Funke Akindele Sets New Milestone as the First Filmmaker to Hold Top 4 Highest-Grossing Films of All Time at the Box Office

Funke Akindele’s latest film, Everybody Loves Jenifa, has set a new milestone in the Nigerian film industry by grossing over ₦1 billion within just 19 days of its release. The achievement, announced by entertainment company Film One via Instagram on Monday, marks the fastest time for any Nollywood film to reach the ₦1 billion mark.

The film, which premiered on December 11, 2024, has not only broken box office records but also made Akindele Nigeria’s highest-grossing producer and director. It is the second movie in the past 12 months to surpass the ₦1 billion mark, following Akindele’s earlier hit, A Tribe of Judah.

Film One celebrated the achievement, describing it as a historic moment for Nollywood. “This is a massive win! Thank you Nigeria and Ghana for watching and supporting this movie,” the company said in a post.

The film, which was recognized as the highest-grossing opening-day film in Nollywood history, earned ₦45.2 million from 9,409 admissions on its release day. The Nigerian Box Office later reported that Everybody Loves Jenifa earned an additional ₦250 million over the past weekend, bringing its total earnings to ₦1.035 billion.

Reacting to the success, Akindele expressed her gratitude to fans, especially in Nigeria and Ghana, for their support. “Thank you all for making this possible. Keep watching and sharing the love,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Internationally, Everybody Loves Jenifa has also made waves, grossing approximately $100,000 in its opening week across cinemas in the UK, US, and Canada.

The film, part of the Jenifa franchise that began in 2008, stars a host of popular actors, including Layi Wasabi, Nancy Isime, Jackie Appiah, Falz, Omowunmi Dada, Chimezie Imo, Patience Ozokwor, and Stan Nze.

With its impressive performance, Everybody Loves Jenifa continues to solidify Funke Akindele’s position as one of Nollywood’s leading figures. Fans are encouraged to continue supporting the film in cinemas nationwide.