Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes grosses ₦2 billion, becoming Africa’s highest-grossing Nollywood film

Nollywood filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has made history as her latest film, Behind The Scenes, surpassed ₦2 billion at the box office, becoming the first Nigerian production to reach the milestone.

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The record-breaking feat was confirmed by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, on Monday via X, revealing total ticket sales of ₦2,103,039,706.

FilmOne described the achievement as unprecedented, noting that the film now holds the title of highest-grossing Nollywood production in Africa, as well as the top-grossing Nollywood release in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

FilmOne hailed Akindele as the highest-grossing writer, director, and producer in West Africa, highlighting her consistent box office dominance.

She has also become the first African filmmaker to top the continental box office for three consecutive years, a feat described as unparalleled in the region.

The film’s ensemble cast includes Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale ‘Mr Macaroni’, Ibrahim Chatta, and Kamo State, among others.

Behind The Scenes explores the theme of black tax, addressing the emotional, social, and financial pressures on individuals supporting extended family members—a topic that has resonated widely with audiences.

FilmOne credited the film’s commercial success to relatable storytelling, strong casting, effective marketing, and Akindele’s enduring popularity.

The movie had previously crossed the ₦1 billion mark, then climbed to ₦1.77 billion, cementing its place among Nollywood’s all-time top performers.

Behind The Scenes marks another milestone in Akindele’s career, following previous successes such as Everybody Loves Jenifa, which also set revenue records and reinforced her status as Nollywood’s most bankable filmmaker.

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With cinema runs continuing in Nigeria and international markets, the film underscores the industry’s growing ability to deliver billion-naira blockbusters with global appeal.