By Ghazali Ibrahim
Box Office Queen Funke Akindele has shattered another box office records with her latest film Behind The Scenes, which has become the first Nigerian movie to gross over ₦2 billion in Africa, cementing her status as one of the most commercially successful filmmakers on the continent.
According to figures released by FilmOne Entertainment, the drama premiered in cinemas nationwide on December 12, 2025, and went on to earn ₦2.103 billion within just weeks of release, the highest box office tally for a Nollywood title in history. The film also recorded the highest single-day gross on Boxing Day, raking in ₦129.5 million and drew strong international interest with earnings in Canada and North America.
The movie’s remarkable run has not only made it the biggest-grossing Nigerian film in cinemas across Africa, but it has also topped revenue charts in the UK and Ireland, according to distributor data.
Behind The Scenes has now made Akindele the first filmmaker to lead the African box office for three consecutive years, following her previous hits A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa.
The achievement drew broad congratulations from industry and government figures. The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), lauded Akindele’s success as a “major boost for Nigeria’s creative industry” and a sign of the global acceptance of Nigerian stories.
NOA highlighted that the film’s box office strength including modest overseas earnings shows Nollywood’s expanding influence beyond Africa.
Fans and entertainment watchers celebrated the milestone online. Many praised Akindele for her consistency, creativity and leadership in Nollywood, describing the record as “a testament to Nigerian cinema’s growing commercial clout.”
Others urged her to push boundaries further, with some suggesting even higher box office benchmarks for future releases.
Reacting to the historic feat, Akindele shared her gratitude on social media, thanking cinema-going audiences, her cast and crew, and divine support for helping the film reach such heights. In her message she described the success as “humbling” and credited fans for turning out in large numbers to support the film’s run.
With Behind The Scenes, Funke Akindele has not only set a new box office record but also underscored Nollywood’s ability to compete with global cinema, reinforcing her reputation as a defining creative force in African entertainment.
