The Nigerian box office has seen a remarkable surge in 2025. With ticket sales projected to reach ₦15 billion by year-end, the industry is on track for a record-breaking year. By November, cinemas had already grossed over ₦10 billion, a 58% increase from the same period in 2024.
While some hits from 2024, like Everybody Loves Jenifa and Alakada: Bad and Boujee, continued to attract audiences, this year’s standout story comes from fresh releases. These films demonstrated that Nollywood is maturing into an industry capable of producing commercially successful, culturally resonant films that draw large and diverse audiences across Nigeria.
Here are the top 10 highest-grossing Nollywood movies at the Nigerian box office this year, the films that set the tone for a record-breaking year in Nigerian cinema.
10. Something About the Briggs
Gross: ₦91.3 million
Running time: 2h 5m
Director: Bukola Ogunsola
Genre: Family Drama, Relationship Drama
Studio: Revelation Pictures
Something About The Briggs has emerged as one of 2025’s standout Nollywood hits, showcasing the strength of character-driven storytelling in contemporary Nigerian cinema. The film delves into the complexities of a wealthy, fractured family as they navigate secrets, privilege, and personal ambition, blending emotional depth with sharp social commentary.
The film made a solid impact at the box office, opening to ₦22.5 million in its first weekend and steadily building momentum to gross over ₦91 million.
9. My Mother Is a Witch
Gross: ₦100.6 million
Running time: 1h 40m
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
Genre: Drama, Family Drama
Studio: Anthill Studios and FrameFlixHQ
Released in May 2025, My Mother Is a Witch centres on a fractured mother‑daughter relationship, exploring pain, memory, and the challenge of reconciliation. The film steadily performed at the box office, hitting the ₦100 million mark — an impressive feat in 2025’s crowded market. Acclaimed for its emotional depth and strong performances led by Efe Irele and Mercy Aigbe, the movie affirmed that character‑driven drama still draws audiences hungry for grounded Nigerian stories.
8. Red Circle
Gross: ₦117.73 million
Running time: 1h 59m
Director: Akay Mason
Genre: Thriller, Action
Studio: Rixel Studios
Produced by Nora Awolowo, Red Circle is an action‑thriller that centres on a law‑enforcement lead trying to bring down a dangerous criminal network under intense time pressure. It mixes suspense, violent confrontations, and a fast‑moving plot, targeting fans of crime and action cinema. The film built word‑of‑mouth over its run and grossed roughly the ₦120 million mark at the Nigerian box office, ranking among the stronger homegrown performers of the 2025 cinema year.
7. Abanisete: The Ancestor
Gross: ₦152.8 million
Running time: 2h 5m
Director: Tope Adebayo and Adebayo Tijani, along with Ibrahim Yekini.
Genre: Historical Drama, Epic
Studio: FilmOne Studios and Hawks Studios
Abanisete: The Ancestor tells the story of a revered patriarch whose legacy shapes the fate of his descendants, blending mythology with human drama. The film’s intricate storytelling and high production values drew audiences eager for culturally rooted narratives. It opened to strong numbers and steadily climbed the box office, ultimately grossing over ₦152 million, proving that historical epics remain a compelling draw for Nigerian audiences.
With its authentic depiction of tradition and a talented ensemble cast, the film reinforced Nollywood’s capacity for large-scale, culturally resonant storytelling.
Related: 10 of the Best Nollywood Movies of 2025, So Far
6. Owambe Thieves
Gross: ₦205.6 million
Running time: 1h 40m
Director: Adeoluwa Owu
Genre: Drama, Crime
Studio: FilmOne Studios, Light House Pictures and collaborators
This 2025 crime drama took off over Easter weekend with a ₦53.6 million opening, telling a gritty story about survival, desperation, and moral collapse when a struggling couple resorts to robbery. The film sustained momentum beyond its debut, eventually racking up over ₦200 million. As a mid‑year release, Owambe Thieves showed that compelling, locally rooted narratives can still capture box office success even outside peak seasons.
