Nollywood star and filmmaker Funke Akindele has once again rewritten African cinema history, as her latest movie, Behind The Scenes, has officially crossed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office, a first for any Nollywood production.
The landmark achievement was announced on Monday by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, which revealed that the movie has now earned an impressive ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales.
In a celebratory post on X, FilmOne described the feat as record-shattering, confirming that Behind The Scenes is not only the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time in Africa but also the top-earning Nigerian film in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
According to the distributor, the success further cements Akindele’s reputation as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker. She is now recognised as the highest-grossing writer, director and producer in West African cinema history.
FilmOne also highlighted another historic milestone: Akindele has become the first filmmaker to top the African box office rankings for three consecutive years, an achievement described as unprecedented in the region’s film industry.
Thanking cinema audiences for their overwhelming support, the distributor said the film’s success goes beyond commercial numbers, calling it a cultural movement powered by loyal fans, strong word-of-mouth and a shared love for compelling storytelling.
The ₦2 billion breakthrough marks a significant rise from the film’s earlier milestones. Behind The Scenes had previously crossed ₦1 billion before climbing to ₦1.77 billion, already placing it among Nollywood’s most successful titles. Its continued box office momentum has now secured its position at the very top of the industry’s all-time rankings.
The film features Scarlet Gomez in the lead role and boasts a star-studded 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, alongside several other established and emerging talents.
At its core, Behind The Scenes explores the concept of “black tax,” shedding light on the emotional, social and financial burden placed on individuals expected to support extended family members. The theme has strongly resonated with audiences, especially young adults, helping to sustain high cinema attendance across Nigeria and the wider West African market.
Fans and industry watchers attribute the film’s extraordinary performance to its relatable storyline, strong ensemble cast, aggressive marketing strategy and Akindele’s proven ability to consistently deliver commercially successful films.
The triumph of Behind The Scenes adds to Akindele’s growing list of box office successes. Her earlier projects, including Everybody Loves Jenifa, also recorded rapid earnings and broke multiple opening-week and cumulative revenue records, firmly establishing her as Nollywood’s most bankable filmmaker.
With its cinema run still ongoing and international markets continuing to boost revenue, Behind The Scenes is widely regarded as a defining moment for Nollywood’s commercial growth, signalling the industry’s increasing capacity to produce billion-naira blockbusters with global appeal.
Advertisement
