Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
Funke Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa has shattered records, cementing itself as Nollywood’s highest-grossing film of all time. With an astounding ₦1.466 billion at the box office and counting, this milestone highlights the growing potential of Nigeria’s film industry on the global stage.
Announced by FilmOne, Truth Live News gathered that the movie achieved a jaw-dropping ₦1 billion in its first two weeks, a testament to the franchise’s enduring popularity and the cinematic appeal of Funke Akindele. “Your support is everything,” FilmOne expressed on social media, acknowledging audiences in Nigeria and Ghana for propelling the movie to unprecedented heights.
Since 2020, Funke Akindele has consistently dominated Nigerian cinema. Her 2020 film Omo Ghetto: The Saga grossed ₦636 million, making it that year’s biggest hit. In 2021, Battle on Buka Street surpassed it with ₦668 million, despite pandemic challenges. By 2023, Akindele broke the billion-naira ceiling with A Tribe Called Judah, grossing ₦1.4 billion.
Her latest film builds on the Jenifa franchise, beloved since its debut in 2008. Everybody Loves Jenifa introduces new challenges for the titular character, including rivalry from a rising neighbor, Lobster, while delighting fans with nostalgic callbacks and a star-studded cast.
While this achievement celebrates Nollywood’s growth, it also shows the hurdles the industry must overcome to compete globally. Hollywood blockbusters regularly earn billions of dollars worldwide, underscoring the gap in market reach, production budgets, and infrastructure. For Nollywood, this milestone is a sign of progress, but also a call to action: increased investment, global partnerships, and more diverse storytelling are essential for broader appeal.
As African cinema gains traction, Everybody Loves Jenifa is a beacon of potential for storytelling across the continent. The record-breaking success reflects not only Nollywood’s achievements but also its aspirations to expand its cultural and economic impact globally.
Funke Akindele’s reign as Nigeria’s “box office queen” is a triumph worth celebrating, but the journey to making Nollywood a global powerhouse continues.