RismadarVoice Reporters
January 12, 2026
Nollywood filmmaker and actor, Funke Akindele, has further cemented her place in African cinema history as her latest film, Behind The Scenes, crossed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office, becoming the first Nollywood production to achieve the milestone.
The record-breaking feat was disclosed on Monday by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, in a post on X, which confirmed that the movie has grossed ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales.
Announcing the achievement, FilmOne said the film had “officially broken and shattered records,” noting that Behind The Scenes is the first Nollywood film in Africa to surpass the ₦2 billion threshold. The distributor added that the film now stands as the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time in Africa, as well as the top-grossing Nollywood release in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
FilmOne said the success further reinforces Akindele’s status as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker, describing her as the highest-grossing writer, director and producer in West Africa’s history.
The distributor also revealed that Akindele has become the first filmmaker to rank number one at the African box office for three consecutive years, a feat it described as unprecedented in the region’s film industry.
Reacting to the overwhelming support from cinema audiences, FilmOne thanked viewers for “believing in the magic of storytelling,” describing the film’s performance as more than a commercial victory but a cultural movement driven by strong audience loyalty and word-of-mouth promotion.
The ₦2 billion milestone marks a significant leap from the film’s earlier records. Behind The Scenes had previously crossed the ₦1 billion mark before climbing to ₦1.77 billion, already placing it among Nollywood’s most successful titles. Its continued surge has now positioned it firmly at the top of the industry’s all-time box office rankings.
The film stars Scarlet Gomez in the lead role and features an ensemble cast including Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale ‘Mr Macaroni’, Ibrahim Chatta and Kamo State, alongside other established and emerging actors.
At its core, Behind The Scenes explores the theme of black tax, examining the emotional, social and financial pressures placed on individuals expected to support extended family members. The storyline has resonated strongly with audiences, particularly young adults, contributing to the film’s sustained cinema attendance across Nigeria and the wider West African market.
Fans have attributed the film’s exceptional performance to relatable storytelling, a strong ensemble cast, aggressive marketing strategies and Akindele’s enduring appeal as a filmmaker known for consistently delivering commercially successful projects.
The success of Behind The Scenes adds to Akindele’s growing list of box office achievements. Her earlier releases, including Everybody Loves Jenifa, recorded rapid earnings growth and set multiple opening-week and cumulative revenue records, establishing her as Nollywood’s most bankable figure.
With its cinema run still ongoing and international markets contributing to its revenue, Behind The Scenes is widely regarded as a defining moment in Nollywood’s commercial evolution, signalling the industry’s increasing capacity to deliver billion-naira blockbusters with global reach.
