According to data provided by Comscore and published in Nile Media’s “Half-Year Publication”, the end of the first half of 2024 has a Hollywood film, Bad Boys 4, sitting pretty on top. Just underneath, Nollywood makes its first appearance, via Kayode Kasum’s Ajosepo.
Three more films from Nigerian directors show up in the top 10. The remaining slots are occupied by major Hollywood fare. This suggests the Nigerian audience is as likely to show up for homegrown filmmakers as it is for big American names.
Below, we present the figures of each film on the top 10. We also give a synopsis of each entry.
1. Bad Boys: Ride Or Die
Opening Weekend: ₦63,342,270
Gross: ₦319,368,869
Ticket Admissions: 68,898
Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, and DJ Khaled. Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a 2024 American action-comedy film and the fourth instalment in the Bad Boys series, directed by Adil & Bilall and written by Chris Bremner and Will Beall. Starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, the plot
follows Miami detectives working to clear the name of their late Captain, who has been falsely accused of conspiracy.
2. Ajosepo
Opening Weekend: ₦32,200,047
Gross: ₦256,627,189
Ticket Admissions: 69,903
Ajosepo tells the story of a young couple on the verge of marriage. Set in a luxurious hotel during their wedding festivities, the film delves into themes of family dynamics, hidden secrets, and unexpected revelations that challenge their happiness. It is directed by Toka McBaror, starring Timini Egbuson, Yemi Solade, and Ronke Oshodi Oke.
3. Beast Of Two Worlds (Ajakaju)
Opening Weekend: ₦63,907,800
Gross: ₦252,801,675
Ticket Admissions: 72,532
Directed by Odunlade Adekola and Adebayo Tijani, the film explores the life of a desperate king facing banishment due to his wives’ inability to bear him a son. It features Odunlade Adekola, Femi Adebayo, Mercy Aigbe, Faithia Williams, Lateef Adedimeji, Sola Sobowale, Ibrahim Chatta, and Fathia Balogun.
4. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire
Opening Weekend: ₦49,959,602
Gross: ₦245,878,075
Ticket Admissions: 61,437
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire follows Kong, who has established a new territory in the Hollow Earth, while Godzilla continues to manage order between humanity and Titans on Earth’s surface. Directed by Adam Wingard, and produced by Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Brian Rogers, Mary Parent, Alex Garcia, Eric McLeod. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree
Henry, and Dan Stevens.
5. Dune: Part Two
Opening Weekend: ₦34,219,074
Gross: ₦184,480,280
Ticket Admissions: 43,193
Dune: Part Two is an American science fiction film directed and co-produced by Denis Villeneuve, featuring a star-studded cast that includes Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Timothée Chalamet. As the sequel to Dune (2021), it continues the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, focusing on Paul Atreides uniting with the Fremen to battle House Harkonnen.
6. The Beekeeper
Opening Weekend: ₦31,481,759
Gross: ₦169,629,481
Ticket Admissions: 43,805
Directed by David Ayer, starring Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and Bobby Naderi. The Beekeeper follows the story of a kind-hearted landlady tragically ending her life after being targeted by a phishing scam. Her tenant, the titular beekeeper, embarks on a mission to avenge her death.
7. Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Opening Weekend: ₦38,165,871
Gross: ₦168,760,911
Ticket Admissions: 39,231
Directed by Wes Ball, and starring Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an American science fiction action film and it is the fourth instalment in the Planet of the Apes reboot series and a standalone sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). It follows Noa, a young chimpanzee, who teams up with Mae, a human woman, to determine the future for both apes and humans.
8. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti
Opening Weekend: ₦32,035,237
Gross: ₦157,096,847
Ticket Admissions: 38,359
Directed and produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters and Joseph Umoibom, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti is a biographical drama that tells the story of the life of a fearless female leader who sparks a revolution against colonialism and patriarchy. The film consists of casts including Kehinde Bankole, Joke Silva, and Iyimide Ayo-Olumoko.
9. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Opening Weekend: ₦33,706,561
Gross: ₦141,651,510
Ticket Admissions: 31,636
Directed and produced by George Miller, starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Elsa Pataky, and Nicholas Hoult. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a 2024 Australian post-apocalyptic action film, and the fifth installment in Miller’s Mad Max franchise. The film follows the title character’s life for over a decade, from her kidnapping by the forces of warlord Dementus to her ascension to the rank of Imperator.
10. All Is Fair In Love
Opening Weekend: ₦17,547,774
Gross: ₦132,020,689
Ticket Admissions: 37,294
All Is Fair In Love is a romantic comedy directed by Kayode Kasum, Yolanda Okereke, and Abisola Omolade, starring Daniel Abua, Lateef Adedimeji, and Venita Akpofure. The film tells the story of Demi and Kanla, whose fashion business is booming, and their friendship bond is unbreakable. That is until they both fall in love with Mbali. Mbali, initially unaware of their feelings, becomes the object of their affection, setting the stage for an intense love triangle.
These figures demonstrate the growing appetite for cinematic experiences in Nigeria. The success of these films is expected to pave the way for future productions. As the industry continues to grow, Nigerians can expect to see even more exciting films hitting the big screen.
