The Nigerian movie business, popularly often known as Nollywood, has continued its spectacular ascent in 2024, constructing on the momentum from high-profile releases in December.
With the sector amassing a sturdy N6 billion in whole income and securing a 50.05% market share, Nollywood is nicely on its solution to assembly its bold N10 billion income goal for the yr, a outstanding leap from final yr’s N7.24 billion.
Amidst this thriving panorama, a number of filmmakers have stood out by surpassing the N100 million mark on the field workplace. Listed below are the highest Nollywood filmmakers who’ve made waves in 2024.
Funke Akindele – A Tribe Known as Judah
Field Workplace Income: N610.7 million
Funke Akindele has solidified her standing as certainly one of Nollywood’s most profitable actresses and filmmakers. Her profession, which started in 1997, gained important traction together with her function within the UN-sponsored sitcom I Have to Know. Referred to as the “Queen of Field Workplace,” Akindele holds the highest three positions for the highest-grossing Nigerian movies.
Her newest blockbuster, A Tribe Known as Judah, turned the primary Nollywood film to surpass the N1 billion mark, whereas her earlier movies Battle on Buka Avenue (2022) and Omo Ghetto: The Saga (2020) have additionally achieved outstanding field workplace success. Akindele’s potential to star in and produce such high-grossing movies underscores her pivotal function within the business’s progress.
Kayode Kasum – Ajosepo
Field Workplace Income: N256.6 million
Kayode Kasum has emerged as a powerhouse director and producer in Nollywood, together with his movie Ajosepo grossing over N200 million in cinemas. This success pushes his cumulative field workplace gross as a director to greater than N1 billion.
Kasum is famend for his dedication to preserving African cultural practices, which is mirrored in his numerous filmography that features hits like Sugar Rush, This Woman Known as Life, and Far From Dwelling on Netflix. His potential to craft tales in English, Pidgin English, and varied African dialects has resonated with a large viewers, making him one of the vital influential filmmakers in Nigeria at the moment.
Eniola Ajao – Beast of Two Worlds
Field Workplace Income: N252.8 million
Eniola Ajao has made a big impression within the Yoruba-language movie sector of Nollywood. With over 75 movie appearances below her belt, Ajao ventured into producing with Beast of Two Worlds in 2024.
Directed by Odunlade Adekola and Adebayo Tijani, the movie tells the intriguing story of a determined king who marries a lady from one other world to safe his legacy, resulting in surprising chaos. Premiering on March 25, the movie attracted over 72,532 cinema admissions, solidifying Ajao’s status as a flexible and dynamic drive within the business.
Odunlade Adekola – Lakatabu
Field Workplace Income: N202.2 million
Odunlade Adekola is a celebrated actor and filmmaker, finest identified for his lead function within the 2003 movie Asiri Gomina Wa. Because the founder and CEO of Odunlade Adekola Movie Manufacturing (OAFP), Adekola has been instrumental in producing quite a few profitable Nollywood movies.
His 2024 launch, Lakatabu, premiered on June 21 and shortly grossed over N200 million, with 55,048 tickets bought. Adekola’s twin function as each actor and producer within the movie highlights his versatility and deep dedication to Nollywood’s continued success.
Toyin Abraham – Malaika
Field Workplace Income: N158 million
Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi has established herself as a number one actress and filmmaker in Nollywood since her debut in 2003. With a repertoire that features movies like Alani Baba Labake and Ijakumo: The Born Once more Stripper, Abraham has persistently delivered performances that resonate with audiences.
Her 2024 movie, Malaika, grossed over N158 million, showcasing her potential to steer commercially profitable initiatives. Moreover, Abraham’s involvement in actuality TV and her function as an envoy for Revolution Plus Properties spotlight her multifaceted affect past the movie business.
Bolanle Austen-Peters – Funmilayo Ransom Kuti
Field Workplace Income: N157 million
Bolanle Austen-Peters is a trailblazer in Nigerian theatre and movie, acknowledged by CNN and Forbes Afrique for her influential contributions. Because the founding father of BAP Productions and Terra Kulture, Austen-Peters has been a key participant in selling arts and tradition in Lagos and past.
Her movie Funmilayo Ransom Kuti holds the title of the highest-grossing biopic in West Africa, incomes N157 million on the field workplace. Her work with Terra Academy for the Arts and notable productions like Saro, the Musical and Fela and The Kalakuta Queens have garnered worldwide acclaim, cementing her legacy in Nollywood.
Deyemi Okanlawon – All’s Honest in Love
Field Workplace Income: N131 million
Deyemi Okanlawon is a distinguished actor and entrepreneur who made his producing debut in 2024 with the romantic comedy All’s Honest in Love. Premiering on February 14, the movie shortly turned the highest-grossing romantic comedy in Nigeria, amassing N131.34 million.
Okanlawon’s strategic casting, modern advertising and marketing, and collaboration with administrators Kayode Kasum and Ifeme C.S. have been key elements within the movie’s success. His intensive profession, which incorporates over 50 movie appearances and accolades similar to a Greatest Actor award on the In-Quick Movie Pageant, highlights his important impression on Nollywood.
Naz Onuzo – Muri & Ko
Field Workplace Income: N120.4 million
Naz Onuzo is a key determine in each the artistic and monetary elements of Nollywood, main Inkblot Productions to grow to be certainly one of Nigeria’s foremost unbiased movie and TV manufacturing firms.
Because the Government Producer of Muri & Ko, launched in June 2024, Onuzo helped the movie gross over N100 million inside weeks of its debut. His intensive expertise in personal fairness and strategic roles with FilmOne Leisure, Filmhouse Cinemas, and International Accelerex underscores his potential to mix artistic imaginative and prescient with monetary acumen, driving Inkblot’s continued success.
Emmanuel Iren – What About Us
Field Workplace Income: N100 million
Emmanuel Aniefiok Iren is a multifaceted Nigerian preacher, gospel singer, songwriter, and filmmaker. Because the founding father of Celebration Church Worldwide (CCI), Iren has constructed a worldwide ministry with over 15,000 members throughout 30 branches worldwide.
His foray into filmmaking in 2024 as the chief producer of What About Us marked a big milestone, with the movie grossing N100 million on the Nigerian field workplace. Directed by Kayode Kasum and written by Ife Olujuyigbe, the movie exemplifies Iren’s numerous abilities and his potential to merge his non secular and artistic pursuits successfully.