Entertainment: Here Are The Most Watched Nollywood Movies Ever Produced
Nollywood is a rising star in the film industry and incredibly prolific, with thousands of new films released. Of these thousands of films, these ten have done the best financially and earned reputations for being Nollywood’s most profitable.
10. Sugar Rush – ₦287 Million ($226,000)
Kicking off the list is the action-packed comedy Sugar Rush. The story follows the Sugar sisters, who happen upon a massive amount of money and find themselves in a tricky situation between law enforcement and the owners of the money. The film was released in 2019, and its entertainment value has allowed it to maintain a top ten place on this list.
9. Malaika – ₦302 Million ($238,000)
Malaika is a drama that follows the stories of a family struggling with tense dynamics and unfaithfulness and another family struggling to have a child. While it’s not the top-grossing film on this list, it is among the most highly rated and positively reviewed. It’s praised for how it handles and explores the impacts of delicate topics at a personal and societal level.
Nollywood’s Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi produced and starred in this emotionally complex film, adding to her list of film successes.
8. King of Thieves – ₦320 Million ($252,000)
The King of Thieves, released in 2022, is one of the only top-grossing Nollywood films that incorporates the world of fantasy. The story is inspired by Yoruba mythology and follows a bandit driven by revenge as he terrorizes the once-peaceful Kingdom of Ajeromi. The elements of action and drama in this movie create a captivating story that has kept it in one of the top ten places on this list.
7. Brotherhood – ₦328 Million ($258,000)
In 2022, the action-packed and crime-fueled movie Brotherhood was released. It depicts the story of two orphaned brothers who find themselves on opposite sides of the law — one joining a police task force and the other a notorious gang. The film stars big Nollywood names like Boma Akpore, Tobi Bakre, and Jide Kene Achufusi. It explores the strength of brotherhood bonds and doing what it takes to survive.
6. Chief Daddy – ₦387 Million ($305,000)
The comedy Chief Daddy debuted in 2018 and follows the family of Chief Beecroft, a wealthy man who lived his life and spent his fortune as if there were no consequences, while they navigate his will after his sudden and unexpected death. The family is left dealing with the consequences of his behavior and their dysfunctional relationships with one another.
The film was directed by Niya Akinmolayan, who has also directed other hugely profitable Nollywood films, including the next two on this list.
5. The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai – ₦433 Million ($341,000)
The Wedding Party 2, released the year after The Wedding Party, follows two characters from the first movie, Deirdre and Nonso, who are planning their wedding after accidentally getting engaged. The story takes the couple on a globetrotting, chaotic adventure from Nigeria to Dubai.
4. The Wedding Party – ₦452 Million ($356,000)
The first movie in The Wedding Party series still has a slight hold over the second by grossing over ₦452 million at the Nollywood box office. The movie was released in 2016 and quickly became a favorite for many charmed by the rom-com. The film follows a cast of funny and dramatic characters, all attempting to pull together the perfect wedding, getting sidetracked by petty rivals, unexpected twists, and general chaos.
3. Omo Ghetto: The Saga – ₦636 Million ($501,000)
Omo Ghetto: The Saga held a top spot at the Nollywood box office for ten weeks after its 2020 release. Four years later, it still holds one of the top spots on Nollywood’s highest-grossing films list. The movie is about a girl named Lefty who is faced with a hard decision: to continue the life she knows in the ghetto with the people she loves but with the hardships that come with it, or to enjoy a wealthier lifestyle with her rich mother.
The film offers the audience everything from action-packed trouble-making adventures to comedic and dramatic moments. It’s an engaging combination that likely was a key reason for the film’s success—it had something to appeal to everyone’s genre preferences.
2. Battle on Buka Street – ₦668 Million ($527,000)
This 2022 release has earned itself a considerable profit that, for a year, held the title of the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever before being knocked down into second place. The movie centers around two half-sisters who have been lifelong rivals as they each set up their own business on Buka Street.
Though officially labeled as a comedy, reviewers praise the film for its ability to take on challenging topics and explore the depths of human emotions. Many of these reviews single out Funke Akindele for bringing these themes to light through her acting, directing, and writing.
1. A Tribe Called Judah – ₦1.4 Billion ($1.1 Million)
The most profitable Nollywood movie to date is the comedy A Tribe Called Judah. The film was released in 2023, and in the short time since, it has accumulated a considerable profit and become highly rated among Nollywood fans.
The plot follows a low-income family who, in an effort to deal with their financial woes, plan to rob a mall. The problem? When they arrive at the mall, there are already armed robbers inside. The cast includes a few names you’ll recognize from movies on this list and more than likely from Nollywood favorites that, while famous, didn’t make it onto this list, including Funke Akindele, Jide Kene Achufusi, and Boma Akpore.
