Veteran Actor Francis Odega Laments Declining Quality of Nollywood Movies

Nollywood veteran Francis Odega has criticized the current state of Nigeria’s film industry, claiming the quality of movies has sharply declined compared to earlier productions.

Speaking on the popular Where Is The Lie podcast, Odega reflected on his decades-long career, stressing that Nollywood films from his era were far more memorable than today’s releases.

“Back then, one script would give us one unforgettable movie. But now, one script can give you seven bad movies, and that’s not right. Nollywood back then is far better than the Nollywood of today,” he said.

Nollywood Pioneer Reflects on Industry Changes

Odega, who has been in the film industry for over 30 years, described himself as one of the pioneers of Nollywood. He noted that the actors’ organization he helped establish initially went by Nigerian Actors Guild (NAG), later renamed the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), laying the groundwork for the booming industry that followed.

“When we started, Nollywood was just a phenomenon. I have been in the movie industry for 30 years, and I can tell you, we made films with enduring impact,” Odega explained.

The actor’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about production standards, storytelling, and the commercial pressures facing Nigeria’s film industry, which produces thousands of movies annually for both local and international audiences.