Funke Akindele’s latest movie, ‘Behind The Scenes,’ has hit ₦1.1 Billion in just 17 days—a feat that has never been achieved before. She beat her previous records.
This movie discusses how “black tax” works in Africa and has a star-studded ensemble cast: Funke Akindele, Tobi Bakre, Scarlet Gomez, Iyabo Ojo, Ibrahim Chatta, Ini Dima-Okojie, and many more. 
The movie distributors, FilmOne, came online to share the records ‘Behind The Scene’ has broken:
6 Records Funke Akindele Broke With ‘Behind The Scenes’
1. Fastest film in West Africa to cross ₦1B+
It took the movie a little over two weeks to bring in over a billion.
2. Highest single-day gross ever on Boxing Day (₦129.5M)
Boxing Day is an important movie-going day. Interestingly, it earned in a day what some movies get in their entire cinematic run.
3. Highest-grossing release of 2025
Before her movie, the highest-grossing Nigerian movie was ‘Gingerrr,’ which earned ₦509.3M at the box office; Funke’s movie doubled that performance in just 17 days.
4 . The only director to cross ₦1B+ at the box office three different times
This movie is her third billion-naira movie. She produced and/or directed ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ (2024), which grossed over ₦1.8 billion, and ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ (2023), which grossed ₦1.4 billion.
5. Nollywood’s highest-grossing producer of all time
She holds the record for the highest cumulative domestic gross by director/producer, with her films earning over ₦4.7 billion.
6. The first filmmaker to deliver three consecutive ₦1B+ films
‘Behind the Scenes’ made ₦1.1 billion in just 19 days, ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ made over ₦1.8 billion and became the highest-grossing Nollywood film ever, and ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ made over ₦1.4 billion.
Despite being released throughout various holiday seasons, all of these films notably reached their billion-naira milestones in 2025.
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The Funke Akindele Strategy: How She Breaks These Records
While other filmmakers during this period like Toyin Abraham, Ini Edo, and Niyi Akinmolayan are complaining about cinemas not showing their movies, Funke is smiling to the bank. Here’s why:
She is the Queen of Marketing
From going into the local communities herself to give them merchandise and market her movies to making TikTok and Instagram videos, posting her movies on billboards, and stickers on public transportation, Funke Akindele goes all out to market her films.
When they are released, she doesn’t rest but organizes meet-and-greets with influencers and actors to encourage people to go watch the movie and those who attend get free merch and branded items.
She Has a Community
The importance of people rooting for you and being willing to support you cannot be underestimated. Funke has been a Nollywood sweetheart with the general public behind her ever since her series, ‘Jenifa’s Diary.’
She Has Hacked The Market
By always having a film out in December when people are on break and have time to see movies—not to mention the diasporans who are back in Nigeria for holiday, there is always a readily available market. She also makes the stories fun and family-friendly so they are relatable to everyone.
Her Movies Are Full of A-listers
Getting top-notch talent is not easy in terms of payment, but she knows it’s a price to pay for excellence.
All your Nollywood faves and sweethearts have starred in a Funke Akindele movie; these people already have an established base and market, so they can draw people into the cinema and they bring their own exceptional talent.
With her movies showing in cinemas across the US and UK, Funke is proving she has a global audience. At this point, she needs to write a book because her strategy is a lesson we all need to study.
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