The Nigerian cinema space is set for an interesting run in the coming months, with a mix of big-budget productions, star-studded dramas, fantasy stories, literary adaptations and the return of a beloved faith-based classic.
From Sweet 16, which arrives in cinemas this August and features the late Alexx Ekubo in what has been described as his final completed screen performance, to The Four: No One Fights Alone, Funke Akindele’s December release, several highly anticipated titles are already generating attention.
Here are five cinema movies to watch out for in the coming months.
1. Sweet 16: Alexx Ekubo’s final completed film arrives in cinemas
The wait for Sweet 16 is almost over, with the musical drama scheduled to open in cinemas across Nigeria and West Africa on August 14, 2026.
Written and directed by filmmaker Willis Ikedum, the film tells the story of a privileged and outspoken 16-year-old girl, played by Daisy Eugene, whose plans for an extravagant birthday celebration take an unexpected turn when she discovers disturbing secrets about her family’s financial situation.
Set against the backdrop of family, growing up and changing perceptions of wealth, Sweet 16 was primarily filmed in Port Harcourt. The film combines comedy and drama while also exploring the experiences of teenagers as they begin to understand the realities of adulthood.
The film had its Lagos premiere ahead of its nationwide release, bringing together actors, teenage performers, TikTok personalities and other entertainment figures.
Among those who attended the premiere was Mercy Aigbe, who also stars in the film. Speaking about the project, the actress connected its story to her experience as a mother of a teenager.
“I have a 16-year-old son, Juwon, and I understand perfectly how important this film is. At 16, they want to take on the world and do everything their minds are set on, but this urge must be maximised well. I enjoyed my role in the movie and also got to experience Port Harcourt,” she said.
The cast also includes Alexx Ekubo, Yemi Alade, Emeka Nwagbaraocha, Kalu Ikeagwu, Denrele Edun, Angel Unigwe, Broda Shaggi, Chief Imo, Uche Jombo and Eronini Osinachi.
One of the biggest talking points around the movie is Alexx Ekubo’s involvement. The late actor plays a proactive political leader and governor of the state where the story takes place, in what has been described as his final completed screen performance.
Yemi Alade also joined the cast in July 2026, adding another major entertainment name to the project. The singer had previously appeared in productions including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Time of the Month and Black Is King.
Produced by Wheels Pictures and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, Sweet 16 will open in cinemas on August 14.
2. Alahun: The Weaver brings fantasy to the big screen
One week after Sweet 16 arrives in cinemas, another highly anticipated title will make its debut.
Alahun: The Weaver is scheduled for release on August 21, 2026, and its story takes audiences into the world of royalty, mystery and fantasy.
This film follows the life of a man who faces mockery for his love of weaving baskets and plaiting hair in a society that believes the role is for women and not men. The movie’s central premise is simple but intriguing: a throne is at stake, a princess is missing, and the person at the centre of the unfolding legend is an unlikely hero who is a weaver.
That premise alone sets Alahun: The Weaver apart from the family and comedy-driven stories dominating much of the cinema space. The film promises a fantasy tale built around power, royalty and a character whose journey could change the fate of an entire kingdom.
The movie also boasts an impressive cast drawn from different generations of Nigerian screen talent.
The lineup includes Lateef Adedimeji, Ibrahim Chatta, Odunlade Adekola, Omowunmi Dada, Kunle Remi, Faithia Balogun, Tomi Ojo, Olarotimi Fakunle, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Peter Fatomilola, Moshood Fattah, Amanda Ugoh and Tope Tedela.
With such a cast and a story built around a missing princess and a fight for a throne, Alahun: The Weaver is one of the titles to keep an eye on when it opens in cinemas on August 21.
3. Agbara Nla: The Return takes a 1993 classic to cinemas
For audiences who remember the era of faith-based television dramas, Agbara Nla: The Return carries something the other films on this list do not: nostalgia.
The upcoming movie is a modern continuation and revival of Evangelist Mike Bamiloye’s landmark 1993 Christian television series Agbara Nla, also known by its English title, The Ultimate Power.
More than three decades after the original series introduced audiences to its world of spiritual warfare, the story is returning in a new form and this time on the commercial big screen.
Agbara Nla: The Return is scheduled to premiere nationwide on October 1, 2026.
The story returns to the familiar village of Abule Muwonleru, where a new generation becomes caught in an intense spiritual battle. Christian faith is once again placed against ancient dark forces, witchcraft and occult practices.
While the new film has been updated for contemporary audiences, it retains connections to the world and characters that made the original production memorable.
Evangelist Mike Bamiloye reprises his legendary role as Isawuru, while Philip Olubakin plays Olaboye, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye takes on the role of Kola, and Aanu Kolade Abiodun plays Bose.
Familiar character dynamics involving Ayamatanga and Paulina are also being brought back. The production represents a collaboration between Mount Zion Film Productions, Sozo Films and Christian streaming platform Circuits. It is directed by Damilola Mike-Bamiloye.
