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Tag: Funke Akindele

  • 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 and Toyin Abraham Dominate Nigeria’s Early-2026 Box Office

    Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham Dominate Nigeria’s Early-2026 Box Office

    According to BusinessDay, Nollywood stars Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham are leading cinema charts as their December 2025 releases continued strong runs into January 2026, setting new benchmarks for domestic box office performance.

    Reports indicated Akindele’s latest title crossed major revenue milestones within weeks, while Abraham’s film remained close behind, supported by strong viewing interest including diaspora markets.

    Analysts say the success is boosting Nollywood’s broader value chain—marketing, costumes, post-production, and streaming—while increasing attention on international distribution and ancillary revenue beyond ticket sales.

    The Punch and Vanguard also highlighted the continued momentum and the competitive dynamic as a driver of rising production standards.

    Echotitbits take: These numbers underline Nollywood’s export potential. Expect more aggressive global distribution deals and tighter measurement of true producer earnings across cinemas and platforms in 2026.

    Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/01/nollywoods-biggest-box-office-movies-of-2025-why-funke-akindele-remains-the-queen/ 2026-01-09

    Photo Credit: Vanguard

  • 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

  • Funke Akindele Robbery Detail Emerges via Bimbo Thomas

    Funke Akindele Robbery Detail Emerges via Bimbo Thomas

    In a recent interview shared by The Punch, Nollywood actress Bimbo Thomas recounted a terrifying incident where she and Funke Akindele were attacked by armed robbers during the filming of ‘Omo Ghetto.’ The story highlights the security risks faced by Nigerian film crews on location.

    Thomas described how the gunmen stormed the set, threatening the cast and crew. She praised Akindele’s bravery during the ordeal, noting that the ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ star tried to protect her team despite the life-threatening situation.

    The incident happened during a night shoot in a volatile area of Lagos. Since the story went viral, many industry veterans have come forward with similar tales, calling for the establishment of a dedicated security task force for movie sets.

    Vanguard Nigeria corroborated the account, reporting: ‘Bimbo Thomas recounts how armed robbers attacked her and Funke Akindele, revealing the trauma they faced.’ The Nation Nigeria also covered the interview, quoting Thomas: ‘Funke was a lioness that day, standing up for all of us.’

    Echotitbits take: Nollywood’s growth has outpaced its infrastructure. Funke Akindele is the industry’s biggest star, and the fact that she was exposed to such danger is a wake-up call for better production safety.

    Source: The Punch — https://punchng.com/armed-robbers-attacked-funke-akindele-during-omo-ghetto-filming-actress-bimbo-thomas/#google_vignette January 5, 2026
    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Funke Akindele Shatters Box Office History as ‘Behind The Scenes’ Crosses ₦1.1 Billion

    Funke Akindele Shatters Box Office History as ‘Behind The Scenes’ Crosses ₦1.1 Billion

    According to a historical milestone report by BellaNaija, Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele has officially cemented her status as the industry’s most bankable director after her latest film, Behind The Scenes, surpassed the ₦1.1 billion mark in just 17 days. This achievement makes it the fastest film in West African history to reach the billion-naira milestone, breaking records previously set by her own blockbuster hits.

    The film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, confirmed that the project recorded the highest single-day gross in Nigerian cinema history on Boxing Day, earning a staggering ₦129.5 million. Akindele is now the first filmmaker to deliver three consecutive ₦1.1 billion films, following the massive success of A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa.

    Validating reports from Vanguard and The Nation underscore the magnitude of this feat. Vanguard noted that the ‘Queen of the Box Office’ has ‘redefined expectations for theatrical releases,’ while The Nation quoted FilmOne’s official statement: ‘This win is for all of us as she becomes the only director to cross ₦1B+ three different times.’

