Filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has responded to criticism over his newly released series Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens, saying his approach to filmmaking is not designed to appeal to every audience.
Speaking in a video shared on his Instagram page on Tuesday, he said, “I make films for thinkers,” adding that he prefers to stay true to his creative vision rather than dilute his storytelling for mass acceptance. He explained that his films are built around ideas, culture and meaning, noting that audiences who connect with such themes tend to understand his work better.
He said: “I don’t make films to please everybody. I make films for people who are willing to think deeply and follow the story. From Irapada to The Figurine, I’ve faced criticism before, but with time, people began to understand the vision.
“You can’t judge a layered story after one episode because some stories require patience. This season introduces new characters and new directions, and it takes time to see where it’s all going. I appreciate those who understand my style of storytelling. Not everyone will connect with it, and that’s fine.”
Afolayan also added that criticism is expected whenever a film takes a different creative direction. According to him, filmmaking involves interpretation and audiences are free to hold different opinions about a project.
Afolayan’s Anikulapo franchise began with the 2022 epic film Anikulapo, which was released on Netflix and achieved global success shortly after its debut. The film topped Netflix’s global chart for non English films at the time of its release and recorded strong viewership, helping expand the reach of Yoruba language storytelling to international audiences.
The follow up series, Anikulapo: The Ghoul Awakens, released on Netflix on January 30, 2026, has also recorded strong early performance. The series climbed to the number one position on Netflix Nigeria within 24 hours of its release, reflecting strong local audience interest.
The Ghoul Awakens is currently available on Netflix and streaming in more than 100 countries.
Like earlier titles in the franchise, the series has global distribution through the platform, giving it wide international exposure and continuing the filmmaker’s effort to project African stories to a global audience.
