Behind the Scenes, produced by Funke Akindele, has become the first Nollywood film to reach and cross the N2 billion mark at the West African box office, reaching the milestone within five weeks of its release. The film has now grossed over N2.1 billion, setting a new commercial record for Nigerian cinema.
The film was released nationwide on December 12, 2025, and opened to strong attendance across major cinema chains in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Accra. It recorded one of the highest opening weekends of the year and continued to show strong performance through the holiday period, and into the new year, when cinema attendance typically peaks. Akindele now holds the distinction of being Africa’s highest-
grossing filmmaker of all time, as well as the highest-grossing director, producer, and writer on the continent based on cumulative box office returns.
Behind the Scenes is a drama centred on Aderonke “Ronky-Fella” Faniran, a successful real estate entrepreneur whose personal generosity and commitment to helping those around her gradually begin to overwhelm her private life.
As family members, friends, and associates place increasing demands on her time, money, and emotional energy, Aderonke is forced to confront the consequences of having weak personal boundaries. The story explores themes of responsibility, emotional labour, family pressure, trust, and the cost of success, particularly for women in leadership positions.
The film was co-produced by Wendy Uwadiae Imasuen and co-directed by Akindele and Tunde Olaoye. Akindele also served as the film’s writer, supported by a team of screenwriters and creative consultants. The production combines contemporary urban settings with domestic family spaces, reinforcing the film’s focus on the tension between public success and private strain.
With Behind the Scenes becoming her third film to cross the N1 billion mark, she is now the only Nigerian filmmaker to have achieved that milestone three times.
Behind the Scenes was released during a busy December cinema season. Other films released around the same period included ‘A Very Dirty Christmas’, a holiday-themed relationship drama; ‘Oversabi Aunty’, a character-driven comedy; and ‘Colours of Fire’, a fantasy drama.
Industry analysts note that the film’s success reflects the growing interest in locally produced cinema content and the increasing willingness of Nigerian audiences to support theatrical releases.
