Funke Akindele has reached a historic milestone in African cinema, becoming the highest-grossing filmmaker on the continent following the box office success of her latest movie, Behind The Scenes.
The landmark achievement was confirmed by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, which announced that the movie has generated ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales across African cinemas. This makes the film the first Nollywood production to exceed ₦2 billion in box office revenue.
Nollywood’s Highest-Grossing Film Ever
With this performance, Behind The Scenes now holds the title of the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time in Africa.
FilmOne also disclosed that the movie has topped box office charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland, making it the most commercially successful Nollywood release in those markets to date.
In response to the achievement, the distributor praised cinema audiences for their overwhelming support, describing the film’s theatrical run as a movement driven by cultural connection and audience enthusiasm, not just revenue.
Opening Weekend Records Shattered
The film’s debut weekend delivered more than ₦200 million in revenue from 34,548 tickets sold, setting five separate opening-weekend records for 2025.
Advance screenings added another ₦27.2 million, the highest advance-sales figure ever recorded for a Nollywood film. In the UK, early screenings sold out several auditoriums, drawing over 1,550 viewers ahead of full release.
Released in cinemas on December 12, 2025, Behind The Scenes quickly became one of the most dominant box office titles in Nigeria and the wider West African region.
A Story That Connected Deeply With Viewers
Blending commercial appeal with social commentary, the film explores the theme of “black tax”, the silent obligation placed on financially successful individuals to support extended family members.
By portraying the emotional strain, financial pressure, and moral expectations tied to this reality, the movie resonated strongly with audiences, particularly young adults, sustaining high cinema turnout across multiple markets.
Ensemble Cast Drives Broad Appeal
Behind The Scenes features a strong lineup of Nollywood stars, including:
- Funke Akindele
- Iyabo Ojo
- Destiny Etiko
- Tobi Bakre
- Uche Montana
- Uzor Arukwe
- Ini Dima-Okojie
- Adebowale “Mr Macaroni”
- Ibrahim Chatta
- Kamo State
The mix of established actors and fan-favourite performers played a key role in the film’s widespread appeal.
Factors Behind the Film’s Historic Success
Industry watchers attribute the movie’s record-breaking run to a combination of:
- Highly relatable subject matter
- Strong performances and casting
- Aggressive and well-coordinated marketing
- Funke Akindele’s consistent history of box office success
With Behind The Scenes, Akindele has not only delivered Nollywood’s biggest commercial hit to date but has also reinforced the industry’s growing influence in global cinema markets.
