Funke Akindele has done it again. Her latest film, Behind The Scenes, has shattered box office records in Nigeria and across West Africa, crossing the ₦1 billion mark less than three weeks after its cinema release and confirming her status as one of Nollywood’s most potent creative forces.
Released nationwide on December 12, Behind The Scenes opened to a strong reception, grossing over ₦200 million in its first weekend alone. From there, its momentum only grew, passing ₦500 million in just two weeks and outpacing every other Nollywood film released in 2025.
By December 29, FilmOne Entertainment, which distributed the film, announced that it had reached ₦1.109 billion at the Nigerian box office. The run was historic not only for the number itself but for how quickly it was achieved. Behind The Scenes became the fastest film in West African cinema history to cross ₦1 billion, setting records for single-day takings on Boxing Day and maintaining strong daily admissions through the festive season.
The film’s success has reinforced Funke Akindele’s unrivalled box office pull. She is now the only director in Nollywood to gross over ₦1 billion at the box office three times and the first filmmaker to deliver three consecutive ₦1 billion-plus films in a single calendar year. Her earlier hits A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa both crossed the ten-figure mark, with Everybody Loves Jenifa itself past that milestone in record time.
Behind the Scenes tells a compelling story that clearly resonates with audiences. It centres on the pressures of black tax, where a prosperous and generous real-estate entrepreneur begins to question how reciprocated that generosity really is. The theme struck a chord with cinema-goers and critics alike, and the ensemble cast, featuring Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, and others, delivered performances that kept viewers engaged from opening weekend through the final credits.
Industry analysts see this performance as more than just another financial milestone. It reflects the growing maturity of Nigerian cinema, where strong storytelling and local relevance can drive major commercial success. The film’s ability to fill screens across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and beyond at a time when many traditional blockbuster markets slow down shows Nollywood’s rising influence.
Businessday NG
For Akindele, the achievement is both professional and cultural. In her public message of gratitude, she thanked her fans and the broader audience for their support, underscoring that without their consistent turnout, Behind The Scenes would not have reached these historic heights.
As Behind The Scenes continues its run, its legacy is already being written into Nollywood’s history books. It is 2025’s highest-grossing theatrical release so far and a striking example of how Nigerian filmmakers are redefining box office expectations at home and across the region.
