Half of a Yellow Sun (film)

Half of a Yellow Sun
Theatrical poster
Directed byBiyi Bandele
Screenplay byBiyi Bandele
Based onHalf of a Yellow Sun
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Produced byAndrea Calderwood
Gail Egan
StarringThandiwe Newton
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Anika Noni Rose
Joseph Mawle
John Boyega
Onyeka Onwenu
Genevieve Nnaji
Hakeem Kae-Kazim
CinematographyJohn de Borman
Edited byChris Gill
Music byBen Onono
Paul Thomson
Production
companies
Distributed byMetro International
Leap Frog Films
FilmOne Distributions
Soda Pictures
Monterey Media
Release dates
  • 8 September 2013 (2013-09-08) (TIFF)
  • 16 May 2014 (2014-05-16) (United States)
  • 21 March 2014 (2014-03-21) (United Kingdom)
  • 12 April 2014 (2014-04-12) (Lagos premiere)
  • 1 August 2014 (2014-08-01) (Nigeria)
Running time
111 minutes
CountriesNigeria
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget₦1.27
(US$8 – 10 million)
Box office₦340 million
(US$2.1 million)

Half of a Yellow Sun is a 2013 Nigerian drama film directed by Biyi Bandele, based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's 2006 novel of the same name. Produced by Andrea Calderwood and Gail Egan, and distributed by Metro International, Leap Frog Films, FilmOne Distributions, Soda Pictures, and Monterey Media, it became one of the top grossing Nigerian films of the time. The film stars a cast of African and diasporan influencers, including Chiwetel Ejiofor as Odenigbo, John Boyega, Thandiwe Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and Anika Noni Rose. In the film, twin sisters Olanna and Kainene catch up with love and unity in the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–70).

Half of a Yellow Sun premiered in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film had a mixed reception from critics.