5. Labake Olododo
Gross: ₦264.28 million
Running time: 2h 21m
Director: Biodun Stephen
Genre: Drama, Epic
Studio: FilmOne Studios, Fespris Productions, co‑produced with input from Abazee Productions and other backers.
Iyabo Ojo’s Labake Olododo has firmly anchored itself as one of 2025’s biggest Nollywood hits, underlining the commercial and cultural power of Yoruba-language cinema. Following strong anticipation, the film opened nationwide on March 28, drawing audiences eager for a story rooted in Yoruba heritage.
It follows Labake, a fearless heroine challenging injustice in her community while navigating societal pressures, blending high-stakes drama with emotional depth and cultural nuance. The film made an immediate mark at the box office, debuting with ₦50 million in its first weekend, quickly surpassing ₦200 million, and ultimately grossing over ₦264.2 million.
4. Iyalode
Gross: ₦306.36 million
Running time: 2h 6m
Director: Adebayo Tijani
Genre: Historical Drama, Epic
Studio: FilmOne Studios and Toyin Abraham Productions
Released in early June to coincide with the Eid El Kabir holiday, Toyin Abraham’s Iyalode tells the story of a strong-willed woman navigating power, tradition, and personal ambition, combining compelling drama with cultural resonance. Abraham’s performance, paired with high production quality, made the film a must-see for audiences across Nigeria.
Iyalode made an immediate impact at the box office, opening to ₦81.54 million in its first weekend and surpassing ₦137 million by the end of its opening week. It maintained momentum for three consecutive weekends, fending off competition from international blockbusters like Ballerina and Mission: Impossible 8, and ultimately grossed over ₦305 million.
The film’s success not only reinforced Toyin Abraham’s status as a reliable box-office draw but also secured Iyalode a place among the top Nollywood earners of all time, demonstrating the commercial strength of homegrown storytelling.
3. Reel Love
Gross: ₦356.82 million
Running time: 1h 38m
Director: Kayode Kasum
Genre: Romance, Drama
Studio: FilmOne Studios, Film Trybe and Next Thought Entertainment Company
Reel Love marked a major milestone for Timini Egbuson, who made his debut as a producer on this 2025 romantic drama. Released on Valentine’s Day, the film explores the highs and lows of performative relationships and the pursuit of social media fame. It opened to ₦40.5 million on its first day and closed its debut weekend with ₦99.3 million, quickly building momentum. Within three weeks, the film crossed ₦200 million and eventually grossed ₦356 million, holding the top spot at the Nigerian box office for five consecutive weeks.
More: Best Nollywood Movies to Watch On Netflix (December 2025)
2. Ori: Rebirth
Gross: ₦419.57 million
Running time: 2h 15m
Director: Muyiwa Ademola
Genre: Yoruba-language Drama, Epic
Studio: Ademola Productions & T&A Pictures
Muyiwa Ademola’s Ori: Rebirth has emerged as one of 2025’s biggest Nollywood successes, showcasing the commercial and cultural strength of Yoruba-language cinema. The film follows a resilient hero navigating family, legacy, and societal expectations, blending epic storytelling with emotional depth and cultural authenticity. It made an immediate mark at the box office, grossing over ₦114 million in its first week, surpassing ₦300 million within a month, and ultimately grossing approximately ₦419.5 million.
1. Gingerrr
Gross: ₦509.3 million
Running time: 2h 10m
Director: Yemi Morafa
Genre: Action, Comedy, Heist
Studio: COTS Production
The Nigerian action-comedy Gingerrr has become a box-office juggernaut, blending suspense, humour, and high-stakes heist thrills. The story follows four friends whose daring plan to escape their pasts unravels as secrets and hidden agendas surface. Executively produced by Ope Ajayi, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Bisola Aiyeola, Wumi Toriola, Bolaji Ogunmola, and Creative Catalyst, the film premiered and was released nationwide in September. Gingerr opened to ₦82 million and soared to ₦378 million in five weeks, ultimately grossing over ₦509 million, making it 2025’s highest-grossing Nollywood film and the fifth highest of all time.
