Top 10 Highest Grossing Nigerian Films Of All Time

In this article, we shall be taking a look at the top 10 highest grossing Nigerian films of all time. These Nigerian movies are the most successful in terms of revenue generated since the Nigerian movie industry, Nollywood began. We have outlined all of the movies in hierarchy from highest to lowest and given their values in Nigerian Naira. If you want to find out which Nollywood movies make this list, kindly continue reading.

Nigeria’s film industry which is known as Nollywood, is one of the three most productive film industries in the world, the other two being America’s Hollywood and India’s Bollywood. Our movie industry has a rich history, dating back to 1926, when the first motion picture titled “Palaver” was shot in British colonial Nigeria. Since that time, Nollywood has continued to grow in leaps and bounds.

In ranking the highest grossing Nigerian movies of all time, we have considered some certain factors. Kindly note that the proceeds or profits generated from special screenings, DVD sales, online streaming and theatrical screenings outside Nigeria are excluded from this gross total, and Nigerian movies produced before the year 2000 are also excluded from this list due to the fact that their gross totals have not been inflation adjusted. With that in mind, let us now look at the all time highest revenue generating movies in Nigeria in details below.

TOP 10 HIGHEST GROSSING NIGERIAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME

As of this 2024, the following movies are the 10 highest grossing Nigerian films of all time:

A TRIBE CALLED JUDAH (₦1,392,113,579)

Funke Akindele is the producer of the 2023 Nigerian film A Tribe Called Judah, which stars a number of notable actors and actresses including Timini Egbuson, Jide Kene Achufusi, Uzee Usman, Tobi Makinde, Olumide Oworu, Genoveva Umeh, Nse Ikpe Etim, Juliana Olayode, Uzor Arukwe, Fathia Balogun, and Yvonne Jegede. December 15, 2023, saw the film’s national cinema release. According to Akindele, the movie is partly based on her mother’s life and is dedicated to her late mother. A Tribe Called Judah opened in cinemas on December 15, 2023, and on that first weekend, the movie made over ₦113 million, making it the first Nollywood production to do so. At the box office, the movie became the first Nollywood production to gross ₦1 billion.

BATTLE ON BUKKA STREET (₦668,423,056)

Nigerian comedy drama Battle on Buka Street, directed by Funke Akindele and Tobi Makinde, was released in 2022. FilmOne Studios and Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network (FAAN) collaborated to co-produce the movie. On December 16, 2022, the movie debuted in cinemas to overwhelmingly positive reviews from reviewers. The movie was a great box office hit. It made roughly ₦200,087,222 at the box office, making it the second highest grossing Nigerian film of 2022, only behind Brotherhood. Almost ₦50 million was made at the box office by the movie over the Christmas weekend, surpassing Avatar: The Way of Water as the then highest-grossing movie in Nigeria.

Additionally, on December 25, 2022, the movie made ₦26 million at the box office, making it the biggest grossing Nigerian movie of the year. On April 13, 2023, the movie’s theatrical run came to a conclusion. It had made ₦668,423,056 in box office revenue in 17 weeks. With a gross of more over ₦640 million, it became the highest-grossing Nigerian movie of all time, surpassing Omo Ghetto: The Saga at that time.

OMO GHETTO: THE SAGA (₦636,129,120)

Omo Ghetto: The Saga is also known as Omo Ghetto 2. This movie is a 2020 Nigerian gangster comedy film that was co-directed by Funke Akindele and her husband JJC Skillz. The film features some of Nollywood’s finest such as Funke Akindele, Chioma Akpota, Nancy Isime, Eniola Badmus, Bimbo Thomas, Deyemi Okanlawon and Mercy Aigbe in lead roles.

This was the second film in the Omo Ghetto franchise and it was also the sequel to the 2010 trilogy film Omo Ghetto. Its theatrical release which coincided with Christmas Day on December 25, 2020 received extremely positive reviews from critics. Omo Ghetto 2 became a box office success and surpassed Fate of Alakada as the highest grossing Nigerian film for the year 2020. As of 2024, the film’s total revenue generated stands at a mammoth ₦636 million, making it the third highest ever grossing Nigerian movie of all time.

