Top Nigerian Romance Movies Of All Time

From grand Lagos weddings to quiet village desires, Nigerian filmmakers have given us romance in every angle possible. Some stories are tender and poetic. Others are dramatic and chaotic. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Weekend Trust spotlights some of the greatest love stories ever shared on screen.

Over the years, Nollywood romance has changed in style and scale. The early films were intense and full of big emotions. Today’s movies are more polished and layered, but whether old or new, these films have shaped how Nigerian cinema tells stories about love.

Super Love (2003)

In the early 2000s, few on-screen couples commanded audience attention like that of Ramsey Nouah and Genevieve Nnaji. Their chemistry in Super Love (2003), directed by Andy Amenechi, remains one of Nollywood’s most iconic romantic performances. The story follows Prince Obinna, played by Nouah, who returns to his village to choose a bride and unexpectedly falls for Amaka, portrayed by Nnaji, a young woman mistreated by her stepfamily. Pete Edochie gave the family dynamic authority and passion, and the movie explored themes of social distinction, parental opposition, and steadfast commitment. It established Ramsey and Genevieve as the industry’s ideal love couple and showed the emotional realness that defined early Nollywood romance. 

World Apart (2004)

Very popular for its opening scene with Ini Edo breaking her water pot after being amazed by an aeroplane,  World Apart, directed by Tchidi Chikere, continued the theme of love across social classes. Ini Edo starred as Uli, a kind village girl who falls in love with Prince Promise, played by Kenneth Okonkwo. Liz Benson gave a powerful performance that heated up the story. The film showed that love frequently has to compete with status, pride, and family expectations, issues that many viewers could relate to. 

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Keeping Faith (Early 2000s)

Another early 2000s romance that many may have forgotten is Keeping Faith which featured Genevieve Nnaji alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) and Bimbo Akintola. In contrast to Super Love’s village the ruling class plot, this movie concentrated on modern, urban relationships. It looked at ego, trust, and betrayal. The story showed the impact that pride and individual decisions may have on love. It mirrored the realities of adult relationships and was both emotional as well as realistic. 

Games Women Play (2005)

Games Women Play, directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen was another romcom but with a different approach.The film, starring Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Stella Damasus, and Desmond Elliot, explored romance through the perspective of friendship and rivalry. It revealed how relationships can be damaged by ambition, jealously, and insecurity. It was dramatic and glamorous, capturing the bold style of mid-2000s Nollywood.

However, by the mid-2010s, Nollywood romance began to look and feel different. Production quality improved, and stories became more modern and relatable.

When Love Happens (2014)

Starring Weruche Opia, Gideon Okeke, and Beverly Naya, this romance flick offered a lighter take on romance. The story follows Mo, a wedding planner who pretends to have a boyfriend at a wedding to avoid embarrassment. What starts as a lie slowly turns into real feelings. The film was playful and easy to watch, showing the awkward and funny side of falling in love.

Fifty (2015)

In 2015, Fifty, directed by Biyi Bandele, widened the idea of romance. Starring Ireti Doyle, Omoni Oboli, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, and Nse Ikpe-Etim, the film followed four successful women dealing with love, marriage, and personal growth at midlife. It challenged the idea that romance is only for young people. Instead, it showed that love at 50 can be just as intense and complicated.

The Wedding Party (2016)

A major turning point came with The Wedding Party.  Directed by Kemi Adetiba and starring Adesua Etomi-Wellington and Banky W, along with veterans like Sola Sobowale and RMD, the film focused on a glamorous Lagos wedding filled with drama. Family tension and past relationships threaten to ruin the big day. The movie became one of Nollywood’s biggest box office hits. It proved that romantic comedies could be both entertaining and commercially successful.

The Royal Hibiscus Hotel (2017)

The Royal Hibiscus Hotel, directed by Ishaya Bako, brought a softer kind of romance to the screen. Zainab Balogun played Ope, a chef who returns to Nigeria to help save her family’s hotel. She meets Deji, played by Kenneth Okolie, and romance slowly grows between them. The film balanced love and ambition in a simple, charming way.

Isoken (2017)

Featuring Dakore Egbuson-Akande and directed by Jadesola Osiberu, it addressed a common social pressure in Nigeria: the need to get married by a specific age. Isoken played by Dakore, is in her 30s, successful, and unmarried. She meets two men, one who defies expectations and the other whom her family approves of. The movie looked at choosing love for oneself, family influence, and tribal identity.

As Nollywood expanded globally through streaming platforms, romance stories became even more diverse.

Love Is War (2019)

The movie, directed by Omoni Oboli and starring Oboli and RMD, revolved around a married couple competing in a political election. The film focused on how ambition and ego can put a relationship to the test.

