Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: FilmOne

  • Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ Makes History with N2 Billion Box Office Record

    Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ Makes History with N2 Billion Box Office Record

    In a post shared by TheCable Lifestyle, Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele has once again redefined cinematic success as her latest film, Behind The Scenes, officially became the first Nigerian movie to cross the ₦2 billion mark at the box office. The film reached this unprecedented milestone in record time, further cementing Akindele’s status as the undisputed “Queen of the Box Office.”

    The movie had already signaled its dominance early on, hitting the ₦500 million mark in just 12 days. Its continued momentum into February 2026 showcases the growing purchasing power of the Nigerian cinema-going audience and the immense appeal of Akindele’s storytelling. The actress and producer expressed her profound gratitude to her fans, whom she affectionately calls “family,” for their unwavering support.

    Behind The Scenes has outpaced her previous record-breaking hits like A Tribe Called Judah, suggesting that Nollywood’s commercial ceiling is continuing to rise. The film’s success is being viewed as a “movement” rather than just a theatrical run, with FilmOne distribution confirming that the numbers have “shattered all previous records” in Africa.

    This milestone comes at a time when Nollywood is seeking more international showcase opportunities, with two other unnamed Nigerian films recently selected for Hollywood showcases. Akindele’s success provides a blueprint for commercial viability that combines local relatability with high production standards.

    * FilmOne Entertainment (via Instagram): “Behind the Scenes has officially BROKEN and SHATTERED records hitting over 2 BILLION at the box office.”

    * Funke Akindele (via Instagram): “This is now a movement and we love to see it! I am grateful to God and my fans.”

    Echotitbits take:

    Funke Akindele isn’t just making movies; she’s building an empire that rival Hollywood’s mid-budget successes. Crossing ₦2 billion is a massive psychological and financial win for Nollywood, likely leading to increased venture capital interest in the industry. Watch for Akindele to potentially announce a global streaming deal or an international franchise expansion next.

    Source: TheCable Lifestyle — https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/behind-the-scenes-is-first-nollywood-film-to-cross-n2b-mark/ February 2, 2026

    Photo Credit: TheCable Lifestyle

  • New Nollywood release from Funke Akindele’s stable crosses ₦1.77bn at box office

    New Nollywood release from Funke Akindele’s stable crosses ₦1.77bn at box office

    According to The Punch, Funke Akindele’s latest cinema-backed project hit about ₦1.77 billion in box-office receipts, reinforcing her reputation as one of Nollywood’s most bankable filmmakers.

    The report highlights the growing scale of Nigeria’s cinema economy, where marketing, distribution and opening-week momentum can determine whether a release becomes a breakout success.

    Industry observers say record grosses can attract more investment into production quality and distribution—but also raise expectations for storytelling, professionalism and transparent reporting of figures.

    The performance adds to broader conversations about job creation in the creative sector and the export potential of Nigerian film content.

    Echotitbits take: The next frontier is sustainability—can Nollywood turn blockbuster moments into repeatable pipelines? Watch for stronger cinema infrastructure, anti-piracy enforcement and international distribution deals.

    Source: Pulse – https://www.pulse.ng/story/funke-akindele-makes-box-office-history-as-behind-the-scenes-crosses-naira177bn-2026010612012495665 5 January 2026

    Pulse 2026-01-05

    Photo Credit: Pulse

  • Funke Akindele’s latest cinema run crosses ₦1.7bn as box-office streak continues

    Funke Akindele’s latest cinema run crosses ₦1.7bn as box-office streak continues

    Figures cited by Pulse Nigeria indicate that Funke Akindele’s current theatrical release has pushed past the ₦1.7 billion mark in domestic box-office receipts, reinforcing her status as Nollywood’s most bankable commercial director-star right now.

    The update credits momentum from sustained cinema attendance, strong word-of-mouth, and repeat viewings—signals that the title is behaving like a long runner, not a weekend spike.

    Industry chatter is already shifting to what the final gross could look like if screens hold through the next programming cycle, especially with competing releases lining up.

    Two additional public references echoed the same development:

    FilmOne (Instagram): “₦1,767,305,878 and counting.” (link)

    Nollywood Times (News outlet): “₦1.77 billion” (link)

    This is bigger than one film—it’s a market signal. When a Nollywood title sustains receipts at this level, exhibitors allocate more screens, brands chase tie-ins, and investors take local theatrical more seriously. Watch for distributor updates, screen-count changes, and whether the run triggers copycat big-budget release timing.

    Source: Punch — 06 January 2026 — https://punchng.com/funke-akindele-new-movie-crosses-%E2%82%A61bn-sets-box-office-records/

    Source: Punch 2026-01-06
    Photo Credit: Punch

  • ‘Oversabi Aunty’ storms into the ₦700m club, reshaping Nollywood’s early-year leaderboard

    ‘Oversabi Aunty’ storms into the ₦700m club, reshaping Nollywood’s early-year leaderboard

    According to Pulse Nigeria, Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty has surged to about ₦711.5 million in box-office revenue, tightening competition at the very top of Nollywood’s current cinema cycle.

