Entertainment
Nollywood Movies Find Expression In Cinemas
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’.
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.
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.
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.
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