THE WEDDING PARTY (₦452,288,605) 

The Wedding Party is a romantic comedy drama film directed by Kemi Adetiba. This movie premiered on September 8, 2016 at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and on November 26, 2016 at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria. The worldwide release of the film was on December 16, 2016, and as at that time, it was the highest grossing Nigerian film ever. This record which was broken in 2017 by its sequel The Wedding Party 2 but both films are currently fourth and fifth on the all time list.

THE WEDDING PARTY 2: DESTINATION DUBAI (₦433,197,377)

The Wedding Party 2: Destination Dubai is a 2017 Nigerian romantic comedy drama film directed by Niyi Akinmolayan. It is a follow up to The Wedding Party, which was originally released in December 2016. The film was shot in Lagos, Nigeria and Dubai, The United Arab Emirates and it currently sits fifth on this list of highest grossing Nigerian movies of all time. If you haven’t seen this movie, do avail yourself time to see both Parts 1 and 2. You’ll be glad you did.

CHIEF DADDY (₦387,540,749) 

Chief Daddy is a 2018 Nigerian movie which is the sixth highest ever grossing Nigerian film. It is centred around a billionaire industrialist, Chief Beecroft, who serves as a benefactor to a large extended family of relatives, household staff and mistresses. He dies suddenly and his will creates a saga amongst his extended families.

The movie, which is a comedy drama was directed by Niyi Akinmolayan, written by Bode Asiyanbi and produced by Mosunmola Abudu and Temidayo Abudu, starring popular Nigerian actors and actresses such as Funke Akindele Bello, Kate Henshaw, Nkem Owoh, Joke Silva, Patience Ozokwor, Richard Mofe Damijo and Racheal Oniga.

BROTHERHOOD (₦328,881,120)

Sam Dede, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Toni Tones, Zubby Michael, Mr. Macaroni, Tobi Bakre, Boma Akpore, Falz, Basketmouth, and a number of other actors star in the Nigerian crime-action thriller Brotherhood, which is produced by Jade Osiberu. On September 23, 2022, the movie was shown in cinemas across Africa. The movie debuted concurrently in a number of African nations, including Senegal, Congo, Rwanda, Gabon, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger Republic, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Benin Republic. It is currently the seventh highest ever grossing Nollywood movie of all time.

KING OF THIEVES (₦320,805,150)

Femi Adebayo is the producer and Tope and Adebayo Tijani are the directors of the 2022 Nigerian thriller film King of Thieves (Agẹṣinkólé). The actors who star in it include Lateef Adedimeji, Ibrahim Hatta, Adebowale “Debo” Adedayo, aka Mr. Macaroni, Femi Adebayo, Toyin Abraham, and Odunlade Adekola. The Epic Yoruba film was co-produced by Anthill Studios, led by Niyi Akinmolayan, and produced by Femi Adebayo’s Euphoria360 Media. On April 4, 2022, the much anticipated film premiered at the IMAX Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos. The occasion covered a number of trends and hot topics. On April 8, 2022, the film debuted in theaters around the country. King of Thieves is the eighth highest ever grossing Nollywood movie of all time.

SUGAR RUSH (₦287,053,270)

Sugar Rush is the ninth highest ever grossing Nigerian film of all time. It was released on December 25, 2019, and it is a crime action comedy film written by Jadesola Osiberu and Bunmi Ajakaiye, and directed by Kayode Kasum. Adesua Etomi, Bisola Aiyeola and Bimbo Ademoye all star in the film in the lead roles.

MALAIKA (₦299,101,395)

Sitting pretty at number ten and completing this list of all time highest ever grossing Nigerian movies is the 2023 movie Malaika. It is the story of a frustrated and bitter woman, struggling to have a child of her own, who tries to find spiritual guidance and it stars the likes of Odunlade Adekola, Toyin Abraham, Muyiwa Ademola, Emeka Ike and a host of others.