    The headline number matters because it’s not just a good opening—it suggests durable audience pull across multiple weeks, which is where real box-office power shows up.

    For cinemas and distributors, this kind of run influences screen allocation, showtime priority, and the bargaining dynamics for the next wave of major titles.

    Two additional public references echoed the same development:

    The Guardian (Nigeria): “hits ₦711.5m” (link)

    Pulse Nigeria (secondary report): “₦711.5m” (link)

    When two titles are simultaneously putting up monster numbers, the industry gets a rare blockbuster corridor that can lift the whole ecosystem—cinemas, marketing agencies, soundtrack licensing, and streaming negotiations later. Watch weekend-to-weekday drop-off, fresh distributor tallies, and whether other studios adjust release dates to ride the wave.

    Source: Pulse Nigeria — 06 January 2026 — https://www.pulse.ng/story/toyin-abraham-oversabi-aunty-fourth-highest-grossing-nollywood-movie-2026010612060246258

    Source: Pulse Nigeria 2026-01-06
    Photo Credit: Pulse Nigeria

  • Funke Akindele’s latest cinema run crosses ₦1.1bn and reignites box office debate

    Funke Akindele’s latest cinema run crosses ₦1.1bn and reignites box office debate

    Photo Credit: Guardian Life

    2025-12-29

    Figures cited by Guardian Life show Behind The Scenes has crossed ₦1.1 billion at the box office just 19 days after hitting cinemas.

    The milestone was amplified across social media and quickly became a talking point about distribution strength, repeat viewings, and “event film” marketing in Nollywood.

    It also fuels debate about whether cinema dominance is widening the gap between blockbuster producers and mid-budget filmmakers.

    Verification

    • Nairametrics (X): “Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind the Scenes’ grosses N1.1 billion…”
    • The Leader (Website): “officially crossed the ₦1.1 billion mark in cinema earnings…”

    Echotitbits take: This is a market signal: the “holiday-window” arms race is accelerating. Watch for third‑party box office reporting, how long the film sustains weekly numbers, and whether rivals shift release calendars to avoid direct clashes.

    Source: Guardian Life — December 29, 2025 — https://guardian.ng/life/funke-akindeles-behind-the-scenes-hits-%E2%82%A61-1bn-in-19-days/

    Guardian Life
    2025-12-29

  • “Oversabi Aunty” hits cinemas—Toyin Abraham drops showtimes and rallying call

    “Oversabi Aunty” hits cinemas—Toyin Abraham drops showtimes and rallying call

    Photo Credit: Instagram

    2025-12-19 11:00:00
    In a post shared on Instagram, the actress/filmmaker rolled out showtimes for Oversabi Aunty as it begins nationwide cinema runs, urging fans to pick a location and turn up.

    The rollout has been echoed by cinema and distributor-linked pages, signaling a coordinated push for holiday footfall when competition for attention is at its peak.

    – Filmhouse Cinemas (Instagram / cinema chain): “Oversabi Aunty… SHOWTIMES…”
    – YouTube (Official trailer page): “IN CINEMAS 19TH DECEMBER”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: December box office in Nigeria is ruthless: films compete with concerts, travel, weddings, and nightlife. Watch whether Oversabi Aunty sustains weekday turnout after opening buzz—and how fast word-of-mouth clips dominate TikTok and Reels.

    Source: Instagram — 19 Dec 2025 —https://www.instagram.com/p/DSMFfb3CBWb/

    2025-12-19

  • Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” breaks ₦200m opening-weekend mark

    Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” breaks ₦200m opening-weekend mark

    The Nation (photo on page)
    2025-12-16

    According to The Guardian, Funke Akindele’s film Behind The Scenes crossed ₦200 million in its opening weekend, citing FilmOne’s performance announcement and admissions figures.

    The report highlights how strong distribution, marketing and screen allocation can turn local titles into blockbuster runs.

    The next signal to watch is whether the film sustains momentum beyond opening weekend.

    FilmOne/Instagram reposts: “crosses ₦200M in one weekend…”

    Note: “A second mainstream outlet confirmation with a direct quote was not available in retrieved sources for this session.”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This strengthens the argument that Nollywood’s theatrical ceiling is rising if execution is tight. Watch week-two drop-off, piracy impact, and diaspora screenings that can extend the revenue tail.

    Source: The Guardian (Nigeria) — December 16, 2025 (https://guardian.ng/life/funke-akindeles-behind-the-scenes-records-over-%e2%82%a6200m-in-opening-weekend)