10 highest-grossing Nollywood movies of all time

Nollywood films grossed ₦11.5 billion in 2024, up from ₦7.2 billion in 2023 and ₦6.94 billion in 2022. Known for producing over 2,500 films yearly, Nollywood is now gaining attention for box office strength, not just volume. 

Titles like Everybody Loves Jenifa (1.8B), A Tribe Called Judah (1.4B), Battle on Buka Street (₦668M), and Omo Ghetto: The Saga (₦636M) have set new financial records. Box office revenue has become Nollywood’s most precise performance metric, impacting funding, streaming deals, and international reach. In 2016, only The Wedding Party crossed ₦450 million. Today, several titles hit that mark within weeks.

This article ranks the 10 highest-grossing Nollywood movies of all time. For each, we’ve included official revenue, release year, key factors behind its success, and a breakdown of the industry trends shaping Nigerian cinema's box office success.

Key takeaways

• The top 10 Nollywood films have grossed a combined ₦7.4 billion.
• Everybody Loves Jenifa leads with ₦1.88 billion, the highest in Nollywood history.
• Five films have crossed the ₦500 million mark, up from just one in 2020.
• Comedy and family drama remain the most profitable genres, with the top 3 titles pulling over ₦3.9 billion combined.
• Premium ticket pricing and post-cinema streaming deals are reshaping revenue models.

Methodology: how we ranked the movies

To create an accurate and up-to-date ranking of the highest-grossing Nollywood movies, we focused primarily on official box office revenue figures, with earnings reported in Nigerian naira. Only films that crossed the ₦200 million mark were considered. While financial performance was the core ranking factor, we also accounted for market reach (such as nationwide theatrical release) and cultural impact in rare tie-breaker cases, especially when revenue figures were within ₦10–₦20 million of each other.

Revenue data was sourced from:

• The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN)
• Official box office reports from FilmOne Entertainment
• Press releases and verified industry coverage from platforms like Nairametrics and Premium Times

One challenge we faced was the limited availability of consistent revenue data for older releases, particularly films launched before 2015, when tracking systems were less reliable. In those cases, we cross-referenced at least two credible sources per title and selected the most consistently reported figure.

10 highest-grossing Nollywood movies

Before we get started with the list, here’s a table that highlights the 10 highest-grossing Nollywood movies of all time:

Let’s get started!

1. Everybody Loves Jenifa (2024)

Box Office Gross: ₦1,882,553,548

Studio: Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network

Director(s): Funke Akindele, Tunde Olaoye

Everybody Loves Jenifa is the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, earning over ₦1.88 billion since its release on December 13, 2024. It became the first Nigerian film to cross ₦1.5 billion, hitting ₦1 billion in 19 days. On opening day alone, it grossed ₦45.2 million, followed by ₦355.1 million in its first week and over ₦700 million by the second weekend.

The film’s success stems from the popularity of the Jenifa franchise, a December release that maximized holiday traffic, and a strong marketing campaign. Funke Akindele’s direct fan engagement across social media also significantly drove interest and ticket sales.

2. A Tribe Called Judah (2023)

Box Office Gross: ₦1,404,187,806

Studio: Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network

Director(s): Funke Akindele, Adeoluwa Owu

A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nollywood film to cross the ₦1 billion mark within 21 days of its release on December 15, 2023. It earned ₦113.3 million in its opening weekend and ended 2023 with ₦854.3 million before reaching its final total of ₦1.4 billion in early 2024. It also grossed an additional ₦132 million internationally, including in the UK and select African markets.

A well-timed December release, a strong ensemble cast, and effective social media marketing drove the film’s performance. Premium ticket pricing during the festive season also boosted revenue. Backed by Funke Akindele’s direct fan engagement and wide cinema rollout, it quickly became one of Nollywood’s most commercially successful films.

3. Battle on Buka Street (2022)

Box Office Gross: ₦668,423,056

Studio: Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network / FilmOne Studios

Director(s): Funke Akindele, Tobi Makinde

Released on December 16, 2022, Battle on Buka Street amassed ₦668.4 million, becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film in 2022. It opened with ₦43.99 million in its first weekend and achieved ₦86.63 million within seven days. By its second week, it surpassed Avatar: The Way of Water to top the Nigerian box office, earning ₦164.57 million that week. The film continued its momentum, reaching ₦252.62 million by day 14 and crossing the ₦500 million mark in under 30 days.​

The film became successful thanks to its relatable storyline, featuring a rivalry between two half-sisters and a star-studded cast including Mercy Johnson and Nkem Owoh. Its release during the festive season, strategic marketing, and Funke Akindele's strong fan base contributed to its impressive box office performance.

4. Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020)

Box Office Gross: ₦636,129,120

Studio: SceneOne Productions

Director(s): Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz

Released on Christmas Day 2020, Omo Ghetto: The Saga raked in ₦636.1 million, setting a then-record for the highest-grossing Nollywood film. It grossed ₦124.17 million in its opening weekend, followed by ₦187.15 million in its first week. The film stayed at the top of the Nigerian box office for four consecutive weeks.

Its success came from strong franchise recognition, heavy online buzz, and Akindele’s cross-platform fan base. Despite a pandemic-era release, the film pulled in huge cinema crowds and outperformed international blockbusters like Wonder Woman 1984 in Nigerian theatres.

