Nollywood actor Timini Egbuson has admitted that he once looked down on YouTube movies, making a candid confession about how his perspective on the platform has changed. The actor shared the reflection on X on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, joking that he might have struggled financially if he had continued dismissing productions released on YouTube.
His statement was brief, humorous and revealing. It also drew attention to the growing place of YouTube movies in Nigeria’s entertainment industry, where filmmakers and actors can distribute their work directly to audiences outside traditional cinema releases.
What Timini Egbuson said about YouTube movies
Timini made the admission in a post on his official X account, @_Timini, acknowledging that his earlier attitude towards YouTube movies had changed.
He wrote: “Can’t believe I was looking down on YouTube movies at some point. Hunger go don kpai me by now 😂😂😂😂”
The statement, written in conversational Nigerian Pidgin and English, translates roughly to the idea that he might have gone hungry had he continued looking down on YouTube movies.
His use of humour gave the confession a lighthearted tone, but the message was clear: he no longer sees the type of production as something to dismiss.
However, Timini did not provide a detailed explanation of why he initially looked down on YouTube movies. He also did not identify a specific incident that changed his mind or disclose how much money he has earned from such productions.
His post is therefore best understood as an admission that his perspective has changed, rather than a detailed account of his earlier reservations.
Read his statement on X: @_Timini’s post published on October 13, 2026.
Why YouTube movies matter in Nollywood
For years, cinema releases and major streaming platforms have occupied prominent positions in conversations about film production, distribution and prestige. YouTube, meanwhile, has developed into another route through which Nigerian filmmakers can reach viewers.
Unlike a conventional cinema release, a film uploaded to YouTube can be watched by people with internet access without requiring them to visit a physical cinema. Audiences can discover a production through recommendations, searches, social media clips and links shared by friends.
This gives filmmakers another way to put their work before viewers, although a large audience is not guaranteed simply because a film is uploaded.
YouTube also has a formal monetisation system. According to the platform’s official help documentation, eligible creators accepted into the YouTube Partner Programme can earn money through advertising and other features, subject to applicable eligibility requirements and policies.
The distinction matters because views do not automatically translate into a fixed amount of money. Earnings depend on factors including monetisation eligibility, advertising and the revenue features available to a channel.
Nevertheless, the platform offers filmmakers an additional distribution option, allowing them to build audiences beyond the cinema circuit.
Timini’s remark does not reveal his individual earnings, but his reference to hunger suggests that he now recognises the practical value of opportunities he once underestimated.
Timini Egbuson’s career beyond YouTube
Timini has established himself as a familiar face in Nollywood through work in television and film.
His acting career began with an appearance in Tinsel, the M-Net television drama, in 2010. He subsequently gained wider recognition through MTV Shuga, before appearing in films including Elevator Baby, Breaded Life, Dinner at My Place and A Tribe Called Judah.
His career has included projects released through different channels, placing him in an industry where actors increasingly work across cinema, television and digital distribution.
In 2025, he also spoke about missing out on the eighth edition of Big Brother Africa. He recalled reaching the final stage of the selection process before being dropped, an experience he connected to the path that eventually led him further into acting.
That history provides useful context for understanding his latest comment. Timini has spent years building a career in an industry where opportunities can come through different routes, and his latest post acknowledges that one distribution channel he once underestimated has become valuable to him.
However, it would be inaccurate to claim that YouTube alone made his career or that his statement establishes the proportion of his income that comes from online films.
The success of online films is changing perceptions
The appeal of YouTube movies is not limited to their accessibility. The platform allows filmmakers to publish work on channels they control or work with, while viewers can share links and discuss productions across social media.
One example involving Timini is My 30th Wedding, a romantic film featuring him and actress Bimbo Ademoye. The production was released on Ademoye’s YouTube channel, BimboAdemoyeTV.
The project illustrates how established actors can participate in films distributed directly online rather than relying exclusively on cinema releases.
Its existence does not, on its own, establish Timini’s personal earnings or prove that every YouTube production is commercially successful. It does, however, provide a concrete example of his involvement in the format he has now publicly acknowledged underestimating.
For filmmakers, the business model can involve several considerations, including production costs, audience reach, monetisation eligibility and the resources needed to promote a release. For actors, online productions can provide additional work and opportunities to connect with audiences.
The financial outcome varies from project to project, making it important to distinguish the platform’s potential from guaranteed earnings.
What Timini’s confession means for Nollywood
Timini’s post has drawn attention because it combines a personal admission with a broader question about how the entertainment industry values different kinds of film distribution.
His words suggest that his earlier view of YouTube movies no longer reflects how he sees their usefulness. Rather than treating them as productions to look down on, he now acknowledges their potential value to his livelihood.
The remark also offers a reminder that an entertainment career is not necessarily built through one route. Cinema, television and online distribution can serve different audiences and offer different opportunities, depending on the production and the people involved.
Still, Timini has not announced a new career direction or explained whether he plans to prioritise YouTube movies over other projects. His statement should not be interpreted as a rejection of cinema or traditional streaming services.
For now, his message is a personal reflection delivered with humour. He once looked down on YouTube movies, but he now recognises that dismissing them entirely could have left him without opportunities he considers valuable.
His closing joke about hunger may be what catches people’s attention, but the underlying point is straightforward: in a changing film industry, an opportunity that once appears unappealing can eventually prove worth taking seriously.
