Nigerian filmmaker and actor, Kunle Afolayan, has revealed why an increasing number of filmmakers in the country are turning to YouTube to release and distribute their movies.

Afolayan identified the strength of the United States dollar against the naira as one of the major factors driving the growing interest in the video-sharing platform.

The filmmaker made this known during a conversation with former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, on the Nidacity podcast.

According to Afolayan, the current exchange rate has made dollar-based earnings from YouTube particularly attractive to Nigerian filmmakers.

He explained that filmmakers can potentially earn significant revenue when their movies attract large numbers of views on the platform. He cited the example of a movie generating one million views and potentially earning about $10,000, depending on the circumstances surrounding the content and its monetisation.

Afolayan, however, stressed that YouTube does not offer filmmakers the same level of financial returns as major streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Despite this, he said YouTube has become an accessible alternative for filmmakers who may not have the connections, influence or bargaining power required to secure deals with major streaming platforms.

The filmmaker also pointed out that the current attraction to YouTube could change if the exchange rate improves significantly.

He suggested that if the dollar were to fall to around ₦200 to $1, the financial incentive that is currently encouraging filmmakers to move to YouTube could become considerably weaker.

Afolayan’s comments highlight the impact of Nigeria’s foreign exchange situation on the country’s entertainment industry, particularly the way filmmakers produce, distribute and monetise their work.

As production and distribution costs continue to put pressure on Nollywood, filmmakers are increasingly exploring digital platforms that allow them to reach audiences directly while creating additional opportunities to generate revenue.

YouTube has consequently become an important part of Nollywood’s evolving distribution landscape, although Afolayan’s remarks suggest that the current rush may be closely tied to the economic value of dollar earnings.

The development further reflects the changing business model of the Nigerian film industry, where filmmakers are increasingly looking beyond traditional cinema releases and major streaming platforms for ways to reach wider audiences and sustain their productions.