Cinema is a growing business in Nigeria till the collapse of cinema culture in the 90s. Before then, the country had a strong and vibrant cinema culture, but it all started to dwindle from the late ’80s, thanks to piracy and the high production cost. The fall of cinema led to the rise of the home video in the 90s and by extension, Nollywood film makers found home videos too restrictive in theme and creativity.   Cinema came back to Nigeria (Lagos really) when Ben Murray Bruce, opened Silverbird Cinema in Victoria Island, Nigeria could now watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters in HO quality.

Nigerians started going back to the cinemas, but it did little or nothing to the local movie ecosystem as Nigerians preferred and trusted the big Hollywood movies to local movies.

All that have changed now, the big movies in the cinemas are Nollywood films which are locally produced. The 2016 hit.

“The Wedding Party” is set to hit the N450 million mark soon in box office sales. Comedian and movie producer Ayo Makun (AY) has produced two movies that have shattered the Box Office and are considered local block busters.

The 2017 comedy, “Banana Island Ghost” is tipped to hit N100 million, maybe N200 million by industry experts.

The boom in Nollywood movies shown in the cinemas is a welcome development but not for all. The top grossing Nigerian movies belong to the comedy genre, other genre of movies hardly make money, are flops or are not even considered worthy to be put on screen.

Moves outside the comedy genre such as ‘Arbitration’ did low numbers and movie distributors are hesitant to pick such films.

Today, Nollywood is pretty much like the music industry. Mainstream Nigerian artistes have stuck to one sound (the new trend is known as pon pon music), in Nollywood, everybody wants to shoot comedy. This trend even though it has produced big bucks is alienating other creatives in the industry.

However, the Nigerian movie industry is expected to generate 40% of the five billion naira that would be made at the Nigerian Box Office by the end of 2017. According to the Group Executive Director / CEO film One, Moses Babatope, the quality of Nollywood films are improving and so are the audience. “Of the five billion naira that would be made in Box Office sales this year and that’s about five million tickets. The Nigerian film will gross two billion and that’s about 40 percent of the bos office” , he said at the premiere of “My Wife and I” on Sunday.

“Three or four years ago, that figure was about 10% of the Box Office and less than 500 million. This is just to tell you that the quality of the films are improving and the number of the audience is improving”, he added.

So far the reported success of movies like “Isoken,” Okafor’s law,”10  Days in Sun City” “Alakada Reloaded” and “Hire A Man” will play a role in setting this new record. Movies currently showing in the cinemas include “Hakkunde” and Banana Island Ghost”. Upcoming movies that are expected to do well include Mentally”, “Tatu”, “My Wife and I” among others. There is also the anticipated sequel to the Wedding party” which is expected to surpass the 400 million naira record set by its prequel. In 2016 with movies like “fifty” “The CEO” ‘Wives on Strike’, ‘76’ and ‘A Trip to Jamaica’ grossed one billion naira, below are the 10 highest grossing Nollywood movies of all time.

“The Wedding Party” N450 million the 2016 movie is a collaboration between Ebonylife films, Film One, Inkblot production, Koga Studios and is directed by Kemi Adetiba.

“A Trip To Jamaica”, N178.5 million. Written and produced by  AY Makun. The movie was directed by Robert Peters and starrs Funke Akindele, Chris Attoh, Nse Ikpe Etim among others.

“30 days in Atlanta”, N137.2 million written and produced by AY Makun, the movie was directed by Robert Peters and Stars Richard Mofe Damijo Ramsey Nouah, Mercy Johnson and Vivica Fox among others.

“Fifty”, N94 million, An Ebonylife films production directed by Biyi Bandele, produced by Tope Oshin and features Omoni Oboli, Ireti Doyle, Dakore Egbuson – Akende, Nse Ikpe Etim, among others.

“76”: this historical drama stars Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Chidi Mokeme and Daniel K. Daniel, produced by Adonis productions and directed by Izu Chukwu.

‘Wives on strike’, N713 million naira, produced and directed by Omoni Oboli, the movie stars Uche Junmbo, Chioma Chukwuka, Ufuoma Mc Dermott, Kehinde Bankole among others.

“Half of a yellow sun”: N60 million naira, Directed by Biyi Bandele, the movies features Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandle Newton, Onyeka onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji, John Boyega among others.

October 1st: N60 million, A Kunle Afolanya movie featuring sading Daba, Kayode Olaiya, David Bailie, Kehinde Bakonle, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Nick Rhys, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Adebayo, Bimbo Manuel, Ibrahim Chatta and Demola Adedoyin.

“The ‘CEO” N60 million: Another Afolayan movie the CEO stars Wale Ojo, Lala Akindoju, Angeligue Kidjo, Aurelie Sliam, Hilda Dokubo, Jimmy Jean Louis, Peter King and Nico Panagio among others.

“IJE” N59.8 million: Directed by Chineze Ayaene. The movie stars Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade among others. Other hit movies on this list of 15 include ‘Last flight to Abuja’ N57.5 million. “It’s Her Day” N55 million, ‘the return of Jenifa’ N35 million’, “93 days” N50 million, Ghana must go N32 million’.