Nollywood filmmaker and actor Funke Akindele has made history as her latest movie, Behind The Scenes, surpassed ₦2 billion at the box office, becoming the first Nigerian film to achieve this landmark.
The milestone was confirmed on Monday by FilmOne Entertainment, the movie’s distributor, which reported that ticket sales have reached ₦2,103,039,706, cementing the film as the highest-grossing Nollywood production in Africa, as well as the top-performing Nollywood release in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Brandspur Brand News reports that this achievement underscores Akindele’s status as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker, making her the highest-grossing writer, director, and producer in West African cinema history. The filmmaker has now claimed the number one spot at the African box office for three consecutive years, a feat described as unprecedented by the distributor.
Behind The Scenes stars Scarlet Gomez in the lead role and features an ensemble cast including Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale ‘Mr Macaroni’, Ibrahim Chatta, and Kamo State, among others.
The film delves into the theme of black tax, exploring the emotional, social, and financial pressures faced by individuals who support extended family members. Its focus on relatable social issues has resonated strongly with audiences, particularly young adults, contributing to its sustained cinema performance across Nigeria and West Africa.
FilmOne Entertainment attributed the success to relatable storytelling, a strong ensemble cast, aggressive marketing, and Akindele’s consistent appeal as a filmmaker capable of delivering commercially viable, culturally resonant projects.
This latest achievement adds to Akindele’s growing list of box office records, following the success of earlier releases such as Everybody Loves Jenifa, which broke multiple opening-week and cumulative revenue records, solidifying her position as Nollywood’s most bankable filmmaker.
With the cinema run still ongoing and international markets adding to revenue, Behind The Scenes is widely recognised as a defining moment for Nollywood, signalling the industry’s growing capacity to produce billion-naira blockbusters with global appeal.
