The Nigerian movie industry is showing up and showing off, and we can now boast of having our own highest-grossing Nollywood movies. Yes, Nigerians are spending their coins on Nollywood movies that deliver quality entertainment.
Just in case you aren’t familiar with the movies pulling the big numbers, this list has the answers you seek.
Highest-grossing Nollywood movies of all time
A Tribe Called Judah (2023)
With this movie, Funke Akindele made history after she broke her 2022 record to claim the spot for highest grossing Nollywood movie in 2023.
Her yuletide season offering, A Tribe Called Judah, earned ₦854 million in 2023 and is on track to become the first ₦1 billion-grossing Nollywood movie of all time.
A Tribe Called Judah tells the story of a single mother and her five sons who’ll go above and beyond for her, even if it means committing armed robbery. The movie stars Funke Akindele, Jide Kene Achufusi, Uzee Usman, Tobi Makinde, Timini Egbuson and Olumide Oworu.
Battle on Buka Street (2022)
Funke Akindele’s 2022 release, Battle on Buka Street, currently ranks as the highest Grossing Nollywood movie of all time. According to data from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the comedy-drama earned ₦655,309,506 after 12 weeks in the cinema.
Battle on Buka Street tells the story of family rivalry, and it features stars like Funke Akindele, Nkem Owoh, Mercy Johnson, Sola Sobowale, among others.
Omo Ghetto: The Saga
Omo Ghetto: The Saga was the 2020 sequel to Funke Akindele’s 2010 trilogy, Omo Ghetto, about twin sisters who were displaced at birth. The sequel hit the cinemas on December 25, 2020, and went on to shatter box office records. It raked in a total of ₦636m, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood movie at the time. Eniola Badmus, Chioma Akpotha, Zubby Michael and Deyemi Okanlawon were featured.
The Wedding Party 2 (2017)
After whetting our appetite in 2016, Mo Abudu returned with a sequel in 2017, under the directorship of Niyi Akinmolayan. It was bigger and better in terms of budget, location and cast, and it went on to outperform the original. According to the filmmakers, it grossed over N500 million at the box office.
The Wedding Party 2 cast includes Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Enyinna Nwigwe, Adesua Etomi, Patience Ozokwor, Ireti Doyle, Banky W and Daniella Down.
The Wedding Party (2016)
Mo Abudu’s The Wedding Party, directed by Kemi Adetiba, was a real game changer for Nigerian cinema, and this was evident in the incredible numbers it pulled at the box office. Before it was displaced by its sequel, the film held the title of highest-grossing Nollywood movie with a total earning of ₦452,288,605.
The Wedding Party is a romantic comedy that tells the story of a young couple whose love was almost threatened by family differences. Banky W, Adesua Etomi, Sola Sobowale, Ireti Doyle starred in the movie.
Chief Daddy
EbonyLife’s 2018 offering, Chief Daddy, featured a star-studded cast which contributed to the wide reception it received from cinema lovers. The comedy tells a story of family drama and grossed over ₦387 million at the box office. Some cast members include Shaffy Bello, Rachel Oniga, Funke Akindele, Kate Henshaw, Ini Edo among others.
Brotherhood (2022)
According to data from CEAN, this Jade Osiberu-produced action-drama earned ₦328,867,120 after 13 weeks in the cinema. Brotherhood tells the story of twin brothers who find themselves in opposite directions of the law after the tragic death of their parents when they were young. One becomes a police officer while the second becomes an armed robber. Tobi Bakre, Sam Dede, Boma Akpore, Toni Tones and Zubby Micheal feature in the film.
King of Thieves
The Yoruba action epic produced by actor, Femi Adebayo, ranks high as one of the best Nollywood offerings of 2022. Ageshinkole (King of Thieves) raked in a total of ₦320, 805, 150 million after a 12-week run at the theatres, according to data by CEAN. The box office success makes it one of the highest-grossing Nollywood movies in an indigenous language.
Femi Adebayo plays the lead role in the indigenous epic, with Odunlade Adekola, Aishat Lawal, Toyin Abraham and Ibrahim Chatta.
Ijakumo
Actress Toyin Abraham is not a box office stranger, but her 2022 offering Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper did some impressive numbers. The movie earned over ₦278 million after spending 11 weeks at the theatres.
Ijakumo tells the story of a man of God living a double life. It features Toyin Abraham, Kunle Remi and Bimbo Akintola among others.
King of Boys (2018)
Kemi Adetiba’s ambitious political thriller, King of Boys, was no doubt one of the best things that came out of Nollywood in 2018. The movie raked in over ₦231 million at the box office, with Adetiba sending the sequel straight to the movie streaming platform, Netflix.
King of Boys follows the life of Alhaja Eniola Salami (played by Sola Sobowale) and her tussle for power in a world where men call the shots.
