In a report by TVC News, Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele has reached a staggering milestone as her new film, Behind The Scenes, officially becomes the highest-grossing Nigerian movie of 2025. The production has reportedly earned over ₦512 million within its first week of release, signaling a dominant start for the industry this year.
The film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, confirmed the achievement via social media, noting that the project shattered five separate opening-weekend records. This rapid financial success places Akindele ahead of her previous benchmarks, further solidifying her reputation as the “Queen of the Box Office.”
Industry analysts point out that the movie’s pace is unprecedented, reaching the half-billion naira mark faster than any other local title this year. Fans and critics alike have flooded social platforms to celebrate the filmmaker’s ability to consistently draw massive crowds to cinemas.
* Legit NG reports: “Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes crosses ₦2.4bn, topping box office charts.”
* FilmOne Entertainment stated on Instagram: “Fastest Nollywood movie to hit ₦500M… This is what belief looks like.”
Echotitbits take: Funke Akindele continues to prove that she has cracked the code for Nigerian cinema-goers. This record-breaking run suggests that despite economic shifts, high-quality indigenous storytelling with aggressive marketing still commands massive purchasing power. Watch for this film to potentially challenge the ₦1 billion mark before the end of its theatrical run.
Source: TVC News — https://www.tvcnews.tv/funke-akindeles-behind-the-scenes-becomes-highest-grossing-nollywood-film-of-2025/ February 14, 2026
Photo Credit: Daily Post
Tag: Nigerian cinema
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Funke Akindele Shatters Box Office Records with Latest Nollywood Hit
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Iyabo Ojo Stirs Drama Over Funke Akindele and Kunle Afolayan’s Movie Promotion
In a post shared by @iyaboojofespris, the Nollywood actress has sparked a fresh debate regarding the promotional strategies used by industry giants Funke Akindele and Kunle Afolayan. In what many are calling a “subtle jab,” Iyabo Ojo questioned the trend of using viral dance videos and social media gimmicks to drive box office numbers, suggesting that the focus should remain on the “quality of the craft” rather than “clout.”
The comment follows a week where Funke Akindele’s frequent dance videos for her latest project were contrasted with Kunle Afolayan’s more traditional, cinematic approach to marketing. While Ojo did not mention names directly, the timing and context made the target of her critique clear to industry insiders and fans alike.
Funke Akindele, known for her “Queen of the Box Office” status, has frequently used TikTok trends to propel her films to record-breaking heights. Afolayan, meanwhile, has often advocated for a more “prestige” aesthetic in Nollywood. Iyabo Ojo’s intervention has divided fans, with some supporting her call for artistic integrity and others defending the commercial necessity of social media “hype.”
As the debate rages, other Nollywood stars like Regina Chukwu have weighed in, noting that “life is turn by turn” and that there is room for different styles of success in the evolving Nigerian film market.
* Olori Supergal reported on the clash: “The debate over Nollywood promotion styles has reached a fever pitch as Iyabo Ojo’s comments go viral.”
* Legit NG highlighted the rivalry: “Fans are choosing sides as the promotion strategies of Akindele and Afolayan are put under the microscope by their peers.”
Echotitbits take: This isn’t just a “celebrity spat”—it’s a philosophical divide in Nollywood. One side prioritizes the “influencer-to-cinema” pipeline that guarantees revenue, while the other values the “film festival” prestige. Iyabo Ojo is positioning herself as the voice of the “traditional” actor, but in an economy where Funke Akindele’s methods consistently break records, Ojo’s critique might be seen as shouting against the wind. Watch for Funke’s inevitable “indirect” video response.
Source: Legit NG — https://www.legit.ng/entertainment/celebrities/1695836-funke-akindele-kunle-afolayan-iyabo-ojo-drops-subtle-jab-movie-promotion-style-saga/ February 6, 2026
Photo Credit: Legit NG
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Nollywood Star Amanda Oruh Speaks on “Bittersweet” Sundance Success Amid Visa Hurdles
A YouTube video by Amanda Oruh has gone viral after the actress shared her emotional journey of missing the premiere of her film LADY at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Despite the film being a major success at the prestigious US festival, Oruh revealed that visa restrictions prevented her from being physically present to celebrate her career’s biggest milestone.
The actress described the “pride and pain” of watching her success from thousands of miles away in Lagos. Her story has sparked a wider conversation about the systemic barriers Nigerian creatives face when trying to access the international stages they have legitimately earned through their work.
In a corroborating post on BellaNaija, the platform noted, “Amanda Oruh’s film LADY premiered… but visa restrictions kept her from being there.” Furthermore, The Punch echoed the sentiment of the industry, quoting her: “Success doesn’t always look the way we imagine; sometimes you achieve something incredible and still feel the sting of what you lost.”
Echotitbits take:
Oruh’s story is a sobering reminder that talent alone isn’t always enough to overcome geopolitical hurdles. While LADY is now heading to the Berlinale, the “visa ban” issue remains a major bottleneck for the global expansion of Nollywood. Expect this to fuel more calls for streamlined cultural exchange visas for top-tier African artists.
Source: Amanda Oruh (YouTube) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6me-KKrEXo February 1, 2026
Photo Credit: Facebook
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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
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Kannywood Struggles to Balance Tradition and Modernity in 2026
Kannywood—Northern Nigeria’s Hausa-language film industry—is reportedly navigating growing tension between strict censorship expectations and the demands of modern, global audiences, alongside a funding gap relative to Southern Nollywood.
Industry dynamics: Filmmakers are increasingly exploring streaming distribution to expand reach, though challenges remain around monetization and structured distribution networks.
Generational shift: Younger actors and creatives are pushing for more diverse storylines to compete internationally while retaining cultural authenticity.
Echotitbits take: Kannywood’s sustainability likely hinges on digitization and diaspora market strategy. Watch for more cross-regional collaborations and co-productions to bridge funding and distribution constraints.
Source: France24 – https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260106-nigeria-s-kannywood-tiptoes-between-censor-boards-and-modernity (January 25, 2026)
France24 2026-01-25
Photo Credit: France24
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Funke Akindele’s “Behind The Scenes” Breaks N2 Billion Record
According to BusinessDay, Funke Akindele’s latest directorial effort, *Behind The Scenes (BTS)*, has become the first West African film to surpass ₦2.29 billion at the Nigerian domestic box office. The drama explores the emotional toll of “black tax” and has held the number-one spot for six consecutive weeks, reportedly outperforming major Hollywood titles in the local market.
Additional reporting cited in the item notes wider industry momentum around box-office stars and awards chatter, with Vanguard pointing to Akindele and Timini Egbuson as among the most featured stars of the season.
**Echotitbits take:** This is more than a financial win; it is cultural validation. By tackling “black tax”—a deeply relatable Nigerian experience—Akindele is proving that local stories, told with strong production value, can beat big-budget foreign franchises. Expect a surge in social‑realist Nollywood dramas as producers chase this formula.
Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/nollywood/849186-funke-akindeles-behind-the-scenes-hits-over-n2-billion-becomes-highest-grossing-nollywood-film.html (January 23, 2026)
Photo Credit: Premium Times 2026-01-23
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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
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 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 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