Barbenheimer grossed a combined ₦56.6m in Nigerian cinemas during their first weekend
Nigerians spent ₦56.6 million last weekend seeing two blockbuster movies — #Barbie and #Oppenheimer. Popularly called Barbenheimer, they were released simultaneously on July 21, 2023. Barbie made 129% more than Oppenheimer in their first weekend.
The arts, entertainment, and recreation sector contributed 4.12% to Nigeria’s GDP in 2020.
By 2025, this contribution is projected to rise modestly to 4.43%.
The growth rate maintains a steady pace, reaching 4.75% by 2030.
By 2050, the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector is projected to reach a 6.00% share of Nigeria’s GDP.
With only a 1.88 percentage point rise forecasted over 30 years, the pace of growth suggests the sector remains undervalued or under-leveraged relative to its potential.
The creative economy’s resilience, despite limited public infrastructure and policy support, demonstrates strong organic demand and global competitiveness.