{ "id": "ep6cyzxjr5", "slug": "lionheart-2018-film", "title": "Lionheart (2018 film)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical", "label": "Drama and biographical films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2015-to-2019", "label": "Drama films 2015 to 2019", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2015-to-2019" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2015-to-2019.drama-films-2017-and-2018", "label": "Drama films 2017 and 2018", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2015-to-2019.drama-films-2017-and-2018" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.afr.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Sub-Saharan Africa · 2001 to 2020: Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.afr.t2001.culture.performance", "path": [ { "id": "geo.afr", "label": "Sub-Saharan Africa", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.afr" }, { "id": "geo.afr.t2001", "label": "Sub-Saharan Africa · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.afr.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.afr.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.afr.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.afr.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.afr.t2001.culture.performance" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Lionheart (2018) is Genevieve Nnaji's directorial debut, a Nigerian comedy-drama about Adaeze saving her father's Enugu bus company; the first Netflix original film from Nigeria, disqualified from the Oscars for its English dialogue.", "snippet": "Lionheart (2018) is Genevieve Nnaji's directorial debut, a Nigerian comedy-drama about Adaeze saving her father's Enugu bus company; the first Netflix original film from Nigeria, disqualified from the Oscars for its English dialogue.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.drama-biographical.drama-films-2015-to-2019.drama-films-2017-and-2018", "markdown": "# Lionheart (2018 film)\n\n**Lionheart** is a 2018 Nigerian comedy-drama directed by [Genevieve Nnaji](https://www.edgepedia.org/genevieve-nnaji), her directorial debut, in which Adaeze Obiagu steps up to run her ailing father's transport company alongside her uncle in a male-dominated industry.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) The film runs 95 minutes, is performed in English and Igbo with English subtitles, and was produced in Enugu, Nigeria, by The Entertainment Network (T.E.N.).[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E) After premiering at the 2018 [Toronto International Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-international-film-festival), it was acquired by Netflix as the first Netflix original film from Nigeria.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Director / star | Genevieve Nnaji, in her directorial debut; she also co-wrote and executive produced[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) • [3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-lionheart-review-20190117-story.html) |\n| Premiere and acquisition | Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, 8 September 2018; Netflix acquired worldwide rights, its first original film from Nigeria[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) |\n| Principal cast | Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, Onyeka Onwenu, Kanayo O. Kanayo[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) |\n| Languages and length | English and Igbo with English subtitles; 95 minutes[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E) |\n| Screenplay | Chinny Onwugbenu, Genevieve Nnaji, Ishaya Bako, Emil Garuba, and C.J. Obasi[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) |\n| Reported deal value | $3 million from Netflix for worldwide rights[4](https://www.citinewsroom.com/2019/01/movie-review-nnajis-lionheart-unlikely-to-outgrow-its-netflix-subplot/) |\n| Critical reception | 100% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer from 7 reviews; 63% audience score[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lionheart_2018) |\n| Awards | Won none at the 2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, where Living in Bondage won Best Overall Movie and Toyin Abraham won Best Actress in a Drama for Elevator Baby[6](https://thenmdb.com/movie/lionheart) • [14](https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca/season/2/news/here-are-your-winners-amvca-7/news) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nAdaeze Obiagu (Genevieve Nnaji) is the director of logistics and operations at Lionheart Transport, the Enugu-based bus company owned and managed by her father, Chief Ernest Obiagu ([Pete Edochie](https://www.edgepedia.org/pete-edochie)). The company, described in the film as the number-one transport service in Nigeria, operates more than two hundred buses, carries fifty thousand weekly passengers, and can move its fleet from Enugu to any of Nigeria's thirty-six states.