Entertainment

Producers Rebrand Nollywood With New Block Buster Movies

Published

12 years ago

March 28, 2014

The Nigerian producers
have taken Nollywood to greater heights with new block buster movies that are of international standards which have also helped to rebrand the industry within and outside the country. Though some of these movies have not had impressive outing at the cinemas during their premiers, most of the new movies have won commendable credibility at the box office with impressive sales.
Movies like Ije, Figurine, Anchor Baby. Last flight, Mirrow boy, Return of Jennifer, the meeting etc, have sold out millions of copies and in most cases dwarfed Hollywood movies. Recently, the producers stormed the cinema houses across the country with new movies for premieres most of which have recorded huge success. They include the following:
1) When Dreams Fall Apart: This new block buster flick was premiered recently at Victoria Island, Lagos. It is produced by Chico Ejiro and features Nollywood A-list acts namely: Segun Arinze, Fred Amata, Saint Obi, Monalisa Chinda and Ibinabo Fiberesima etc.
The premiere of the movie was attended by several stars who came to witness what they called a new dawn in the movie industry. The movie was sponsored by IDL as one on its numerous commitments in re-entrenching the IDL concept, “The Spirit of Niger,” which is resilient spirit that never dies nor gives up.
According to the Brand Manager, Veleta fruit wine, Chioma Alonge, this is not just another movie, it is a movie with a message never goven up, never throw up in the towel, which is exactly what Lupita Ngongo emphasised in her acceptance speech at the 2014 Oscar award for best supporting actress for her role in the movie “12 Years A Slave.”
According to her, “whoever you are, your dreams are valid, never throw in the towel.
2) Render to Ceaser: Another interesting movie is render to Ceaser which is a new drama cum crime movie that brought Omoni Oboli to bear in the long awaited flick.
The movie produced by Desmond Nbiagele saw Omoni delivering an impressive role alongside an array of Nigeria finest acting talents including Gbenga Akinnagbe, Wale Ojo, Kalu Ikeagwu, Bimbo Manuel, Dede Mbieku, Lucky Ejim, Chris Iheuwa, Kehinde Bankole and several others.
The movie examines themes of crime and corruption, psychological trauma as well as friendship. It chronicles the journey of two friends who return home from abroad to join a special programme in the police force as detectives. They are immediately assigned the daunting mission to him and apprehended a psychotic crime lord wreaking havoc in Africa’s most popular city.
Compounding their lack of progress is a series of derogatory editorials published by a popular, but prejudiced media entrepreneur and monitored by increasingly irritated police affairs minister and just when the detectives finally box their adversary into a corner, he responds with a joker that not only turns the game on its head, but threatens to alter the lives of its players permently.

Entertainment

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn

Published

5 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes becomes Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of 2025, earning ?1.77bn in under four weeks.

Multi-award-winning actress and producer Funke Akindele has done it again, and this time, the numbers speak louder than applause.

Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has officially emerged as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2025, pulling in an astonishing ?1.767 billion in less than four weeks.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as Behind The Scenes Crosses ?1.77bn
Earlier in its release cycle, the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, revealed that Behind The Scenes smashed five opening-weekend records, including the highest single-day gross ever recorded on Boxing Day, with ?129.5 million in one day. That announcement already hinted that something unusual was unfolding.

Reacting to the milestone, FilmOne described the moment as both surreal and communal, crediting audience loyalty for pushing the film to the top spot once again as the number-one movie of the weekend. And that sentiment feels accurate. This wasn’t just ticket sales; it was momentum.

What makes this achievement even more striking is that Behind The Scenes is Funke Akindele’s third film to cross the ?1 billion mark. Before now, there was A Tribe Called Judah, and then Everybody Loves Jenifa, a film that didn’t just open big, but went on to become the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. At this point, it’s no longer a fluke. It’s a pattern.

Part of Behind The Scenes’ success lies in strategy. The film enjoyed advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, quietly building curiosity and conversation before its nationwide release on December 12. By the time it officially hit cinemas, audiences already felt like they needed to see it.

