ATLANTA , Georgia ( CNN ) -- When Ken Umeano went to watch the summer sci-fi blockbuster `` District 9 , '' he stormed out after 30 minutes . `` District 9 '' was directed by South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp , who also co-wrote it . `` I was so angry , '' said Umeano , a Nigeria native living in Atlanta . `` They were showing Nigerians as corrupt , eating aliens , saying they have sex with aliens . I could not watch that . '' The movie set in South Africa is a story about an alien space ship that breaks down over Johannesburg -- leaving the stranded creatures in a fierce battle with humans . In the film , Nigerians jump at an opportunity to exploit the aliens , who are being kicked out by their South African hosts . A Nigerian gangster provides the aliens with a range of paid services including prostitutes , food and weapons . The depiction has sparked an outcry , including a Facebook group condemning its portrayal of Nigerians . Officials in the West African country have banned it and are demanding an apology from Sony Pictures , the film 's principle distributor through Tri-Star Pictures . `` Why do they want to denigrate Nigerians as criminals , cannibals and prostitutes who sleep with extra-terrestrial animals ? '' said Dora Akunyili , information minister . `` We 've had enough with the stereotypes they have branded us with ... we are not going to sit back and allow people to stigmatize us . '' The movie will not be shown in Nigeria unless Sony apologizes and edits out any references to the country , she said . Sony pointed out that Nigerian authorities cleared the film for release , and it screened in that country for two weeks . `` 'District 9 ' is a work of science fiction , and no offense was intended toward any country or person , '' the company said . Watch how the film reflects South Africa 's former apartheid » . The film was directed by South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp , who also co-wrote it , and it was adapted from Blomkamp 's 2005 short , `` Alive in Joburg . '' `` Lord of the Rings '' producer-director Peter Jackson produced `` District 9 . '' Sony 's involvement was limited to distribution . Malawian actor , Eugene Khumbanyiwa , 33 , who plays the top Nigerian gangster , defended his role in the movie . `` I was just doing my job as an actor , '' Khumbanyiwa said . `` My job was to play a character as an underworld gangster and I did ... I 'm just going to run away from this whole controversy . '' Khumbanyiwa said the outcry was a surprise because his Nigerian co-stars did not have an issue with it . The scenes depicting Nigerians make up less than 10 minutes of the 113-minute film . In some places , Nigerians are shown trying to eat alien flesh to cure illnesses and acquire superhuman powers . Khumbanyiwa 's character is named Obesandjo -- which Akunyili said is an attack on former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo . Some Nigerians said the movie feeds off stereotypes associated with the country . `` Everyone has this image of Nigeria , '' Umeano said . `` A lot of people have given Nigeria a bad name , but that does not mean the whole country is bad . '' While Clement Nyirenda believes the director should have used a fictional country , he said the outcry is much ado about nothing . After all , he said , the Nigerian movie industry , Nollywood , is filled with the same characterizations . `` The ( Nollywood ) movies show Nigerians as witch doctors , corrupt , a lot worse , '' Nyirenda said . `` Nigeria is mostly known for 419 scams ... the government officials should focus on cleaning the image . '' The term `` 419 scams '' refers to spam e-mails that ask for money and bank information . Akunyili said the country is trying to `` rebrand itself away from such images . '' The Nollywood industry is undergoing a makeover , too , she added . `` District 9 '' made $ 73 million in its first 10 days . Blomkamp , who grew up in Johannesburg , told CNN last month that he did n't want the sci-fi tale about aliens and apartheid to be defined by politics . `` I did n't want to go , 'Here 's a whole bunch of people oppressed by this apartheid-esque society ' and beat people over the head with it , '' Blomkamp said . `` I rather wanted to say this is the city I grew up in , this is what it felt like . '' CNN 's Christian Purefoy contributed to this report .
Film is about an alien space ship that breaks down over Johannesburg , South Africa . Nigerians try to eat alien flesh , gangster gives them prostitutes , food and weapons . Depictions `` promoting stereotypes '' sparked outcry ; Nigeria has banned the film . Comment: