“A Tribe Called Judah” – Funke Akindele’s Film Breaks Nollywood Records by Amassing Billions

Veteran actress Funke Akindele’s latest Nollywood film, “A Tribe Called Judah,” has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time, earning a reported N1 billion at the box office.

This accomplishment surpasses the earnings of her previous films, “Battle on Buka Street” and “Omo Ghetto: The Saga,” which hold the second and third highest-grossing positions in the Nigerian box office, respectively, with N668.4 million and over N636.1 million.

The movie premiered on December 15, 2023, and immediately made waves, grossing N113.3 million in its opening weekend, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood opening weekend of the year. It is currently being screened in theaters in the United Kingdom as well.

According to the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), “A Tribe Called Judah” not only became the highest-grossing Nollywood film of 2023 but also the highest-grossing film ever. It crossed the N1 billion mark within the first two days of 2024, ending 2023 with a total gross of N854.3 million.

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The film’s success can be attributed to its popularity during the festive season, with average ticket prices ranging from N5,500 to N7,000, depending on the cinema type.

“A Tribe Called Judah” follows the story of five brothers played by Jide Kene Achufusi, Timini Egbuson, Uzee Usman, Tobi Makinde, and Olumide Oworu, who unite to carry out a heist to save their mother, played by Funke Akindele.

Funke Akindele‘s previous films, “Omo Ghetto: The Saga” and “Battle on Buka Street,” also achieved significant success, marking her as one of the few filmmakers to surpass the N1 billion gross at the box office, and the only one to do so with just two movies.

The actress’s skillful marketing strategies, including captivating trailers, well-executed social media campaigns, and attention-grabbing promotional materials, have played a crucial role in the films’ success. Akindele’s large following on social media, with over 16 million followers on Instagram alone, has further amplified the appeal of her films.

It is noteworthy that Akindele’s films have resonated particularly well with audiences in the South-west region of Nigeria, where the majority of cinemas are located. This regional alignment has been advantageous, considering that the South-west holds 57 percent of the total 81 cinemas in the country, as reported by Statista.