The theatrical release is being handled by Blue Pictures Distribution, marking a major shift for the Mount Zion legacy as Agbara Nla moves from the television screens and faith-based viewing spaces of the 1990s to the commercial cinema environment.
For longtime followers of Mount Zion productions, that transition alone makes Agbara Nla: The Returnone of the films to watch out for this year.
4. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives brings a beloved novel to life
Some of the excitement around The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives comes from the fact that the story already has a loyal audience.
The upcoming film is an adaptation of Lola Shoneyin’s internationally acclaimed 2010 novel of the same name and is scheduled for global theatrical release on December 4, 2026.
Produced by Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Films in collaboration with the Nile Group, Genesis Group and Silverbird Group, the project brings one of Nigeria’s most recognisable contemporary literary stories to the cinema.
The story centres on Baba Segi, an unlettered but wealthy patriarch who lives in a polygamous household with his four wives and seven children.
The seemingly settled family structure begins to unravel when Bolanle, Baba Segi’s youngest and university-educated wife, joins the household. Unlike the other wives, Bolanle struggles to conceive. Her inability to have a child sets off a chain of events that gradually exposes secrets that have been buried within the family.
At its heart, the story explores patriarchy, class, marriage, survival and the complicated relationships that can exist inside a polygamous household.
The film is directed by Daniel Oriahi, with Odunlade Adekola playing the central character, Baba Segi. The impressive cast also includes Iyabo Ojo, Mercy Aigbe, Bimbo Ademoye, Omowunmi Dada, Shaffy Bello, Bisola Aiyeola, Nancy Isime and Daniel Etim Effiong.
Before its December theatrical release, the film is also set to receive major international exposure. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives has been selected for the Centrepiece Programme at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, scheduled to take place from September 10 to 20, 2026.
By the time it reaches cinemas on December 4, audiences will finally get to see how Shoneyin’s much-loved story has been translated from the page to the screen.
5. The Four: No One Fights Alone marks Funke Akindele’s return to cinemas
Rounding off the list is The Four: No One Fights Alone, Funke Akindele’s upcoming drama, which is scheduled to open in cinemas globally on December 11, 2026.
The project is particularly significant because Akindele is taking on several major roles behind the scenes. She wrote, directed and produced the film under the Funke Akindele Network, with FAAN TV also involved in the production. FilmOne Entertainment is handling its distribution.
The emotionally charged drama is set between the vibrant city and the picturesque Odu Community. It follows Esosa and three fiercely loyal women who come together to protect the future of a young man they deeply love.
Their journey puts their friendship, courage, faith and maternal resilience to the test. At the centre of the story is the bond between the four women, with the film built around the idea that “no one fights alone.”
Akindele has assembled a large ensemble cast for the project. The four women are played by Funke Akindele, Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha and award-winning singer Waje.
The cast also features industry veterans and leading actors including Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ali Nuhu, Timini Egbuson, Lateef Adedimeji, Uzor Arukwe, Wunmi Toriola, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Antar Laniyan, John Ekanem and Ireoluwa Olaniyan.
Musicians, media personalities and reality stars are also part of the project, including Shoday, Omotunde Adebowale David, popularly known as Lolo1, Samuel Banks, Kolapo Omotosho and Ayomide Iwasokun.
Akindele’s decision to return to cinemas with The Four comes after the remarkable performance of her 2025 film Behind The Scenes.
By January 2026, Behind The Scenes had crossed the ₦2 billion mark at the Nigerian box office, becoming the first Nollywood production to achieve the milestone. It eventually ended its Nigerian theatrical run with more than ₦2.1 billion in ticket sales and overtook Everybody Loves Jenifa as West Africa’s highest-grossing film.
That success followed a string of major cinema releases from Akindele, including A Tribe Called Judah, Battle on Buka Street and Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
With that track record behind her, expectations will naturally be high when The Four: No One Fights Alone arrives on December 11.
Announcing the new project, Akindele said audiences have grown with her over the years and now expect stories that entertain while reflecting their own experiences.
“With The Four, we are exploring the relationships that shape us, challenge us and stay with us. I think audiences will find a part of themselves in this story,” she said.
Conclusion
From August to December, Nigerian cinemas will have no shortage of new stories competing for the attention of movie lovers.
Sweet 16 will kick off the run with a teenage family drama and the added significance of Alexx Ekubo’s final completed screen performance. Alahun: The Weaver will follow with a fantasy story centred on a missing princess and a battle for a throne.
October will bring Agbara Nla: The Return, connecting a new generation of moviegoers with a faith-based story that first captured audiences in 1993.
December, meanwhile, promises two of the biggest releases on the list. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives will bring Lola Shoneyin’s celebrated novel to the big screen on December 4, while Funke Akindele’s The Four: No One Fights Alone will follow a week later.
With different genres, generations of actors and filmmakers, and very different stories at their centre, these five films give audiences plenty to look forward to as the year enters its final stretch.
