Faith based Nollywood film, Agbara Nla: The Return, has generated more than N71 million from preview screenings, setting a new benchmark for a faith based production even before the movie began its nationwide theatrical run.
The film attracted 12,134 admissions during previews held between September 25 and October 1, according to Nigerian Box Office data, with the initial gross put at about N70 million. Its distributor, Nile Entertainment, subsequently confirmed that the earnings had surpassed N71 million.
The performance gave Agbara Nla: The Return the highest first day admissions figure recorded in 2026 and the biggest first day gross by a Nollywood title, while also making it the highest single day gross for a film in October. Brandspur Brand News understands that the preview figure was also reported as the biggest single day preview gross recorded in West Africa.
The movie entered its nationwide cinema run on October 2 with more than N71 million already accumulated. That gave the production an unusually strong financial head start and placed it above several major titles on the box office chart despite its earnings coming from preview screenings.
The early audience turnout was concentrated heavily in the South West. Lagos accounted for 50.8 per cent of the reported revenue, followed by Oyo at 13.2 per cent, Abuja at 10.7 per cent and Ogun at 6.2 per cent. Other contributing markets included Kwara, Osun, Edo and Ondo.
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The film’s preview showing also outperformed several established titles during the period. Star Lomo recorded N45.8 million from about 7,900 admissions, while Avengers: Endgame: Encore made N44.2 million from 7,549 admissions. Spider Man: Brand New Day added N34.5 million, taking its cumulative West African gross beyond N2.3 billion.
The commercial showing is particularly significant because Agbara Nla: The Return is a modern reimagining of the 1993 Yoruba Christian classic, arriving in cinemas 33 years after the original. Mike Bamiloye, who created the original production, reprises his role as Isawuru, while Damilola Mike Bamiloye and Joshua Bamiloye directed the new film.
Its performance also extends a recent run of strong cinema results for faith based productions. What About Us, produced by Celebration Church International’s lead pastor Emmanuel Iren, opened with N24.6 million in July 2024 before eventually crossing the N100 million mark.
In March 2026, Laju Iren’s Onobiren: A Woman’s Story opened with N30.1 million between March 6 and 8, topping the weekend box office across Nigeria and Ghana. The film later ended its seven week theatrical run with N138.1 million at the West African box office.
Against that backdrop, Agbara Nla: The Return has opened on a much larger scale, with its preview earnings already more than double Onobiren’s opening weekend and nearly three times the opening weekend figure recorded by What About Us. Its performance will now be measured by how strongly the audience turnout holds as the film continues its nationwide cinema run.
