The Nigerian movie industry has experienced significant growth over the years especially in the turn of the millennium. Movies rake in millions of dollars as fans of these movies stars troop in their masses on release days to set their eyes on anticipated movies. The rise of the Cinemas in Nigeria has heavily contributed to the huge return gathered by investors, production companies and directors of these movies.
Within Nigeria takes a look into the top 10 Nigerian movies that have raked in lots of millions of Nigeria (Gross revenue) from the cinemas. The Gross revenue means the total amount of money made from all cinemas in Nigeria who had access to the movies when released. This list doesn’t include revenues made from special screenings, DVD sales, online streaming and theatrical screenings outside the country. This is from 10th to the 1st rated movies in revenue; however, the movie rating based on screenplay was done by movie review giants IMDb.
10. A TRIP TO JAMAICA
Gross Revenue: N176.7 Million
Director: Robert Peters
Starring: Ayo Makun, Funke Akindele, Nse Ikpe Etim and Dan Davies.
Production Company: Corporate World Pictures
Release date: 25 September 2016
Rating: 5/10
Plot: The film tells a story about the adventures of a newly engaged couple in their relatives residence outside Nigeria, and how the secrets of their host led to the eventual breakup of their union amidst the culture shock of the new country and living with upper-class citizens.
9. YOUR EXCELLENCY
Gross Revenue: N186.3 Million
Director: Funke Akindele
Starring: Akin Lewis and Funke Akindele, Shafy Bello, Osas Ighodaro and Kemi Lala Akindoju
Production Company: EbonyLife Films
Release date: 13 December 2019
Rating: 6.5/10
Plot: A bumbling billionaire businessman and failed Presidential candidate Chief Olalekan Ajadi (Akin Lewis) is very much obsessed with US President Donald Trump. Just when his political campaign looks on the verge of another flop disaster, Ajadi is anointed by a majority party and becomes a tough credible contender with the assistance of powerful social media.
8. Merry Men 2: Another Mission
Gross Revenue: N234.5 Million
Director: Moses Inwang
Starring: Ramsey Nouah, Ayo Makun, Jim Iyke, Falz, Ireti Doyle, Damilola Adegbite, and Ufuoma McDermott
Production Companies: Corporate World Entertainment, FilmOne Entertainment and Gush Media
Release date: 20 December 2019
Rating: 6.5/10
Plot: The four friends have quit their life of crime to focus on running legitimate businesses, but an old enemy resurfaces with a threat and a demand.
7. Merry Men: The Real Yoruba Demons
Gross Revenue: N235.6 million
Director: Toka McBaror
Starring: Ramsey Nouah, AY Makun, Jim Iyke, Damilola Adegbite, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Iretiola Doyle, Falz, Jide Kosoko, Rosaline Meurer and Nancy Isime.
Production Companies: Corporate World Entertainment, FilmOne Entertainment and Gush Media
Release date: 28 September 2018
Rating: 5.1/10
Plot: Four promiscuous businessmen must scheme to save the poor people of a village after a corrupt politician challenges them.
6. KING OF BOYS
Gross Revenue: N245 million
Director: Kemi Adetiba
Starring: Adesua Etomi, Sola Sobowale, Toni Tones, Illbliss, Reminisce, Akin Lewis, Jide Kosoko and Osas Ighodaro.
Production Companies: Kemi Adetiba Visuals
Release date: 20th October 2018
Rating: 5.8/10
Plot: King of Boys tells the story of Alhaja Eniola Salami (played by Sola Sobowale), a businesswoman and philanthropist with a promising political future. She is drawn into a struggle for power which in turn threatens everything around her as a result of her growing political ambitions. To come out of this on top, she is caught up in a game of trust, not knowing whom really to look up to, and this leads to her ruthlessness.
5. SUGAR RUSH
Gross Revenue: N287 million
Director: Kayode Kasum
Starring: Adesua Etomi, Bisola Aiyeola and Bimbo Ademoye
Production Companies: GreOH Media / Jungle Filmworks / Empire Mates Entertainment
Release date: 25 December 2019
Rating: 6.6/10
Plot: Sugar sisters accidentally discover $800,000 in the house of a corrupt man, Chief Douglas. In next couple of days, they start to spend some of the money only to meet their Waterloo when mafias come to claim the stake of the money
4. CHIEF DADDY
Gross Revenue: N387.5 million
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
Starring: Funke Akindele Bello, Kate Henshaw, Nkem Owoh, Joke Silva, Patience Ozokwor, Richard Mofe Damijo and Racheal Oniga
Production Companies: EbonyLife Films
Release date: 14 December 2018
Rating: 5/10
Plot: When a billionaire industrialist Chief Beecroftunexpectedly drops dead, his money-crazed family, friends, and staff scramble for their share of his fortune.
3. THE WEDDING PARTY 2
Gross Revenue: N433.2 million
Director: Niyi Akinmolayan
Starring: Adeolu Adefarasin, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Banky Wellington, Sola Sobowale, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Iretiola Doyle, Daniella Down, and Alibaba Akporobome
Production Companies: Ebonylife Films/ FilmOne/Inkblot Production/Koga Studios Release date: 25 December 2019
Rating: 4.7/10
Plot: It is a sequel to The Wedding Party. Nonso continues his romance with Deirdre, the bridesmaid from London. While on a dinner date, Nonso proposes to Deirdre by accident and sets off a chain of events too powerful to stop. Deirdre’s upper-crust British family is against the match, as are members of the Nigerian clan.
2. THE WEDDING PARTY
Gross Revenue: N453 million
Director: Kemi Adetiba
Starring: Adeolu Adefarasin, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Banky Wellington, Sola Sobowale, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Iretiola Doyle, Daniella Down, and Alibaba Akporobome
Production Companies: Ebonylife Films/ FilmOne/Inkblot Production/Koga Studios
Release date: 26 November 2016
Rating: 5.9/10
Plot: An insecure virgin bride. A reformed playboy groom. Two overbearing mothers who can’t stand each other. One philandering husband. A high-strung wedding planner. An invasion of unruly village gatecrashers. A best man with a flashdrive full of secrets. A thief on the loose. A sexy ex with vengeance on her mind. Two loyal bridesmaids ready to go to war. A brother seeking his father’s approval. Put them all together and the result is a hilarious melting-pot of potential disaster.
1. OMO GHETTO: the saga
Gross Revenue: N636.1 million
Director: Funke Akindele & JJC SKillz
Starring: Funke Akindele, Chioma Akpotha, Nancy Isime, Eniola Badmus, Bimbo Thomas, Mercy Aigbe, Deyemi Okanlawon, Timini Egbuson, and Alex Ekubo
Production Companies: SceneOne Productions
Release date: 25 December 2020
Rating: 7.3/10
Plot: This is a story about Lefty who, together with her squad from the ghetto, was always getting into one trouble or the other. Twins are reunited as a good-hearted female gangster and her uptight rich sister take on family, crime, cops, and all of the trouble that follows them.
Interesting Facts:
Omo Ghetto grossed over ₦189 million in the opening week since its release and it historically became the first Nollywood film ever to gross over ₦99 million in its opening weekend surpassing the previous record set by The Wedding Party 2. It also historically became the first ever Nigerian film to gross ₦500 million in Nollywood box office.