iDeemlawful—Nollywood filmmaker and actress, Funke Akindele, has strengthened her legacy in African cinema as her latest movie, *Behind The Scenes*, surpassed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office, making history as the first Nollywood film to reach the milestone.
The historic achievement was announced on Monday in a post on X by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, which disclosed that the movie has generated ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales.
Confirming the record, the distributor said the film had “officially broken and shattered records,” noting that it is the first Nollywood production in Africa to cross the ₦2 billion box office benchmark.
FilmOne added that the feat positions *Behind The Scenes* as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time in Africa, as well as the top-earning Nollywood title in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
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According to the distributor, the film’s performance further underscores Akindele’s standing as Africa’s most commercially successful filmmaker, describing her as the highest-grossing writer, director and producer in West African cinema history.
FilmOne also revealed that Akindele has become the first filmmaker to top the African box office for three consecutive years, a record it described as unprecedented in the region’s film industry.
Expressing appreciation to cinema audiences, the distributor thanked viewers for “believing in the magic of storytelling,” adding that the film’s success represents not just a commercial triumph but a cultural movement sustained by audience loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.
The ₦2 billion milestone marks a remarkable rise from the movie’s earlier earnings. *Behind The Scenes* had previously crossed the ₦1 billion mark before climbing to ₦1.77 billion, already ranking among Nollywood’s most successful films. Its continued growth has now firmly placed it at the summit of the industry’s all-time box office chart.
The film stars Scarlet Gomez in the lead role and features an ensemble cast including Funke Akindele, Iyabo Ojo, Destiny Etiko, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana, Uzor Arukwe, Ini Dima-Okojie, Adebowale ‘Mr Macaroni’, Ibrahim Chatta and Kamo State, alongside several other established and emerging talents.
At its core, *Behind The Scenes* examines the issue of black tax, exploring the emotional, social and financial pressures placed on individuals expected to support extended family members.
This theme has strongly resonated with viewers, especially young adults, helping to sustain cinema attendance across Nigeria and the wider West African market.
Fans have attributed the film’s exceptional box office run to relatable storytelling, a strong ensemble cast, intensive marketing and Akindele’s consistent appeal as a filmmaker known for delivering commercially successful projects.
The success of *Behind The Scenes* adds to Akindele’s expanding list of box office accomplishments. Her earlier works, including *Everybody Loves Jenifa*, achieved rapid revenue growth and set multiple opening-week and cumulative earnings records, reinforcing her reputation as Nollywood’s most bankable figure.
With its cinema run still ongoing and international markets contributing to revenue, *Behind The Scenes* is widely regarded as a defining moment in Nollywood’s commercial evolution, reflecting the industry’s growing ability to produce billion-naira blockbusters with global reach.