5. Alakada: Bad and Boujee (2024)

Box Office Gross: ₦500,000,000

Studio: Toyin Abraham Film Productions / FilmOne Studios

Director: Adebayo Tijani

Released on December 20, 2024, Alakada: Bad and Boujee earned ₦6.6 million during previews and ₦60 million in its opening weekend. Within seven days, it grossed ₦134 million, and after 13 weeks, it had reached a total of ₦500 million, making it the fifth-highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time.​

The film succeeded because of its established fan base from the Alakada series, a star-studded cast, and a festive release date. Toyin Abraham's active engagement with her audience and effective marketing strategies contributed to her movie’s impressive box office performance.

6. The Wedding Party (2016)

Box Office Gross: ₦452,288,605

Studio: EbonyLife Films / FilmOne / Inkblot Productions / Koga Studios

Director: Kemi Adetiba

Released on December 16, 2016, The Wedding Party grossed ₦36 million in its opening weekend and earned over ₦452 million, becoming Nollywood’s highest-grossing film in 2016. It opened in 17 African countries and the UK, recording the biggest single-day opening for a Nollywood movie overseas.

Driven by strong local buzz, a lavish setting, and a star-studded cast, the film became a cultural moment and redefined what commercial success looked like in Nollywood.

7. The Wedding Party 2 (2017)

Box Office Gross: ₦433,197,377

Studio: EbonyLife Films / FilmOne / Inkblot Productions / Koga Studios

Director: Niyi Akinmolayan

The movie pulled in ₦73.3 million on the opening weekend and crossed ₦100 million in five days, ending its run at over ₦433 million. It became Nollywood’s second-highest-grossing film in 2017 and held the fastest ₦400 million record until 2020.

Building on the success of the first movie, the sequel introduced a more extravagant, destination-themed plot set in Dubai. It featured a returning all-star cast and a holiday-season release that drove massive cinema traffic.

8. Chief Daddy (2018)

Box Office Gross: ₦387,540,749

Studio: EbonyLife Films

Director: Niyi Akinmolayan

Chief Daddy opened with ₦42.6 million in its first weekend, surpassing The Wedding Party's ₦36 million debut. It earned ₦115.7 million within 10 days and reached ₦235.5 million in 18 days, ultimately grossing ₦387.5 million, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood film in 2018.​

The movie succeeded because of its ensemble cast, holiday release timing, and strong marketing efforts, solidifying EbonyLife Films' reputation for producing box office hits.

9. Queen Lateefah (2024)

Box Office Gross: ₦365,517,443

Studio: Wumi Toriola TV / COTS Productions

Director: Adeoluwa Owu

The film grossed ₦57.7 million in its opening weekend and hit ₦150 million in 12 days. By its third week, it crossed ₦200 million, eventually closing at ₦365.5 million. It ranked among the top 3 earners of Q1 2024 and became the highest-grossing non-holiday Nollywood release of the year.

With a cast led by Kunle Remi, Femi Adebayo, and Nancy Isime, and no festive boost, Queen Lateefah proved mid-year releases could still dominate the box office.

10. Reel Love (2025)

Box Office Gross: ₦354,008,975

Studio: FilmOne Studios / Next Thought Entertainment / Film Trybe

Director: Kayode Kasum

Reel Love opened on February 14, 2025, earning ₦40.5 million on day one and ₦94.3 million by the end of its first weekend. It crossed ₦200 million in under three weeks and reached a total of ₦354 million after eight weeks, becoming the 10th highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time.

Starring Timini Egbuson, Bimbo Ademoye, and Funke Akindele, the film's Valentine’s Day release and relationship-focused storyline helped it pull strong, consistent numbers across Nigerian cinemas.

Trends in Nollywood’s box office

Between 2022 and 2024, Nollywood’s total domestic box office grew from ₦4.96 billion to ₦11.5 billion—a 131% increase in just two years. The number of films crossing ₦500 million also jumped from 1 to 5 within that same period.

Holiday releases continue to dominate. Of the top 10 highest grossing films, 7 were released in December, with some earning over ₦350 million in under 14 days. Average ticket prices during festive periods rose from ₦3,500 in 2022 to as high as ₦7,000 in 2024, significantly boosting revenue.

Genre-wise, comedy and family drama lead box office earnings. Everybody Loves Jenifa, A Tribe Called Judah, and Battle on Buka Street combined for over ₦3.95 billion, all in these categories. Films with crime or action subplots—like A Tribe Called Judah—have started pulling stronger numbers, hinting at a shift in audience preferences.

Streaming is also shaping revenue potential. Titles like The Wedding Party and Chief Daddy gained a second life on platforms like Netflix, leading to increased demand for theatrical-first films with global appeal. Distributors now use box office performance as leverage in digital licensing deals, creating a new revenue stream post-cinema.

Conclusion: Reflecting on the financial power of Nollywood

In 2016, The Wedding Party made headlines with ₦452 million. Fast-forward to 2024, and Everybody Loves Jenifa has pushed that ceiling to over ₦1.8 billion. The top 10 highest-grossing Nollywood films have earned more than ₦7.4 billion, proving the industry's rapid growth. Strategic holiday releases, strong franchises, higher ticket prices, and wider audience reach are now key drivers of box office success.

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