Nollywood filmmaker, Funke Akindele’s film Everybody Loves Jenifa has grossed $327,723 and counting, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood release in the diaspora.
Funke Akindele took to social media to announce the film’s success, saying in a collaboration Instagram post with The Nile Entertainment: “$327,723 and counting. Truly remarkable, #ELJtheMovie FORCE IS UNSTOPPABLE.” The Nile Entertainment is the film’s distributor.
The post also expressed gratitude to fans, cast members, and partners who contributed to the film’s success. “A heartfelt THANK YOU to Jenifans, Diasporans, lovers of great content, the incredible ELJ cast, and all the stars who made this journey possible,” it said.
Everybody Loves Jenifa continues to attract audiences worldwide, with screenings in select cinemas across the UK, USA, Canada, and Francophone Africa. The film is also set to be released in Finland, India, Italy, and Spain in the coming weeks.
The film’s global gross of $327,723 can be attributed to its performance in various regions. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the film earned $147,355, while in Canada and the United States, it grossed $150,584. Additionally, it generated $18,976 in Germany, Norway, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand, and $10,324 in Francophone African countries.
Notably, Everybody Loves Jenifa has become the highest-grossing film of all time in each of these regions, solidifying its position as the highest-grossing Nollywood release of all time in the diaspora.
Everybody Loves Jenifa had earlier grossed 1.6 billion as the film became the highest grossing film of all time in West Africa.
With her latest achievement, Funke Akindele has made history by occupying the top four spots on Nollywood’s all-time box office list. Everybody Loves Jenifa joins her previous blockbuster Tribe of Judah, which was the first Nollywood film to surpass the ₦1 billion mark.
Akindele’s films Battle On Buka Street and Omo Ghetto: The Saga now occupy the third and fourth positions on the list, respectively, solidifying her position as one of the most successful filmmakers in Nollywood.
