Funke Akindele Makes Box Office History as First African Filmmaker to Gross Over N2bn

Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele has cemented her place in cinematic history, becoming Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker after her latest film, Behind The Scenes, surpassed the N2 billion mark at the box office.

The milestone, confirmed on Monday by FilmOne Entertainment, the film’s distributor, marks the first time a West African title has crossed the N2 billion threshold.

In addition, the feat secures Akindele’s position as the first filmmaker to top the African box office for three consecutive years.

Taking to her official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday evening, the actress and producer expressed gratitude for the film’s success, attributing the achievement to divine providence.

“Records are milestones, not the mission. From A Tribe Called Judah grossing #1B to Behind The Scenes crossing ₦2B and still counting, this is God in motion. And I’m most grateful to my maker and return all the glory to Him.

“The lesson remains unchanged: serve the story, respect the audience, refine the craft, and let the work earn its applause,” she wrote.

Behind The Scenes, released in early 2025, has so far grossed N2,103,039,706, making it the highest-earning Nollywood film of all time.

It follows the success of Akindele’s previous blockbusters, Everybody Loves Jenifer (2024), which earned N1.88 billion, and A Tribe Called Judah (2023), which brought in N1.41 billion.

The film’s performance has also resonated beyond Nigeria, topping box office charts in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, a rare feat for a Nollywood production.

Akindele’s unprecedented hat-trick of box office triumphs has not only redefined commercial success in African cinema but also displayed her enduring influence in the industry.

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