Nollywood remakes have the potential of driving a defining moment in Nigeria’s film industry, as box office revenues soared by 125% to ₦3.5 billion in 2024, cementing the industry’s growing commercial power. Much of this success has been propelled by a return to its roots: the remaking and rebooting of classic films. Movies like Living in Bondage: Breaking Free (2019) and Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story (2020) didn’t just rake in revenue; they reawakened national pride and nostalgia, showcasing the immense potential of legacy intellectual property when modernised with care.
But while some classics have enjoyed a deserved comeback, many others, equally culturally rich and narratively compelling, remain curiously overlooked. This inconsistency raises a pressing question: If Nollywood is embracing its heritage, why are some of its most potent early stories still sitting in the archives?
A Mixed Bag of Remakes: Lessons from the Hits and Misses
When a remake is done right, it becomes more than a commercial strategy; it’s a cultural renaissance. Living in Bondage: Breaking Free extended the story arc of Andy Okeke with a new generation of characters and themes while retaining the spiritual weight of the original. It showed reverence, reimagined intelligently, and delivered a thrilling cinematic experience.
Similarly, Rattlesnake: The Ahanna Story gave a fresh, adrenaline-fuelled update to the gritty action of the original, staying loyal to its thematic spine while elevating its visual language.
But the path hasn’t been smooth. Flops like Nneka the Pretty Serpent and Glamour Girls (2022) underscore what happens when remakes miss the point. The former failed to blend the elements of folklore and thriller, leaving audiences feeling disconnected. The latter traded the original’s social realism for surface-level glitz, losing the narrative’s soul. Even commercially successful remakes like Aki and Paw Paw were criticised for depending solely on nostalgia without strong storytelling.
What these failures highlight is this: nostalgia is not a plot. Great remakes require strong scripts, compelling direction, and an understanding of why the original mattered in the first place.
The Forgotten Gold: Nollywood Stories Ripe for Revival
1. Igodo: The Land of the Living (1999)
A fantasy-adventure unlike anything else in Nollywood’s early catalogue, Igodo told the story of a band of warriors journeying through a cursed land to break an ancestral curse. A modern remake, equipped with advanced CGI and world-class production design, could elevate it to an African Lord of the Rings. Thematically, Igodo explores sacrifice, spirituality, and the unseen worlds, themes deeply rooted in Igbo cosmology and still profoundly relevant today. Its ensemble cast and epic narrative are tailor-made for multi-part storytelling or a blockbuster cinematic trilogy.
2. Blood Money (1997)
Arguably one of the most iconic horror-thrillers of Nollywood’s “Golden Age,” Blood Money tackled the terrifying subject of ritual killings for wealth. In today’s context of cyber fraud and material obsession, this story is more relevant than ever. A remake could push beyond the original’s low-budget limitations and deliver a psychological horror film layered with social commentary dissecting the moral rot caused by inequality, desperation, and the culture of instant wealth.
3. Karishika (1996)
A seductive female demon terrorising the city? Karishika terrified a generation and became a cult classic. But a modern retelling could transcend its B-movie roots. Imagine Karishika not as a flat villain but as a symbol of repressed female rage — a woman demonised by society and reanimated as an avenger. This reinterpretation, layered with gender discourse, mysticism, and socio-religious critique, could transform the film into a bold feminist horror epic.
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4. Osuofia in London (2003)
Nkem Owoh’s Osuofia was a comedic triumph of its era, but its premise is dated. A direct remake would feel forced. Instead, a spiritual sequel exploring themes of identity and globalisation through a younger Osuofia descendant caught between the digital age, diaspora pressures, and Nigerian tradition could inject fresh satire into the series. It could also explore “Japa” syndrome, influencer culture, and reverse culture shock in a way that resonates with today’s audience.
5. Glamour Girls (1994)
The botched 2022 remake only proved how rich the original’s concept is. A Glamour Girls revival doesn’t need sparkle; it requires grit. An anthology-style series exploring different women’s survival stories in Lagos’ elite social scene would reclaim the film’s lost essence. Themes of power, sex, class, and resilience deserve deeper, darker, more honest treatment in the hands of bold writers and directors.
What Nollywood Needs to Get Right
1. Embrace Elevated Genre Storytelling
Igodo should be mythic and majestic. Blood Money should be a socially scathing horror. Karishika must become symbolic. These are not just remakes; they’re genre reinventions tailored to Nigeria’s spiritual, political, and emotional realities.
2. Reinterpret, Don’t Imitate
Lazy remakes copy; great ones reimagine. Find the cultural heartbeat of the original, then ask, What does this story mean in 2025? Karishika isn’t just a demon now, she’s a metaphor. Osuofia isn’t just a village man abroad; he’s a lens on global youth identity.
3. Build International Collaborations
Remakes should aim high. Target Netflix, Prime Video, and global festivals. Collaborate with diaspora talents, producers, and visual effects experts. Nollywood stories, when told right, are global stories.
4. Respect Cultural Sensitivities
Films like Blood Money and Karishika continue to tap into deep-seated spiritual fears. Framing them as morality tales or cultural explorations, not occult fantasies, will reduce pushback while enhancing narrative depth.
5. Invest in Scripts, Not Just Stars
No matter the budget, weak scripts will sink any remake. Hire culturally fluent writers, invest in development, and collaborate with indigenous knowledge keepers, especially for mythological tales like Igodo.
In conclusion, Nollywood’s remake fever is a sign of its confidence. But to truly honour its past and define its future, the industry must look beyond surface nostalgia and ask bold questions. Which stories deserve resurrection and why? What do they say about Nigeria today?
The answers lie in the vault, waiting to be reborn with relevance, respect, and cinematic boldness. The archives are ready. The world is watching. And Nollywood must rise to the occasion.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why are Nollywood remakes so popular now?
Nostalgia sells, and remakes of beloved classics enable filmmakers to appeal to both older fans and new viewers with updated production quality and storytelling relevance.
Q2: What makes a Nollywood remake successful?
Success hinges on respecting the original’s core themes, modernising the story intelligently, and investing in strong writing, acting, and direction.
Q3: Why did some recent remakes like Nneka the Pretty Serpent and Glamour Girls fail?
They strayed too far from what made the original work, removing cultural depth, social commentary, and emotional authenticity in favour of gloss and surface-level appeal.
Q4: What older Nollywood films deserve a remake?
Films like Igodo, Blood Money, Karishika, Osuofia in London, and Glamour Girls have powerful story foundations that remain culturally and commercially relevant.
Q5: How can filmmakers avoid backlash when remaking horror films?
Frame these stories as cultural allegories or morality tales, respect religious and cultural boundaries, and consult community leaders when appropriate.