[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E) When Ernest suffers a heart attack, he passes leadership not to his daughter, who has worked beside him for seven years, but to his younger brother Godswill (Nkem Owoh), who is to run the company with her.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) • [2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E)\n\n**The debt.** Adaeze and Godswill discover that the business is in dire financial straits: a large loan must be repaid within 30 days, and a greedy, corrupt competitor moves to take over the company.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) • [7](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/lionheart) The two, initially at odds in temperament and method, work together to raise the money and save the firm.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) A subplot involves a banker who offers an additional loan in exchange for sexual access to Adaeze; Godswill punches him, and both uncle and niece land in jail.[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E)\n\n## Production and Netflix acquisition\n\nThe film was produced by T.E.N. (The Entertainment Network), with MPM Premium as international seller.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) Netflix announced its acquisition of worldwide rights on 8 September 2018, the day of the Toronto premiere, and the film became the first Netflix original film from Nigeria.[1](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart) A Nigerian government report placed the deal in the context of Netflix's $8 billion budget for original movies that year.[8](https://fmino.gov.ng/netflix-acquires-right-to-a-nollywood-movie/) Citi Newsroom reported the price Netflix paid for worldwide rights as $3 million.[4](https://www.citinewsroom.com/2019/01/movie-review-nnajis-lionheart-unlikely-to-outgrow-its-netflix-subplot/) The Nigerian Movie Database lists a budget of ₦80,000,000 and a Netflix digital release date of 4 October 2018.[6](https://thenmdb.com/movie/lionheart)\n\nThe \"Netflix original\" label drew scholarly criticism. Noah Tsika, reviewing the film in *African Studies Review*, wrote that Netflix merely distributes the film and did not produce it, despite branding it an original; the film was developed and completed under the auspices of the Nigerian studio.[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E)\n\n## Reception\n\nCritics responded favorably. On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 100% Tomatometer from 7 reviews and a 63% audience score.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lionheart_2018) Robert Abele of the *Los Angeles Times* called it a \"sleepy charmer\" and described Nnaji's Adaeze as an appealing 21st-century global heroine.[3](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-lionheart-review-20190117-story.html) Ben Kenigsberg of *The New York Times* wrote that it is \"globally minded filmmaking that is also comfortingly familiar.\"[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lionheart_2018) The *Guardian* (Nigeria) praised the aerial shots of Enugu and Kano and the film's saturated, orderly vision of Nigeria.[9](https://guardian.ng/features/lionheart-women-taking-leadership/)\n\nAt the 2020 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards, Lionheart did not win Best Overall Movie or Best Actress in a Drama, while Nkem Owoh received an AMAA 2020 nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.[6](https://thenmdb.com/movie/lionheart) • [14](https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca/season/2/news/here-are-your-winners-amvca-7/news)\n\n## Oscar disqualification\n\nLionheart was chosen as Nigeria's first-ever submission for the [Academy Award for Best International Feature Film](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-award-for-best-international-feature-film), but the [Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences) disqualified it at the 92nd Academy Awards because of the amount of English dialogue in the film.[10](https://time.com/5792339/queen-sono-netflix-africa/) The decision was controversial: commentators argued that the rule misunderstands multilingual countries such as Nigeria, where English is an official language, and Tsika noted that Netflix did not appeal the decision and did not permit Nnaji to do so.[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E) • [11](https://thebryme.com/entertainment/reviews/lionheart/)\n\n## Distribution obstacles in Nigeria\n\nBefore the Netflix deal, the film faced resistance at home. FilmHouse, one of Nigeria's major movie theater chains, refused to screen Lionheart; Nnaji pointed out that the vertically integrated company, which has a production-distribution branch called FilmOne, did not have a stake in the film.