Funke Akindele’s latest film, Behind the Scenes, has grossed over ₦200 million within its opening weekend, recording the biggest opening of 2025 so far, according to FilmOne Entertainment, the film’s West African distributor.
The movie, which opened in cinemas on December 12, earned the milestone between December 12 and 14, 2025, with 34,548 admissions. FilmOne said the title broke five opening-weekend records, including the highest admissions recorded in a single weekend this year.
The strong debut followed impressive advance screenings, which generated ₦27.2 million, described by distributors as the highest advance-screening revenue for a Nollywood film. The movie also enjoyed a successful early run in the United Kingdom, recording over 1,550 admissions and selling out multiple screens.
About the film
Directed by Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, Behind the Scenes features an ensemble cast that includes Destiny Etiko, Ibrahim Chatta, Ini Dima-Okojie, Iyabo Ojo, Tobi Bakre, Uzor Arukwe, and Victoria Adeleye. The drama runs for two hours and 24 minutes and carries a 12A rating.
The story centres on Aderonke “Ronky-Fella” Faniran, a successful real estate entrepreneur whose generosity begins to take a personal toll, exploring themes of boundaries, self-sacrifice, and responsibility. The film is currently showing in cinemas across Nigeria and Ghana, including Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, and Accra.
Production and industry context
Akindele previously revealed that the film’s production budget exceeded ₦1 billion, underscoring the growing cost of filmmaking in Nigeria. Industry watchers note that rising production expenses have increased pressure on filmmakers to deliver strong box-office returns amid inflation and constrained consumer spending.
Following the release, Akindele urged cinema-goers not to record or share clips from the film, warning that such acts constitute piracy and could hurt revenue. The appeal reflects ongoing concerns within Nollywood over losses from illegal distribution.
Track record
Akindele has consistently dominated the box office in recent years. Her 2023 release, A Tribe Called Judah, crossed the ₦1 billion mark, while Everybody Loves Jenifa grossed ₦1.8 billion across West Africa in 2024. Other major hits include Battle on Buka Street and Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