Namaste Wahala (2021)

Marking Nigeria and India’s first movie collaboration, Namaste Wahala produced by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja and starring Ini Dima-Okojie and Ruslaan Mumtaz explored cross-cultural love between a Nigerian woman and an Indian man. The couple faced resistance from their families, highlighting how culture and tradition can shape relationships.

The Perfect Arrangement (2022)

The Perfect Arrangement, directed by Chinaza Onuzo, stars Sharon Ooja as Tade Kalejaiye, along with Bovi Ugboma and Pere Egbi. Tade, a self-assured and independent woman from an affluent and politically connected family, is the main character of the tale. She gives the impression that she has everything under control, yet underneath that assurance is emotional mess and unresolved past. Beyond a simple love triangle, a deeper narrative of familial pressure, devotion, and self-worth emerges. 

Before Valentine (2022)

Before Valentine is another 2022 romantic ensemble that captured much attention.  Set in Lagos and unfolding in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, the film revolves around four women working at an upscale beauty salon. As the most romantic day of the year approaches, their personal lives begin to unravel. Secrets surface, relationships are tested, and emotional decisions must be made. Rather than focusing on a single love story, Before Valentine’s explored multiple relationships at different stages, from new romance to struggling marriages and complicated affairs. The film features a wide cast including Shaffy Bello, Yvonne Jegede, Shawn Faqua, Meg Otanwa, Uche Montana, Venita Akpofure, and Baaj Adebule.

A Sunday Affair (2023)

Two best friends, Uche (Nse IkpeEtim) and Toyin (Dakore EgbusonAkande), are at the heart of the complex romance drama A Sunday Affair. Their friendship is put to the test when they unintentionally fall in love with the same man, Sunday (Oris Erhuero). The film, which takes place against the vibrant scenery of Lagos, genuinely and emotionally examined love, devotion, and betrayal. In contrast to conventional love triangles, A Sunday Affair emphasised the pain of unfulfilled desire, the boundaries of friendship, and the emotional fallout from decisions.

While Nollywood’s English-language romances have enjoyed widespread commercial success and global streaming reach, Northern Nigeria’s Kannywood industry has long been telling its own powerful love stories in Hausa. Rooted in culture, music, and strong moral themes, Kannywood romance films often explore love through the lens of tradition, faith, family honour, and social expectation. 

Inda So Da Kauna (1994)

Inda So Da Kauna is one of the foundational romance dramas of early Hausa home video cinema. Directed by Aminu Hassan and adapted from a novel by Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino, the film featured performances by pioneering actors including Ado Ahmad Gidan Dabino and Shehu Hassan Kano. Its themes of love, family pressure, and social values resonated deeply with 1990s audiences and contributed significantly to the rise of Kannywood’s romantic storytelling tradition.

Raga (2005)

Directed by Mansoor Sadiq, Raga is frequently associated with the rise of Adam A. Zango as a leading romantic figure in Kannywood. The cast also includes Sani Musa Danja, Ali Nuhu, Bashir Nayaya, Shehu Hassan Kano, and Zainab Umar. Zango’s performance in Raga is widely regarded as a breakthrough moment in his career, showcasing his emotional depth and screen presence. The film helped solidify his status as one of Kannywood’s most prominent romantic leads and remains a reference point in discussions about early 2000s Hausa cinema.

Hubbi (2012)

Released in 2012, Hubbi is a romantic drama directed by Ali Nuhu and produced by Tahir I. Tahir under Prince Zango Productions. The film stars Ali Nuhu alongside Adam A. Zango, Samira Ahmad, Aisha Abubakar, Ummi Fadila, and Bashir Nayaya. Blending romance, drama, and music, Hubbi became popular for its emotional storytelling and the star power of its leading actors. For many fans, it remains a strong example of how Kannywood successfully merged heartfelt narratives with charismatic performances.

Kar Ki Manta Da Ni (2019)

Kar Ki Manta Da Ni is a Hausa romantic drama directed by Ali Nuhu and produced by Nasiru Danhajiya under FKD Production. The film features Zahra’u Abdurrahman, Haruna Aliyu, Jamilu Sani Awayman, Maryam Booth, Shamsu Dan Iya, Umar M. Shareef, and veteran actors including Ibrahim Bala and Saratu Gidado. The story centres on the intense love between Nasir and Fatima, whose relationship is strained by financial hardship and societal expectations. Its portrayal of youthful ambition, heartbreak, and resilience resonated strongly with audiences, making it one of the most talked-about Hausa romance films of its release year.

Labarina (2020)

Labarina, which began airing in 2020, is a long-running Hausa romance series directed by Aminu Saira and produced by Saira Movies. Though technically a television series rather than a single film, it became a cultural phenomenon in Kannywood. Starring Nuhu Abdullahi, Nafisa Abdullahi (later replaced by Fati Washa), Isa Feroz Khan, Teema Yola, Ibrahim Bala, and others, the series follows an emotionally layered love story filled with betrayal, reconciliation, and dramatic twists.