Francis Odega criticises Nollywood decline, saying films from his era were more unforgettable than many produced today

Veteran Nigerian actor Francis Odega has said the quality of films produced by Nollywood has drastically reduced over the years, declaring that movies made during his era were far superior to many released today.

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Speaking on a recent episode of the Where Is The Lie podcast, Francis Odega argued that the industry has shifted away from producing memorable classics in favour of what he described as repetitive and poorly executed projects.

“Back then, one script would give us one unforgettable movie,” Francis Odega said.

“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.”

Francis Odega criticises Nollywood decline at a time when the industry continues to expand its global reach through streaming platforms and international partnerships.

Despite that growth, the actor maintained that artistic standards have weakened.

The 30 year industry veteran insisted that he was among the pioneers who laid the groundwork for the sector’s rise.

He recalled that before the name Nollywood became widely recognised, the professional body representing actors was known as the Nigerian Actors Guild, NAG, before it was renamed the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

“I was among the people who made Nollywood,” Francis Odega said.

“When we started, Nollywood was just a phenomenon. Our organisation used to be called Nigerian Actors Guild before we later changed it to Actors’ Guild of Nigeria. It was after then that Nollywood came.”

He added that he has been active in the movie industry for three decades, underscoring what he described as a powerful legacy shaped by discipline and originality.

While some younger filmmakers argue that modern production techniques and wider distribution have strengthened the industry, Francis Odega’s remarks are likely to ignite debate about whether rapid commercialisation has come at the expense of storytelling quality.

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The comments have since sparked conversation among fans and practitioners, reflecting broader tensions between tradition and innovation in one of Africa’s most influential creative sectors.