Every December, Nollywood transforms into a festive powerhouse. Cinema lobbies fill with families dressed in their holiday best, social media buzzes with debates about which new release deserves the inflated ticket prices, and box office numbers soar to heights producers dream about all year. December is not just another month; it is the industry’s main event. Yet this tradition is relatively new. Less than a decade ago, the idea of a Nigerian Christmas blockbuster was still experimental. Today, it is firmly established.
The Pioneers: Weddings and Family Chaos
The journey began with films that were not even about Christmas. The Wedding Party (2016) and its sequel (2017) proved that Nigerians flock to cinemas in December. Their box office success ; ₦452 million and ₦433 million respectively taught Nollywood a crucial lesson: December audiences crave spectacle. Glamour, comedy, romance, and family drama wrapped in premium visuals became the winning formula. Then came Chief Daddy (2018). Unlike its predecessors, it leaned directly into Christmas. Released on December 14, its plot centered on a family gathering during the holidays. The result was ₦387 million at the box office. Chief Daddy showed that Christmas films did not need to be religious; they could be comedic, heartfelt, and relatable, while still delivering spectacle.
The Netflix Effect: Going Global
The game shifted again in 2021 with A Naija Christmas, Netflix’s first Nigerian Christmas original. Directed by Kunle Afolayan, it told the story of three brothers racing to marry before Christmas. The film was unapologetically Nigerian, church scenes, market chaos, and family dynamics but its themes of parental pressure and modern love resonated globally. Watch parties sprang up across the diaspora, proving Nollywood’s holiday films could travel. Netflix also raised the bar. Budgets grew, cinematography sharpened, and scripts tightened. Suddenly, Nigerian Christmas films looked polished enough to sit alongside international offerings, positioning Nollywood as a global player.
The Arms Race: Bigger, Louder, Flashier
By 2019, Jade Osiberu’s Sugar Rush showed that December films did not even need to be about Christmas. Released on December 25, it was a heist comedy packed with visual effects and kinetic energy. Audiences loved it, and its ₦287 million gross proved holiday crowds would support films that looked expensive and moved fast. This sparked an arms race. Each December, studios pushed for bigger casts, flashier costumes, and more elaborate sets. Holiday audiences expected premium quality, and Nollywood delivered.
The 2024 Milestone: Christmas in Lagos
The culmination of this evolution arrived with Christmas in Lagos (2024). Jade Osiberu partnered with Amazon MGM Studios to capture “Detty December” Lagos’s month-long party season. The film featured Afrobeats stars like Ayra Starr and Adekunle Gold, lavish weddings, and iconic Lagos landmarks. Its production scale was unprecedented, blending Nigerian, American, and UK actors in multiple storylines reminiscent of Love Actually. Released on Prime Video December 20, it proved Nollywood Christmas films could compete globally with Hollywood’s holiday rom-coms.
Why December Matters
The economics are simple: December is when Nigerians spend. Families reunite, students return home, and the diaspora floods back. Everyone wants entertainment that feels festive. For studios, a successful December release can make or break the year. Box office numbers consistently show December films outperform similar releases in other months. Cinema chains know this and raise ticket prices accordingly. December is Nollywood’s most valuable real estate.
The December Playbook
Seven years into Nollywood’s Christmas blockbuster era, certain patterns have become clear. Ensemble casts dominate because audiences want value for their ticket money. Family dynamics resonate because they mirror real holiday experiences. Production value matters more in December than at any other time, with audiences demanding crisp cinematography, standout costumes, and expensive-looking locations. Comedy remains king, but films that balance humor with emotional depth perform best. Music also plays a crucial role, with Afrobeats soundtracks and festive needle drops elevating the cinematic experience.
Challenges Ahead
Still, Nollywood’s Christmas paradise faces hurdles. Streaming cutbacks in 2024–2025 have reduced international investment, putting more pressure on theatrical releases. There is also a creeping sameness. Too many films follow the Chief Daddy formula: wealthy families, multiple storylines, comedic chaos, and heartfelt resolution. Audiences may soon demand fresher narratives. The next frontier lies in diversity. Nollywood needs Christmas films set outside Lagos and Abuja, stories that reflect different realities such as financial struggles, loneliness, or religious doubt. The best holiday films balance joy with honesty, and Nollywood has the opportunity to explore those complexities.
Looking Forward
As families gather this Christmas, they are participating in a tradition barely a decade old but already entrenched. Nollywood discovered that December is not just a season; it is the industry’s crown jewel. The challenge now is to create genuine classics, films so culturally resonant they become part of Nigeria’s holiday tradition. Chief Daddy came close, A Naija Christmas has potential, and Christmas in Lagos is a bold step forward. But the true Christmas classic is still waiting to be made.
