The Cinema of Nigeria, affectionately known as Nollywood, boasts a rich history dating back to the late 19th century, with the first films screened in Lagos in 1903 and the earliest feature film, Palaver, made in 1926. Following Nigeria's independence in 1960, the industry experienced a "Golden Age" of expansion, significantly boosted by the 1972 Indigenization Decree which transferred cinema ownership to Nigerians, leading to early blockbusters like Papa Ajasco (1984).

The "Video film era" commenced in the 1990s with the seminal Living in Bondage (1992), propelling Nollywood to become the world's second-largest film industry by volume in the mid-2000s, profoundly influencing cultures across Africa and the diaspora. Since then, a "New Nigerian cinema" has emerged, prioritizing quality and professionalism with films such as The Figurine (2009). This shift has led to a resurgence of cinema culture, making Nollywood the world's third most valuable film industry by 2013.