In a historic achievement, the Nollywood film ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, has become the first movie in the industry to reach the N1 billion mark domestically within just three weeks of its release.
The film, directed by Funke Akindele, has consistently shattered records since its debut on December 15, 2023.
The movie’s success includes breaking the record for the biggest weekend opening in Nollywood, securing the highest-grossing Nollywood film title with a reported N854 million at the box office just over two weeks after release.
The film has surpassed Akindele’s previous works, ‘Battle on Buka Street’ and ‘Omo Ghetto: The Saga’, which now stand as the second and third highest-grossing films at the Nigerian box office, respectively.
With box office earnings of N400 million within the first 12 days, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ set a new standard in the industry, garnering attention for its captivating storytelling.
The film’s success continued through the festive season, grossing over N728 million as of December 30, 2023.
Despite the scepticism surrounding the reported figures, a closer look at the actual admission numbers provides clarity on the movie’s performance.
According to the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the film garnered 231,053 admissions in less than three weeks, surpassing records held by blockbusters with longer theatrical runs.
Experts predict that the film may break admission records before concluding its cinema run, potentially surpassing the previous record of 449,901 admissions held by ‘Omo Ghetto’.
The film’s popularity is attributed to effective marketing strategies, compelling trailers, and strategic social media campaigns by Funke Akindele, who boasts a social media following of over 16 million on Instagram alone.
Amid economic challenges, Nigerians demonstrated their continued love for cinema, contributing to the Nigerian Box Office’s earnings of over N1.65 billion and selling over 461,000 tickets during the festive period.