Highest-grossing Nollywood movies of 2023
Ada Omo Daddy
Mercy Aigbe launched her debut cinema project in 2023, and the actress has had a good run despite contending with A Tribe Called Judah and Malaika. Ada Omo Daddy has earned a whopping ₦145 million and counting.
Similar in some ways to Kemi Adetiba’s The Wedding Party, Ada Omo Daddy follows the story of a bride who discovered just days to her wedding that the man who raised her isn’t her biological dad. She’s caught between navigating betrayal and loyalty.
Sola Sobowale, Fred Amata, Dele Odule, Carol King and Omowunmi Dada, among others, feature in the movie.
Malaika
Toyin Abraham joined the December 2022 cinema rush with her parenthood drama, Malaika. Still on its cinema run, the movie has earned ₦143 million in 2023, making it one of the most successful releases of the year.
The Steve Sodiya-directed movie follows the story of a woman who struggles with infertility in her marriage and goes on a spiritual journey to find a solution.
Malaika stars Toyin Abraham, Odunlade Adekola, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Emeka Ike, among others.
Orìṣà
Eight months into the year, and it’s evident that Nollywood is on a mission to give viewers their money’s worth. One such pioneer of this movement is Nollywood actor, Odunlade Adekola, whose epic-action, Orìṣà, currently holds the title of the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of 2023. With an ongoing cinema run which has spun four weeks, Orisa has earned ₦127,898,950 and is poised to become one of the highest-grossing Nollywood movies.
Orìṣà tells the story of a rogue king who loses respect for the gods and his people and is struck with insanity. Odunlade Adekola, Shaffy Bello and Jide Kosoko feature in the film.
The Kujus Again
Following the lovely reception that met Introducing the Kujus in 2020, director Biodun Stephen returned with a sequel that received even more accolades. The family-comedy drama ranks as one of Nollywood’s decent offerings of 2023, and it earned a total of ₦51,669,850, after six weeks at the theatres, according to CEAN.
Things take a troubling turn for the family when they gather at a hotel resort for a traditional wedding ceremony. The movie stars Bimbo Ademoye, Bisola Aiyeola, Kunle Remi and Ronke Odusanya among others.
Big Love
The Biodun Stephen-directed romantic comedy is easily one of 2023’s best Nollywood offerings for hopeful romantics. This explains why it earned a whopping ₦48,466,375 at the box office.
Starring Timini Egbuson and Bimbo Ademoye, Big Love tells the story of an independent woman who falls in love while struggling to make ends meet. Shaffy Bello, Jaiye Kuti and Seyi Awolowo star in this film too.
Domitila
There were mixed reactions to the remake of the original story by Zeb Ejiro, but this didn’t stop Domitilla: The Reboot from pulling a decent box office weeks after its April 2023 release. The film raked in a total of ₦45,057,559 after a nine-week run at the theatres.
Domitilla: The Reboot takes a deep dive into the dangerous world of sex workers, featuring Teniola Aladese, Elvina Ibru, Chiwetalu Agu, Deyemi Okanlawon, Stan Nze and Onyinye Odokoro.
Honey Money
Directed by Ekene Som Mekwunye, Honey Money hit the cinemas in April 2023 and had a recent run that earned it a total of ₦41,593,750 in ten weeks.
The movie tells the story of a young man from a humble background who gets his hands messy in a bid to chase wealth. Iyabo Ojo, Timini Egbuson and Nancy Isime among others feature in it.
Love, Lust and Other Things
Director Kayode Kasum leads this romantic drama that hit Nigerian cinemas in July 2023. Love, Lust and Other Things earned a total of ₦31,962,243 at the box office, according to data from CEAN.
It follows the story of a recently divorced woman who goes on a journey to find out what she really wants in life. The movie stars Osas Ighodaro, Ramsey Nouah, Efe Irele among others.
The Bride Price
The Bride Price follows the story of Obiora (Zubby Michael), a barely educated spare parts dealer, who cuts his wife’s family from their lives after he was made to pay through his nose for her. Released in May 2023, it earned a total of ₦30,586,205 after a 12-week run at the theatre. The cast includes Nkem Owoh, Olayode Juliana and Ebele Okaro.
The Trade
Jade Osiberu’s The Trade is about a notoriously cunning kidnapper, Eric (Blossom Chukwujewku), who has ravaged the southern part of Nigeria for over a decade when he undertakes a job that eventually threatens his operation. According to data from CEAN, The Trade earned a total of ₦18,373,718 after five weeks at the theatres.
Different Strokes
Mosun Filani made her cinema debut with Different Strokes, which was released in March 2023. The film packs some Nollywood top guns to rake in ₦18,963,500 after three weeks at the theatres.
Different Strokes follows a group of friends as they navigate their relationship. Lateef Adedimeji, Daniel Etim Effiong, Lilian Esoro, Mosunmola Filani Oduoye and Deyemi Okanlawon feature in this film.
