Filmmaker Moses Inwang has described Nollywood as predominantly a low-budget film economy, stating that roughly 85 percent of all movies produced in the Nigerian film industry operate on very limited financial resources.

Speaking during an appearance on TVC's E-Splash, the veteran director highlighted the economic realities facing Nigerian filmmakers, pointing out that despite the industry's massive global profile, the majority of titles are produced under tight financial constraints. Actor and director Ramsey Nouah reinforced the sentiment regarding film distribution, warning that taking movies to the traditional cinema circuit is often "not a wise financial decision" for creators due to thin profit margins and high operational risks.

Inwang’s commentary comes around the release of his ambitious project, Ordinary People, an eight-episode action-thriller series streaming globally on Netflix. Set in the gated Mirage Estate, the show explores the hidden lives of residents whose quiet, polished exteriors conceal buried secrets, crime syndicates, and past lives. Filmed across Nigeria and Germany over three years, the high-stakes series features a massive ensemble cast including Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Sharon Ooja, Adunni Ade, Michelle Dede, Lasisi Elenu, and Jackie Appiah.

Nollywood has long been recognised as one of the world's largest film industries by volume, historically built on low-cost, rapid-turnaround straight-to-video productions.

While the rise of modern multiplexes and international streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video has ushered in high-budget blockbusters over the last decade, production costs, inflation, and revenue-sharing models with cinema exhibitors continue to present steep financial hurdles for independent producers.