The recommended Aníkúlápó watch order is the film Aníkúlápó (2022), followed by the show's first season, Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre (2024), and then its second season, The Ghoul Awakens (2026). This is also the release order, and the clearest way to follow the story without losing the context of its sequels.
Although different names appear in news reports and streaming listings, these are not three remakes or three unrelated films. Kunle Afolayan's Nigerian fantasy franchise began as a feature film and expanded into a television series that has had two seasons so far.
What is the release order, and how many episodes are there?
For a first viewing, follow the three stages below. Netflix lists the feature film separately from the show, while the subtitles identify successive parts of the television production.
| Order | Title to look for | Format | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aníkúlápó | Film | September 30, 2022 |
| 2 | Rise of the Spectre (A Ascensão do Espírito in Brazil) | TV series, season 1: 6 episodes | March 1, 2024 |
| 3 | The Ghoul Awakens (also A Ghoul Awakens) | TV series, season 2: 5 episodes | January 30, 2026 |
1. Aníkúlápó (2022): the film that introduces this world
The starting point is the feature film released on Netflix on September 30, 2022. According to the official premise, Saro, played by Kunle Remi, faces the consequences of a forbidden affair with a queen and encounters a mystical bird linked to the possibility of another life. Bimbo Ademoye plays Arolake.
The film introduces the characters, a setting drawing on Yoruba traditions, and a story that connects human choices with supernatural forces. You do not need to know the series to understand this original premise. If you intend to watch the entire franchise, however, starting with the film better preserves the story's progression.
2. Rise of the Spectre (2024): the show's first season
The sequel premiered on March 1, 2024, with six episodes. Its international title is Aníkúlápó: Rise of the Spectre; Netflix Brazil lists it as Aníkúlápó: A Ascensão do Espírito, while the platform's Spanish-language title is Aníkúlápó: El ascenso del espectro.
The official premise follows Saro after his encounter with death, facing a difficult assignment, and broadens the conflicts involving other characters and struggles for power. The television format has room to explore consequences first established by the film. This is a continuation, not a new version of the 2022 feature.
3. The Ghoul Awakens (2026): season two, not another remake
The next installment premiered on Netflix on January 30, 2026. KAP, associated with Kunle Afolayan, announced it as Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, the saga's second season. The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) lists five episodes for the 2026 season and also uses the name Aníkúlápó: The Series: A Ghoul Awakens.
The difference between The Ghoul Awakens and A Ghoul Awakens does not indicate two separate productions. Both names refer to the same installment after Rise of the Spectre. The season continues the series and develops the supernatural and political threats within its world.
Why do some news reports call The Ghoul Awakens a film?
The confusion largely reflects how this franchise is described. A January 19, 2026 Premium Times article called The Ghoul Awakens a new film but also identified it as the series' second season. KAP's announcement and the BBFC classification records establish the episodic format more clearly.
For viewers, the useful distinction is one film released in 2022 followed by two television seasons, released in 2024 and 2026. The Ghoul Awakens is the franchise's third installment by release date, but only the show's second season.
How can you find each installment on Netflix?
In Brazil, search first for Aníkúlápó, which has its own listing as a 2022 film. Then look for Aníkúlápó: A Ascensão do Espírito, the Brazilian listing for the 2024 show. Netflix separates the film and television entries.
To find the 2026 episodes, look within the show for season two or search for the subtitle The Ghoul Awakens. One limitation matters: as checked on October 21, 2026, the Netflix Brazil public page examined for this guide still displayed the 2024 listing and its six first-season episodes. KAP and the BBFC confirm the second season's Netflix release, but that public listing alone does not establish how the five new episodes appear to every Brazilian account. Check the season selector in the app for your region.
Should you follow story chronology instead of release order?
For a first watch, the release order answers the question: the 2022 film, the six episodes of Rise of the Spectre, then the five episodes of The Ghoul Awakens. There is no need to alternate episodes or approach the 2026 season as a stand-alone story. This is a viewing guide that does not reveal the endings.
Sources and references
- Netflix Brazil: Aníkúlápó film listing (2022)
- Netflix Brazil: Aníkúlápó series listing
- Netflix Spain: localized title El ascenso del espectro
- Netflix: Aníkúlápó: The Series English listing
- KAP Hub: The Ghoul Awakens season-two announcement (January 30, 2026)
- BBFC: classification record for season two and its five episodes
- Premium Times: January 19, 2026 reporting on The Ghoul Awakens
- The Guardian Nigeria: Netflix September 2022 release schedule
- TV Guide: first-season episodes and March 1, 2024 premiere
