Entertainment (Commonwealth Union) _ Currently gaining worldwide recognition for its rapidly developing film industry, Nigeria has moved up from just producing an impressive number of yearly productions to also increasing box office revenue. With several films hitting new levels in terms of performance, streaming deals, and performance metrics, here is a list of 10 Nollywood movies that are among the highest-grossing.
- Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024)
Widely acclaimed as the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time, Everybody Loves Jenifa grossed over ₦350 million during its first week and then became the first film to go over ₦1.5 billion. The film was produced by Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network Studio and directed by Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye. The movie’s domestic gross earnings are around ₦1,882,000,000.
- Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020)
Released on Christmas Day, this movie grossed approximately 124 million within its opening weekend and held its place at the top of Nigeria’s box office for four consecutive weeks. The movie, directed by Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz, even outperformed Wonder Woman 1984 in Nigerian theatres, becoming a huge success despite the pandemic.
- A Tribe Called Judah (2023)
Renowned for being the first Nollywood movie to surpass ₦1 billion just 21 days following its release, it hit its grand total of ₦1.4 billion in 2024. Yet another film co-directed by Funke Akindele (alongside Adeoluwa Owu), A Tribe Called Juda, also grossed internationally, including in Africa and the UK.
- Battle on Buka Street (2022)
Like most of Nollywood’s December releases, Battle on Buka Street also turned out to be the highest-grossing local film, surpassing even Avatar: The Way of Water. Considering the star-studded cast and the renowned directors Funke Akindele and Tobi Makinde, the film hit the ₦ 500 million mark within 30 days.
- Chief Daddy (2018)
Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, Chief Daddy made around ₦42 million in its debut weekend and became the year’s highest-grossing Nollywood film of the year, with its ultimate gross at approximately ₦387 million. In addition to being a holiday release, the film’s success is also a tribute to EbonyLife Film’s history of creating box office hits.
- Queen Latifa (2024)
Among all the holiday box office hit releases, Queen Latifah put aside its mid-year release date to rank among the top 3 earners of Q1 of 2024. The movie was directed by Adeoluwa Owu, with a cast that included Femi Adebayo, Kunle Remi, and Nancy Isime, and closed at ₦365.5 million.
- Reel Love (2025)
Released on Valentine’s Day, this movie was produced as a collaboration between FilmOne Studios, Next Thought Entertainment, and Film Trybe. Reel Love reached ₦40.5 million on its release date, reaching roughly around ₦94 million by its first weekend. The star-studded cast, which included Bimbo Ademoye and Funke Akindele, also played a major role in pulling the total numbers of the film up to around ₦354 million by the end of 8 weeks.
- The Wedding Party (2016)
Having opened in several African countries and the UK, The Wedding Party marked the biggest single-day opening overseas for a Nollywood movie. Released in December, the movie, directed by Kemi Adetiba, grossed around ₦452 million, sweeping the title as the industry’s highest-grossing film that year.
- The Wedding Party 2 (2017)
Unlike its first part, The Wedding Party 2 only managed to hit the second-highest gross of the year. However, it held the record for the fastest ₦400 million until 2020, having secured its first ₦100 million in 5 days. Directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, the extravagant Dubai setting also increased appeal, boosting sales.
- Alakada: Bad and Boujee (2024)
Earning ₦6.6 million from its previews alone, Alakada: Bad and Boujee hit a gross of ₦500 million by the end of 13 weeks. Between its star-studded cast and Adebayo Tijani’s direction, the film had definite box office potential, particularly given its already established fan base.
