Nollywood actor and filmmaker Daniel Etim-Effiong has made a outstanding entry into movie directing, as his debut characteristic, The Herd, grossed N30.1 million in its opening weekend on the Nigerian field workplace.
Based on information from the Nigerian Field Workplace, the crime thriller recorded N28.8 million between October 17 and 19, 2025, and a cumulative N30.1 million in its first week of launch. This makes it one of many strongest debuts for a Nollywood title within the second half of 2025, solidifying Etim-Effiong’s transition from in entrance of the digicam to behind it.
Co-produced by FilmOne Studios, ToriTori Movies, Serendipity HHC, and Airscape, The Herd is a stirring exploration of affection, household, and generational change set in South West Nigeria. It combines parts of crime and psychological drama, providing audiences a layered story that displays the evolving themes of recent Nigerian cinema.
Earlier than its nationwide launch, The Herd generated important trade buzz by way of a collection of high-profile promotional occasions. These included an unique dinner hosted in collaboration with Filmhouse Group, That Good Media, Nigerian Worldwide Movie Summit (NIFS), and Legend Lodge. The red-carpet Lagos premiere drew distinguished Nollywood personalities similar to Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Kate Henshaw, Kunle Remi, and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, alongside producers, distributors, and cultural tastemakers.
Earlier in Might 2025, a shorter model of the movie was screened on the Marché du Movie throughout the Cannes Movie Pageant, marking an early milestone in its journey to worldwide recognition. Etim-Effiong additionally featured on a panel titled “The Nollywood Conversations: A Deep Dive into Alternatives to Current African Tales for International Screens,” hosted by FilmOne Leisure in partnership with NIFS. The dialogue spotlighted Nollywood’s rising world presence and the artistic alternatives rising for African filmmakers on worldwide platforms.
With a powerful home opening and prior publicity at Cannes, The Herd represents a defining second in Nollywood’s ongoing evolution, balancing native storytelling with world cinematic requirements. Its field workplace efficiency additionally continues the upward trajectory seen in 2025 with hits like Gingerrr, Ori: The rebirth and others, all of which have strengthened the trade’s industrial standing.
As The Herd continues its theatrical run, early figures counsel it might grow to be one of many yr’s standout Nollywood releases, additional cementing Daniel Etim-Effiong’s repute as one of many trade’s most versatile artistic forces.
Daniel Etim-Effiong is a Nigerian actor, director, and filmmaker recognized for his versatility and compelling display presence. He studied chemical engineering on the University of Lagos earlier than transitioning into artistic arts.
After a short profession within the oil and gasoline sector, he pursued formal movie coaching at AFDA Movie School in Cape City, South Africa, the place he honed his expertise in directing, screenwriting, and manufacturing.
Etim-Effiong formally started his skilled appearing profession in 2013, debuting within the NdaniTV net collection Gidi Up, the place he gained widespread recognition for his position as Folarin. His breakout efficiency within the collection helped set up him as one of many faces of Nigeria’s rising new wave of display skills.
Over time, he has featured in a various vary of tasks spanning movie, tv, and net productions. His credit embody “Skinny Lady in Transit,” “The Males’s Membership,” “Plan B,” “From Lagos with Love,” “Fishbone,” “A Soldier’s Story II,” “Chief Daddy,” “Oloture,” and “The Marriage ceremony Party.” Recognized for his capability to embody advanced characters with emotional depth, Etim-Effiong has grow to be one in every of Nollywood’s most bankable and revered actors, even on Nollywood YouTube.
Past appearing, he has additionally constructed a powerful repute behind the digicam. As a producer and storyteller, he’s deeply dedicated to creating genuine African narratives that resonate each domestically and internationally. His manufacturing credit embody quick movies and branded content material tasks beneath his media outfit, ToriTori, which focuses on storytelling for social affect.
