Funke Akindele Clinches Top 4 Spot in Nollywood’s Highest-Grossing Movies of All Time
Nollywood, Africa’s thriving movie industry, continues to break barriers and shatter records. As of December 2024, the list of all-time highest-grossing Nollywood movies has witnessed a lot of rearranging as new movies are being released.
One name stands out among the industry’s top performers: Funke Akindele. With her latest film, Everybody Loves Jenifa, she has clinched the top 4 spot to herself, conforming on her the status of Nollywood’s most formidable creators.
The Top 4 Nollywood Movies of All Time
1. A Tribe Called Judah – ₦1,404,187,806
Directed by Funke Akindele and Adeoluwa Owu, A Tribe Called Judah reigns supreme as the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time.
2. Battle on Buka Street – ₦668,423,056
Another hit from Funke Akindele, co-directed with Tobi Makinde, Battle on Buka Street combines humor and heartfelt moments to explore familial rivalries and culinary traditions.
3. Omo Ghetto: The Saga – ₦636,129,120
Directed by Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz, Omo Ghetto: The Saga brings the adventures of Lefty and her gang to life in a story filled with action, humor, and emotion. Its relatable characters and authentic Lagos setting captivated audiences, earning it the third spot.
4. Everybody Loves Jenifa – ₦511,000,000
In just 12 days of its release in the cinema, Everybody Loves Jenifa skyrocketed to ₦511 million at the box office. Co-directed by Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, this sequel follows the beloved character Jenifa, as she navigates new challenges with her trademark humor and charm. This success not only displaced Malaika from the Top 10 but also marks Akindele’s fourth film in the top 4, an extraordinary achievement in Nollywood history.
Funke Akindele’s ability to consistently deliver record-breaking films lies in her deep understanding of her audience. She masterfully combines relatable stories, comedic brilliance, high-quality production, and diverse marketing style to create films that resonate across different age groups and demographics.
Her journey from the Jenifa’s Diary TV series to dominating the Nollywood box office demonstrates her relentless drive and creativity.
With Funke Akindele now firmly holding the top four highest-grossing movies in Nollywood, she has set a precedent for excellence.
Her success does not only show the potential of Nollywood to compete on the global stage, it also shows the growing demand for African stories from African filmmakers.
As Everybody Loves Jenifa continues its run, it’s evident that Akindele’s storytelling prowess will keep Nollywood fans excited for years to come. Will this project dethrone A Tribe Called Judah and hit the five billion target? Only time will tell.
Complete List of Nollywood’s All-Time Highest-Grossing Movies (Dec 23rd 2024)
The updated list of the top 10 highest-grossing Nollywood movies as of December 2024 reveals some exciting changes, including Malaika by Toyin Abraham losing its spot in the top 10.
1. A Tribe Called Judah
- Gross: ₦1,404,187,806
- Directors: Funke Akindele, Adeoluwa Owu
2. Battle on Buka Street
- Gross: ₦668,423,056
- Directors: Funke Akindele, Tobi Makinde
3. Omo Ghetto: The Saga
- Gross: ₦636,129,120
- Directors: Funke Akindele, JJC Skillz
4. Everybody Loves Jenifa
- Gross: ₦511,000,000
- Directors: Funke Akindele, Tunde Olaoye
5. The Wedding Party
- Gross: ₦452,288,605
- Director: Kemi Adetiba
6. The Wedding Party 2
- Gross: ₦433,197,377
- Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
7. Chief Daddy
- Gross: ₦387,540,749
- Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
8. Queen Lateefah
- Gross: ₦365,400,000 (Gross is estimated)
- Director: Adeoluwa Owu
9. Brotherhood
- Gross: ₦328,881,120
- Director: Loukman Ali
10. King of Thieves
- Gross: ₦320,805,150
- Directors: Tope Adebayo, Adebayo Tijani
Displaced from the Top 10: Malaika
Toyin Abraham’s Malaika, directed by Steve Sodiya, was pushed out of the top 10 by the success of Everybody Loves Jenifa. With a gross of ₦302,086,925, Malaika now sits just outside the top 10, showing the competitive nature of Nollywood’s box-office rankings.
This dynamic reshuffling of the top 10 is as a result of Nollywood’s rapid growth and the increasing appeal of its movies to local and global audiences. This list might witness more sporadic changes as some of the movies on the list are still in the cinema with the addition of new blockbusters.
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