[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E) After production wrapped, the film settled for a Netflix platform, which Tsika judged far short of what Nnaji had hoped: availability in a range of formats befitting Nollywood's heterogeneous audiences, not all of whom have internet access.[2](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E)\n\n## Significance for Nollywood\n\nThe film is widely treated as a milestone for [Nigerian cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinema-of-nigeria). It was Netflix's first original film from Nigeria, as the company had previously only licensed Nigerian films such as October 1, and commentators describe it as the most accessible entry point to contemporary [Nollywood](https://www.edgepedia.org/nollywood).[12](https://cinemacafri.com/screen/nigeria-nollywood-profile/) • [8](https://fmino.gov.ng/netflix-acquires-right-to-a-nollywood-movie/) *Time* grouped it with Mati Diop's *Atlantique* as a 2018-19 Netflix release that reached international acclaim and signaled to African filmmakers that they need not leave home to reach large audiences.[10](https://time.com/5792339/queen-sono-netflix-africa/) Academic studies have taken the film as a case study in Nollywood's dialogue, family values, and gender themes.[13](https://repository.uniben.edu/pragmatic-study-conversational-implicature-selected-nollywood-films)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Netflix Acquires Worldwide Rights to \"Lionheart\", About Netflix (8 September 2018)](https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-acquires-worldwide-rights-to-lionheart)\n2. [Noah Tsika, review of Lionheart (2018), African Studies Review 65(1), March 2022](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/african-studies-review/article/genevieve-nnaji-director-lionheart-2018-95-minutes-english-and-igbo-with-english-subtitles-enugu-nigeria-the-entertainment-network-streaming-on-netflix-no-price-reported/4EE8F7EEAFC747AC1B06B5FE878B120E)\n3. [Robert Abele, \"Review: Nigerian charmer 'Lionheart' champions a global heroine\", Los Angeles Times (17 January 2019)](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-mini-lionheart-review-20190117-story.html)\n4. [\"MOVIE REVIEW: Nnaji's 'Lionheart' unlikely to outgrow its Netflix subplot\", Citi Newsroom (2019)](https://www.citinewsroom.com/2019/01/movie-review-nnajis-lionheart-unlikely-to-outgrow-its-netflix-subplot/)\n5. [Lionheart (2018), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lionheart_2018)\n6. [Lionheart (2018), Nigerian Movie Database (NMDB)](https://thenmdb.com/movie/lionheart)\n7. [Lionheart: Parents' Guide & Movie Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/lionheart)\n8. [\"Netflix Acquires Right to a Nollywood Movie\", Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Nigeria (2 October 2018)](https://fmino.gov.ng/netflix-acquires-right-to-a-nollywood-movie/)\n9. [Melissa Mordi, \"Lionheart: Women Taking Leadership\", The Guardian Nigeria (22 January 2019)](https://guardian.ng/features/lionheart-women-taking-leadership/)\n10. [\"Inside Queen Sono, Netflix's First African Original Series\", Time (2020)](https://time.com/5792339/queen-sono-netflix-africa/)\n11. [Lionheart (2018) review, BRYME Entertainment](https://thebryme.com/entertainment/reviews/lionheart/)\n12. [\"Nigerian Cinema & Nollywood: National Profile\", Cinéma Cafri](https://cinemacafri.com/screen/nigeria-nollywood-profile/)\n13. [\"A Pragmatic Study of Conversational Implicature in Selected Nollywood Films\", University of Benin Repository](https://repository.uniben.edu/pragmatic-study-conversational-implicature-selected-nollywood-films)\n14. [AfricaMagic - Entertainment loved by Africa, DStv](https://www.dstv.com/africamagic/en-ng/show/amvca/season/2/news/here-are-your-winners-amvca-7/news)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Drama and biographical films (individual works) › Drama films 2015 to 2019 › Drama films 2017 and 2018*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/lionheart-2018-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/lionheart-2018-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Lionheart (2018 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/lionheart-2018-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Lionheart (2018 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionheart-2018-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/lionheart-2018-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionheart-2018-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Lionheart (2018 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/lionheart-2018-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Lionheart is Genevieve Nnaji's directorial debut, a Nigerian comedy-drama about Adaeze saving her father's Enugu bus company; the first Netflix original film from Nigeria, disqualified from the Oscars for its English dialogue." }