Nollywood crime thriller The Herd is set to debut on Netflix on November 21, just five weeks after its theatrical release.
A search for the film on Netflix already displays a trailer tagged “coming on November 21,” signaling the streaming rollout. Released on October 17, Daniel Etim Effiong’s film had a strong box office performance, grossing ₦47.1 million in its opening week.
Industry analysts, including Nigerian Box Office on X, have noted that such a short theatrical window could negatively affect earnings. A compressed release schedule may encourage audiences to wait for the digital debut rather than attend cinemas. This strategy mirrors a growing trend in Hollywood, where studios have shortened theatrical windows to around 45 days before transitioning films to streaming platforms.
The film’s marketing team has yet to issue an official statement regarding the Netflix release, likely aiming to sustain cinema attendance before the digital rollout.
The Herd follows Gosi, a man struggling to cope as his wife battles a recurring cancer scare. Hoping for a brief reprieve, he joins friends to celebrate a wedding, only for their night of laughter and reunion to turn into horror when they are ambushed and kidnapped by armed men disguised as cattle herdsmen.
The cast includes Daniel Etim Effiong, Kunle Remi, Tina Mba, Mercy Aigbe, and Genoveva Umeh.