Latest Funke Akindele’s “A Tribe Called Judah” becomes a record breaker -N1b sales
‘A Tribe Called Judah’, the latest movie by Nollywood actor and producer Funke Akindele, has broken the record as the first Nollywood title to hit a billion naira at the box office.
The movie sets a new record to become the highest-grossing Nollywood movie of all time, with earnings still counting, and has made Funke Akindele the highest-grossing Nollywood director of all time.
All these are achieved just three weeks after its release, making it the fastest Nollywood movie to achieve this feat.
In a press statement on Thursday, January 4, 2024, Film One Studios confirmed the new record the holiday title broke.
Kene Okwuosa, the Group CEO of Film House Group, commented on this remarkable achievement, saying, “We are witnessing a golden era for Nigerian cinema, and Funke Akindele’s A Tribe Called Judah reaching the 1 billion Naira mark is an indication that the creative industry.”
It premiered on December 15, 2023, across cinemas nationwide and kick-started with a total of ₦113.3 million, which made it the highest-grossing Nollywood opening weekend for the year.
In a short while, A Tribe Called Judah became a massive hit, with sold-out showings nationwide. It’s also currently showing in the United Kingdom as well.
According to the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), it finished 2023 with a total gross of ₦854.3 million, automatically making it the highest-grossing Nollywood title for 2023 and the highest ever.
A Tribe Called Judah achieved a notable feat, surpassing admission records of blockbusters like Sugar Rush (229,060) and King of Boys (220,565) in only just three weeks.
In its first fifteen days as of December 30, the film had already amassed an impressive N780 million, maintaining an outstanding daily gross of N55 million to N75 million during the festive season. Recording about N60 million N60 million within the first 48 hours of release.
Funke Akindele, known as the box office queen, has previously tasted success with films like “Omo Ghetto: The Saga” grossing N636 million in 2020, and “Battle on Buka Street” at N668 million in 2022.
The billion-naira record, previously held by Hollywood’s “Black Panther 2” at N1.04 billion, marks a significant milestone for the Nigerian film industry.
A Tribe Called Judah follows five brothers: Jide Kene Achufusi as Emeka Judah, Timini Egbuson as Pere Judah, Uzee Usman as Adamu Judah, Tobi Makinde as Shina Judah, and Olumide Oworu as Ejiro Judah, who must come together to rob a company to save their mother, played by Akindele as Jedidah Judah.