Then there’s the cast. The film brings together a lineup that feels deliberately stacked: Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and several others. Familiar faces, strong fan bases, and performances that kept word-of-mouth alive long after opening weekend.

Still, beyond timing and casting, there’s something else at work here. Funke Akindele understands Nigerian audiences. Their humour, their pacing, their emotional buttons. She doesn’t guess, she calculates, experiments, listens, and refines. That understanding has slowly turned into box-office dominance.

Behind The Scenes crossing ?1.77 billion isn’t just another headline; it’s confirmation. Funke Akindele has moved from being a successful actress to becoming one of the most reliable commercial forces Nollywood has ever produced. Three-billion-naira films don’t happen by luck. They happen when storytelling, business sense, and audience trust align.

And right now, that alignment seems firmly in her hands.

Entertainment

Adekunle Gold, Simi Welcome Twin Babies

Published

5 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Popular Nigerian music stars, Adekunle Kosoko, widely known as Adekunle Gold, and his wife, Simi, have become parents again this time to twins.

The award-winning singer shared the joyful update on his Snapchat story on Wednesday, confirming the expansion of their family.

“Asked God for another child and he blessed me double,” she wrote.

While the couple has not yet disclosed the gender of the newborns, the announcement has sparked an outpouring of warm wishes from admirers, fellow celebrities, and industry colleagues.

Speculation had intensified in December when Simi posted a video on Instagram accompanied by the caption, “From my baby, for my babies.”

The clip showed her with a growing baby bump, fueling anticipation that another child was on the way.

Their latest blessings arrive just weeks after Simi highlighted a scene from Adekunle Gold’s newly released music video, “My Love is the Same,” further stirring excitement among fans.

The Tide Entertainment reports that Adekunle Gold and Simi who tied the knot in 2019 after a long history of friendship and musical synergy remain one of Nigeria’s most admired entertainment power couples. Both artistes were once signed to X3M Music before soaring into mainstream acclaim.

The pair welcomed their first child, Adejare Kosoko, fondly called Deja, in May 2020.

Entertainment

Jesse Flames Opens 2026 With ‘Praise The Lord’ Featuring Magnito

Published

5 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

After closing out 2025 with the release of “Praise the Lord” featuring Magnito, Jesse Flames enters the new year with renewed clarity and purpose, continuing to build a body of work rooted in intention rather than noise. In a moment where Afrobeats is moving faster and louder than ever, his approach remains measured and deliberate, prioritizing meaning, craft, and longevity over momentary attention. The official music video arrives January 10.

Following the momentum of his breakout single “FLEX,” “Praise the Lord” represents a shift from celebration to grounding. Reflective and soulful, the record centers gratitude, growth, and perspective, capturing a quieter confidence that resonates beyond a single moment.

“This song is about recognizing the full picture,” Jesse shares. “The work people see and the work they don’t. The lessons, the setbacks, the growth.”

The collaboration with Magnito, a respected voice in Nigerian hip hop known for his sharp lyricism and cultural authenticity, adds depth and weight to the record, reinforcing its themes of resilience, faith, and self reflection.

Released in December at the height of Detty December, “Praise the Lord” became a natural soundtrack for both celebration and reflection as the year came to a close. With the video arriving in January, the record takes on new meaning, opening the year as a tone setter rather than a reset.

Born in the United States, raised in Festac, Lagos, and now based in London, Jesse Flames brings a global perspective to his sound, blending Afrobeats, hip hop, and melodic soul into something sleek and intentional. His music reflects lived experience and cultural nuance rather than trend chasing.

The Tide Entertainment reports that with over 11 million streams, performances at O2 Brixton Academy and OVO Arena Wembley, and coverage from The Guardian and Business Post Nigeria, Jesse’s rise has been steady and self made. Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, he is preparing for collaborations with Ice Prince, M.I Abaga, and Smurlee.

“Praise the Lord” ft. Magnito is available now on all streaming platforms.