Nigerian cinema has long been dominated by romance and drama, but in recent years, visionary filmmakers have started exploring sci-fi, fantasy, mythology, and action.
These movies appeal directly to geeks who crave world-building, heroes, villains, and genre-bending stories. Here’s our carefully selected Top 5, with 3 honorable mentions.
1. Ratnik (2020)
Director: Dimeji Ajibola
Producer: The Ark Hub
Why Watch: Nigeria’s most ambitious sci-fi film yet. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, a war veteran returns to find strange tech and mystical forces threatening humanity.
With cyberpunk visuals and CGI, Ratnik is Nollywood’s boldest attempt at Afrofuturist cinema. A must-watch for fans of Mad Max or The Matrix.
2. King of Thieves (Agẹṣinkólé) (2022)
Director: Adebayo Tijani & Tope Adebayo
Producer: Femi Adebayo (under Euphoria360)
Why Watch: A Yoruba fantasy epic blending action, mythology, and folklore. It tells the story of Agesinkólé, a ruthless bandit wielding mystical powers.
It’s Nollywood’s answer to Lord of the Rings, with rich costumes, magic, and fight sequences.
3. King of Boys (2018)
Director: Kemi Adetiba
Producer: Kemi Adetiba Visuals
Why Watch: Though not fantasy, this crime-political thriller feels like a superhero origin story for its anti-heroine, Eniola Salami. Dark, layered, and gritty, it resonates with fans of The Dark Knight and The Godfather. Kemi Adetiba builds a cinematic universe that feels larger-than-life.
4. Rise of the Saints (2020)
Director: Samuel Olatunji
Producer: Sam Olatunji Studios
Why Watch: A spiritual action-fantasy mixing Yoruba folklore with Christian mythology. It reimagines the legend of Queen Moremi Ajasoro, placing a chosen young man at the center of a prophecy. For geeks, it’s an excellent dive into African myth reimagined for modern cinema.
5. Mamba’s Diamond (2021)
Director: Seyi Babatope
Producer: Uche Okocha (Play Network Studios)
Why Watch: A fast-paced action-heist comedy with martial-arts sequences. Two amateur thieves accidentally steal a priceless diamond from an international cartel. Think Rush Hour meets Ocean’s Eleven, but with Naija flair.
Honourable Mentions
Elesin Oba: The King’s Horseman (2022)
Director: Biyi Bandele
Why Watch: Adapted from Wole Soyinka’s play. A cerebral, myth-heavy tale about ritual, death, and destiny. For geeks who love philosophy and cultural depth.
Kajola (2009)
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
Why Watch: Widely criticized but historically important as one of Nigeria’s first 3D sci-fi films. A flawed pioneer that showed Nollywood’s hunger for futuristic storytelling.
Aníkúlápó (2022)
Director: Kunle Afolayan
Why Watch: A fantasy epic about love, betrayal, and a man who cheats death. Rich in Yoruba lore and visually stunning. A fantasy-drama that geeks of mythology will love.
Conclusion
From the post-apocalyptic battles of Ratnik to the myth-heavy world of King of Thieves and the gritty universe of King of Boys, Nigerian cinema is proving that geek-friendly films are here to stay.
These movies showcase how Nollywood can merge culture, spectacle, and imagination, offering stories that rival Hollywood’s biggest genre hits but with a distinctly African soul.