Audience Reactions to the Different Aspects of Nollywood Movies

• Main Author: Uchenna Onuzulike
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Pittsburgh 2016-10-01
• Series: CINEJ Cinema Journal
• Subjects: Nollywood, Reception Analysis, Video Film, Favorite Aspects, Disliked Aspects
• Online Access: http://cinej.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cinej/article/view/137

This article juxtaposes two audiences-Nigerians in Nigeria and Nigerians in South Africa in order to ascertain how they perceive favorite aspects and disliked aspects of Nigerian movie productions, popularly known as Nollywood. The results indicate that the two groups favor the depiction of Nigerian/African cultures over other themes; yet, Nigerians in South Africa disfavor the reality of Nollywood movies. The disliked aspects of these films were repetition, poor quality and the supernatural. Grounded in reception analysis and mirroring McLuhan’s hot-cool model, the analysis indicates that the quality of Nollywood movies impacts how audiences decode the movies. Findings suggest that for those living outside of Nigeria, nostalgia leads them to seek movies that allow them to escape into a Nigeria that never was.