Nollywood actress, filmmaker and producer Funke Akindele has once again underlined her unrivalled commercial power in African cinema after her latest film, Behind The Scenes, crossed the ₦1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office.
The milestone was confirmed on Monday by FilmOne Entertainment, which disclosed that the film has grossed ₦1,109,463,846 since its release. The achievement places Behind The Scenes among the most successful theatrical releases in Nigeria’s cinematic history and further consolidates Akindele’s position as Nollywood’s most bankable filmmaker.
According to FilmOne, the film is the fastest in West Africa to surpass the ₦1 billion threshold and also set a new industry record on Boxing Day, earning ₦129.5 million in a single day , the highest one-day gross ever recorded on that date in Nigerian cinemas. The distributor added that the film is currently the highest-grossing theatrical release of 2025, continuing to draw strong audiences weeks after its nationwide debut.
The success of Behind The Scenes adds to a growing list of records for Akindele, who FilmOne described as “the only director to cross ₦1B+ at the box office three different times” and “Nollywood’s highest-grossing producer of all time”. The company also noted that she has become the first filmmaker in the industry to deliver three consecutive ₦1 billion-plus films within a single calendar year — a feat that remains unmatched.
Before crossing the billion-naira milestone, Behind The Scenes had already demonstrated exceptional momentum. Following advanced screenings on December 10 and 11, the film officially opened nationwide on December 12 and quickly crossed the ₦200 million mark within days. Within 12 days of release, it had grossed ₦512 million, becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood title of 2025 at that point and the fastest local film to reach the ₦500 million mark. FilmOne described its performance as “the biggest opening weekend of 2025”.
The film’s commercial success has been widely attributed to its relatable subject matter and star-studded cast. Behind The Scenes explores the theme of “black tax” — the social and financial pressures faced by individuals who are expected to support extended family members. The subject has resonated strongly with audiences, reflecting everyday realities for many Nigerians and contributing to sustained word-of-mouth appeal.
The film stars Scarlet Gomez in the lead role and features an ensemble cast that includes Akindele herself, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale “Mr Macaroni”, Ibrahim Chatta, Kamo State, and reality television personalities Handi and Wanni Danbaki, among others.
Akindele’s latest triumph is the culmination of more than two decades of sustained success in Nigerian entertainment. She first rose to national prominence in the late 1990s before becoming a household name with the television sitcom Jenifa’s Diary, which ran for several seasons and cemented her reputation as a leading comic performer. The character of Jenifa later transitioned successfully to the big screen, with Jenifa (2008) and The Return of Jenifa (2011) achieving widespread popularity.
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In recent years, Akindele has redefined box office expectations in Nollywood. Her 2022 political satire Omo Ghetto: The Saga became the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time upon its release, crossing the ₦1 billion mark and breaking records previously thought unattainable for local productions. She followed that success with Battle on Buka Street and other commercially dominant titles, consistently demonstrating her ability to blend mainstream appeal with culturally resonant storytelling.
Beyond box office figures, Akindele has also been recognised for her influence on the industry, helping to professionalise film marketing, expand cinema audiences, and attract new demographics to Nigerian theatres. Her work has played a key role in repositioning Nollywood as a commercially viable and globally visible film industry.
Reacting to the latest milestone, FilmOne thanked cinema audiences for their continued support, describing the achievement as a collective win for the industry. “Thank you to everyone for the love and support so far. This win is for all of us,” the distributor said.
With Behind The Scenes still showing strong momentum at the box office, industry analysts expect the film’s final gross to climb even higher, further extending Funke Akindele’s remarkable run as the defining commercial force in modern Nollywood.
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