Nigerian movie goers choose Nollywood title over fresh Hollywood releases

Nollywood titles are still dominating cinema earnings despite new Hollywood releases for the previous weekend box office figures.

Funke Akindele’s record breaking film ‘Behind the Scenes’ and Toyin Abraham’s ‘Oversabi Aunty’ led the weekend box office despite the new Hollywood releases such as Chris Patt’s ‘Mercy’ and ‘Border 2’ reinforcing the continued strength of local productions in cinemas across the country.

BTS Behind the Science topped the chart with N78.2 million for the weekend, pushing its cumulative gross to N2.41 billion in its seventh weekend and total admissions to 406,305. The film remains the highest-grossing title currently in theaters, sustaining strong attendance throughout its run.

In second place, Oversabi Aunty earned N41.8 million over the three days, bringing its total to N1.017 billion in its sixth week. With 175,985 admissions so far, the film continues to attract audiences weeks after release, keeping it firmly among the top-performing Nollywood titles of the year.

Hollywood release Avatar 3 placed third with N18.9 million for the weekend. Its cumulative earnings now stand at N621.5 million after six weeks in cinemas, with total admissions of 86,599. While it maintained a presence in the top five, it trailed behind the leading local titles.

New entrant ‘Mercy’ debuted in fourth position, opening with N17.2 million in its first weekend and recording 2,569 admissions. The film’s opening performance places it ahead of several holdover titles, marking a solid start to its theatrical run.

‘Border 2’ on the fifth list, another new release, which grossed N11.3 million in its debut weekend. The film recorded 931 admissions, securing the fifth spot on the chart.

Overall, Nollywood accounted for the majority of the weekend’s box office revenue, continuing a trend of strong local dominance. The January 23–25 figures show Nigerian films maintaining audience interest across multiple weeks, while new releases are also finding space to compete within the top rankings.