Nollywood filmmaker and actor, Funke Akindele, has made history as her latest movie, Behind The Scenes, crossed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office, becoming the first Nollywood film to achieve the feat.
The record-breaking milestone was announced on Monday by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, which confirmed that the movie has grossed ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales.
Announcing the achievement on X, FilmOne said the film had “officially broken and shattered records,” describing it as the first Nollywood production in Africa to cross the ₦2 billion box office mark.
The distributor added that Behind The Scenes is now the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time in Africa, as well as the top-grossing Nollywood release in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
FilmOne further stated that the success of the film cements Akindele’s position as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker, noting that she is now the highest-grossing writer, director and producer in West Africa’s history.
The company also revealed that Akindele has become the first filmmaker to rank number one at the African box office for three consecutive years, a milestone it described as unprecedented.
“This is now a movement and we love to see it. From our hearts to yours, thank you for believing in the magic of storytelling and making history with us,” FilmOne said.
The ₦2 billion milestone marks a major leap from the film’s earlier records. Behind The Scenes had previously crossed ₦1 billion before climbing to ₦1.77 billion, already placing it among Nollywood’s most successful titles before breaking the industry ceiling.
Released in Nigerian cinemas on December 12, 2025, the film has enjoyed sustained cinema attendance, driven by strong word-of-mouth, aggressive marketing and Akindele’s established appeal with audiences.
Behind The Scenes stars Scarlet Gomez in the lead role and features an ensemble cast including Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale ‘Mr Macaroni’, Ibrahim Chatta and Kamo State.
The film explores the theme of black tax, focusing on the emotional, social and financial pressures placed on individuals expected to support extended family members. The storyline has resonated strongly with viewers, especially young adults.
Fans have attributed the movie’s success to its relatable story, strong performances and Akindele’s consistency in delivering commercially successful films.
With its cinema run still ongoing and international markets such as the UK, Canada and the United States contributing to revenue, industry watchers say Behind The Scenes represents a defining moment for Nollywood’s commercial growth and global reach.
