bam, Elvina Ibru, Bisola Aiyeola, and Toyin Abraham.
Director: Bolanle Austen-Peters
Release Date: June 28.