Nollywood filmmaker and actor Funke Akindele has etched her name in African cinema history as her latest film, Behind The Scenes, surpassed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office—the first Nollywood movie to achieve this milestone.
Film distributor FilmOne Entertainment confirmed on X that the film has now grossed ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales. They hailed the achievement as a record-breaking feat, making Behind The Scenes the highest-grossing Nollywood film in Africa, and the top Nollywood release in the UK and Ireland.
The milestone also reinforces Akindele’s status as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker. She is now the first filmmaker to top the African box office for three consecutive years, an unprecedented feat in the region.
FilmOne credited the film’s success to audiences “believing in the magic of storytelling,” calling the accomplishment not just a commercial win, but a cultural movement driven by strong word-of-mouth.
Previously, the film had crossed ₦1 billion and later ₦1.77 billion, steadily climbing to the industry’s all-time top rankings.
Behind The Scenes stars Scarlet Gomez, with Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale ‘Mr Macaroni’, Ibrahim Chatta, Kamo State, and others in a strong ensemble cast. The film explores the theme of black tax, highlighting the pressures faced by individuals supporting extended families—a theme that has deeply resonated with audiences, especially young adults.
Fans have praised the film’s relatable storytelling, cast performance, marketing strategy, and Akindele’s enduring appeal. With its run continuing in cinemas and revenue from international markets, Behind The Scenes is widely regarded as a defining moment for Nollywood, marking the industry’s capacity to produce billion-naira blockbusters with global reach.