    Echotitbits take: Funke Akindele has cracked the code for Nigerian cinema by blending relatable family drama with high-tier production value. Her dominance suggests that local audiences are increasingly choosing high-quality Nollywood stories over Hollywood imports during the festive season. Expect a major expansion of her ‘Jenifa’ universe or a high-stakes streaming deal as global platforms look to partner with the industry’s undisputed revenue leader.
    Source: Vanguard – vanguardngr.com/2026/01/nollywoods-biggest-box-office-movies-of-2025-why-funke-akindele-remains-the-queen/ January 4, 2026
    Photo Credit: Vanguard

  • Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” storms past ₦1.1bn and rewrites Nollywood’s box-office history

    Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” storms past ₦1.1bn and rewrites Nollywood’s box-office history

    2025-12-31 16:00:00

    According to BellaNaija, Funke Akindele’s latest film Behind The Scenes has crossed ₦1.1 billion at the Nigerian box office within weeks of release, reinforcing her run of record-breaking cinema numbers.

    FilmOne Entertainment highlighted the milestone as a speed record for West Africa, pointing to a strong Boxing Day surge that helped push the film over the line.

    The milestone is also reigniting industry debate about distribution transparency, screen allocation, and how blockbuster runs are being managed across cinemas.

    • FilmOne Entertainment (X): “Fastest film in West Africa to cross ₦1B+.”
    • Punch Newspapers (Punchng.com): “Fastest film in West Africa to gross over ₦1 billion.”

    Echotitbits take: Nollywood’s ceiling keeps moving—but the next battleground is trust: transparent reporting, fair scheduling, and whether exhibitors and distributors can avoid a “rigged system” narrative as the money grows.

    Source: BellaNaija — 2025-12-30 — https://www.bellanaija.com/2025/12/funke-akindele-behind-scenes-1bn-record/

    BellaNaija
    2025-12-30
    Photo Credit: BellaNaija

  • 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

  • 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)

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

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

    According to P.M. News, Funke Akindele’s latest cinema release, Behind The Scenes, crossed the ₦200 million threshold in its opening weekend, extending her run as one of Nollywood’s most bankable box-office names. 
    In the report, FilmOne Entertainment (the distributor) is credited with describing the performance as the biggest opening weekend of 2025 so far, with multiple opening-weekend benchmarks reportedly broken in the process. 
    TheNation’s coverage also reproduces a distributor caption praising Nigerian audiences for filling cinemas, framing the milestone as both a commercial win and a signal of sustained momentum for theatrical Nollywood releases in December. 
     • The Nation Newspaper (TheNationOnlineNG): “Behind The Scenes crossed ₦200M in just one weekend…” 
     • FilmOne Entertainment (Instagram, via distributor caption reproduced by The Nation): “We call her the Queen of Box Office for a reason!” 
    Analysis/Echotitbits take: This is a strong indicator that the “December cinema season” remains a major revenue window for Nollywood—if the legs hold beyond week one, expect more aggressive marketing pushes, piracy warnings, and competing studios timing their own releases to chase the same audience attention. 
  • Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo Fly Out Together for UK Premiere of Behind The Scenes

    Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo Fly Out Together for UK Premiere of Behind The Scenes

    Photo Credit: Video via Instagram @funkejenifaakindele / @iyaboojofespris (screenshot)

    A light-hearted travel video of Nollywood heavyweights Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo has delighted fans as the duo jetted off to the United Kingdom for the international premiere of Funke’s new movie Behind The Scenes.

    The clip, posted on Instagram, shows the actresses laughing, chatting and filming each other as they head to the airport and board their flight. For many fans, the cheerful energy between the two women was just as exciting as the film itself, especially given how often Nollywood friendships and feuds become talking points online.

    Comment sections quickly filled with fans celebrating the support among the actresses and hyping the movie’s UK cinema run. Others joked that the UK was not ready for the duo’s combined “wahala” on premiere night, turning the travel vlog into instant Detty December content.

    Source: Instagram/ Instagram @funkejenifaakindele / @iyaboojofespris, reel highlighting Funke Akindele and Iyabo Ojo’s trip to the UK for the Behind The Scenes premiere.