Nigerians Splurge Heavily on Local Cinema Content on New Year’s Weekend
In the latest report from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the top 20 box office releases for the last week in December reveal that Funke Akindele’s cinematic masterpiece, A Tribe Called Judah, continues to reign supreme as Nigeria’s most-watched title during the specified period.
The film not only maintained its top position but also witnessed a remarkable surge in popularity, grossing a staggering ₦172.2 million between December 29-31, 2023.
This marks a substantial 58% increase from its previous week’s earnings, solidifying A Tribe Called Judah’s dominance at the box office.
The extraordinary success of Akindele’s film propelled her to new heights of box office achievement, concluding the year with a phenomenal total of ₦854,284,939.
This outstanding figure establishes A Tribe Called Judah as the highest-grossing Nollywood title to date, a testament to its widespread acclaim and audience appeal.
Taking the second spot on the chart is Warner Bros’ Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom, which garnered a weekend gross of ₦67 million.
Despite experiencing an 11% drop from its previous records, the film showcased the continued interest of the Nigerian audience in both local and international cinematic offerings.
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The movie wrapped up the year with a total of ₦309,140,988, further emphasizing its popularity among Nigerian viewers.
Securing the third position is Toyin Abraham’s Malaika, which achieved a weekend gross of ₦38.5 million and an overall total of ₦160,995,869.
Notably, the holiday release is set to make its international debut in the United Kingdom on Friday, January 5, 2023, adding an exciting dimension to its success.
Following closely is Mercy Aigbe’s inaugural cinematic venture, Ada Omo Daddy, with a three-day gross of ₦21 million and a final total of ₦133,663,236.
The indigenous language title Afamefuna claimed the eighth spot, amassing a total of ₦51,764,600.
The comedy feature Sabinus secured the ninth position with ₦6,921,601, while Traffick closed the top 10 with a final gross of ₦1,427,500.
The chart also features Ogeere in the 12th spot, accumulating a total of ₦1,787,000. Big Brother Naija alumnus Phyna stars in Osato, which claimed the 17th position with ₦14,638,400, and Okey Bakassi’s Bank Alert rounded off the top 20 in the 18th spot, with a total of ₦23,198,850.
These rankings highlight the diverse range of cinematic offerings captivating the Nigerian audience during the specified week.
