By Isaac Atunlute
From pulse-pounding thrillers to heartfelt romances, below are brilliant movies to consider this weekend
A working man (2025) – Hollywood / Action
Jason Statham stars as Levon Cade, a former Black Ops operative turned construction worker whose quiet life is shattered when his boss’s daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers. His mission to rescue her uncovers vast corruption, one he may not escape unhurt from. Expect raw action, intense suspense and Statham at his gritty best.
A Lagos Love Story (2025) Nollywood/Romance
Set in the vibrant backdrop of Lagos, this romantic drama follows Promise Quest (played by Jemima Osunde), an ambitious event planner striving to save her family’s home. Her latest task is managing King Kator (played by Mike Afolarin), a charismatic Afrobeats superstar, during the city’s Art and Culture Week. Feelings spark, egos clash and love creeps its way into this beautifully told story of ambition, family and unexpected connection.
Final destination: Bloodlines (2025) – Hollywood / Horror
The iconic franchise returns darker and more psychological than ever. Plagued by recurring nightmares, a college student tracks down the one person who can help her break the curse that has haunted her family for generations. Bloodlines deepens the lore behind the death curse and delivers a terrifying ride for horror lovers who crave both chills and plot twists.
Havoc (2025) – Hollywood / Crime Thriller
From The Raid director Gareth Evans, Havoc stars Tom Hardy as a bruised detective navigating the criminal underworld after a botched drug deal. On a mission to rescue a politician’s son, he uncovers a citywide web of corruption. Brutal, gripping, and brilliantly shot. Think John Wick with a touch of heart and a lot more bruises.
My Father’s Shadow (2025) – Nollywood / Drama
Directed by Akinola Davies Jr, this emotionally resonant drama is set during Nigeria’s pivotal 1993 presidential election. Two brothers, Remi and Akin, are taken on an unexpected journey to Lagos by their estranged father, Folarin, to reclaim unpaid wages. The drama had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Nigerian film in the festival’s official selection.
Isaac Atunlute presents a weekend movie guide featuring films from various genres and origins. "A Working Man" (2025) is an action-packed Hollywood film starring Jason Statham as Levon Cade, who is thrust back into perilous action to rescue his boss's daughter from human traffickers, revealing widespread corruption. "A Lagos Love Story" (2025) from Nollywood explores romance against the lively backdrop of Lagos, with themes of ambition and unexpected love between an event planner and a charismatic musician.
"Final Destination: Bloodlines" (2025) offers Hollywood horror with a psychological edge, where a college student confronts a haunting family curse. "Havoc" (2025), a crime thriller directed by Gareth Evans, features Tom Hardy as a detective uncovering a web of corruption in the criminal underworld. Lastly, the Nollywood drama "My Father’s Shadow" (2025) by Akinola Davies Jr. is set against the 1993 Nigerian presidential election backdrop, telling an emotionally driven story of two brothers and their father, garnering acclaim with its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
