Nigeria’s cinema industry has spent most of 2025 breaking its own records. Over the past eleven months, ticket sales have climbed at an extraordinary pace, and analysts now expect total earnings to hit roughly N15 billion by December. According to box-office data shared widely in the exhibition sector, revenues had already crossed N10 billion by August, reflecting a 58 percent jump from the same period in 2024.
Meanwhile, admissions reached 1.84 million, signalling a growing appetite for both local storytelling and global blockbusters. Although hits from 2024 such as Everybody Loves Jenifa and Alakada: Bad and Boujee continued to draw crowds, the real momentum came from 2025’s new releases. These films not only topped charts but also showed that Nollywood and Hollywood now compete for attention in one of Africa’s fastest-growing cinema markets.
Below are the top 10 highest-grossing movies in Nigeria as of November 30, 2025, and how each one made its mark.
10. Labake Olododo
Gross: N256.2 million
Iyabo Ojo’s historical epic Labake Olododo became one of the most talked-about Nollywood projects of the year. Directed by Biodun Stephen and released on March 28, the film celebrates Yoruba heritage through the story of a courageous woman who confronts injustice in her community.
The movie opened to N50 million in its first weekend, securing the second-largest Nollywood debut of 2025. It quickly built on this momentum, surpassing N200 million within weeks and closing its local run at N256.2 million. Shot in Ibadan, the film features some of the industry’s most recognisable actors, including Femi Adebayo, Kunle Afolayan, Faithia Williams, Mercy Aigbe, Mr Macaroni, and Odunlade Adekola.
Industry observers have described its performance as another sign that indigenous-language cinema is becoming a dependable driver of domestic revenue.
9. Iyalode
Gross: N306.36 million
Released during the Eid El Kabir holidays in June, Toyin Abraham’s Iyalode proved to be one of Nollywood’s most commercially resilient titles of the year. According to data published by the Nigerian box office, the film opened with N81.54 million, and by the end of its first week had climbed to N137.41 million.
It remained the top film in the country for three consecutive weekends, despite tough competition from international titles such as Ballerina and Mission: Impossible 8. Its final gross of N306.36 million placed it among the top Nollywood earners of all time and further strengthened Abraham’s reputation as a consistent box-office force.
8. Reel Love
Gross: N356.82 million
Timini Egbuson’s Reel Love was one of the biggest romantic hits of 2025 and a major breakthrough for the actor in his first role as producer. Directed by Kayode Kasum, the film dissects the pressures of performative relationships and the lure of social media validation.
Released on Valentine’s Day, the film earned N40.5 million on opening day and closed its first weekend with N99.3 million, placing it among Nollywood’s strongest debuts. It crossed N200 million in three weeks and ended its theatrical run at N356.82 million, holding the number-one position nationwide for five straight weeks.
7. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (MI8)
Gross: N372.7 million
Tom Cruise’s spy franchise continued its winning streak in Nigeria with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. With advance screenings on May 21 and 22 and a full launch on May 23, the film opened to an impressive N123 million in its first week.
Its explosive action sequences and loyal fan base helped it surpass N200 million within two weeks, eventually finishing with N372.7 million. Exhibitors noted that the film reaffirmed Nigeria as one of the most enthusiastic markets for Hollywood action franchises in Africa.
6. Captain America: Brave New World
Gross: N418.6 million
Marvel’s grip on Nigerian cinema audiences continued in 2025. Captain America: Brave New World, directed by Julius Onah and starring Anthony Mackie, arrived in mid-February and delivered the year’s biggest Hollywood opening with N137.5 million.
Within three weeks, the film had earned N298 million, eventually closing at N418.6 million after an 11-week run. According to industry watchers, the film’s performance highlighted Nigeria’s enduring affinity for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even in a crowded year for superhero franchises.
5. Ori: The Rebirth
Gross: N419.57 million
Muyiwa Ademola’s Ori: The Rebirth demonstrated that indigenous-language productions can match the scale and ambition of mainstream Nollywood titles. Released on May 1, the film recorded over N114 million in its first week, crossed N300 million within one month, and ultimately reached N419.57 million by August.
Ademola reportedly invested more than N400 million in production, and the result placed the movie among the most successful Yoruba-language films ever made. Its achievement places it alongside notable hits such as King of Boys, The Wedding Party, and A Tribe Called Judah, reinforcing the growing confidence in culturally grounded storytelling.
4. The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Gross: N468.6 million
Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps ranked among Nigeria’s strongest foreign releases in 2025. Distributed locally by FilmOne Entertainment, the film opened nationwide on July 25 after a blue-carpet premiere at IMAX Lekki.
Early reports showed earnings above N428 million, with later updates confirming N468.6 million in total sales. Globally, the film crossed $500 million, outperforming other MCU titles released this year. While critics offered mixed reviews, Nigerian audiences embraced the reboot across major cinema chains.
3. Superman (2025)
Gross: N478.9 million
The 2025 reboot of Superman continued Hollywood’s strong run in the Nigerian market. Released on July 11, the film pulled N111.9 million in its first week and added N263 million by the second weekend.
Its dominance coincided with the rising success of domestic titles such as Gingerrr, highlighting a year in which both Nollywood and Hollywood thrived side by side.
2. Gingerrr
Gross: N509.3 million
One of Nollywood’s biggest triumphs of 2025, Gingerrr blends comedy, crime, and high-stakes action into a heist narrative written by Xavier Ighorodje. Premiering on September 21 and opening nationwide on September 26, the film earned N82 million in its debut and sped to N378 million within five weeks.
By late 2025, it had amassed N509.3 million, making it the year’s top Nigerian release and the fifth highest-grossing Nollywood film in history. Directed by Yemi Morafa, the production features an ensemble cast including Bisola Aiyeola, Timini Egbuson, Bolaji Ogunmola, Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Wumi Toriola, Odunlade Adekola, and Lateef Adedimeji.
1. Sinners
Gross: N775.8 million
Ryan Coogler’s supernatural crime thriller Sinners dominated West African cinemas for 13 weeks and emerged as the biggest film of the year in Nigeria. Released on April 18, it opened with N79.6 million and maintained strong momentum throughout its run, finishing at N775,803,516.
According to regional box-office reports, the film now ranks as the fifth highest-grossing movie ever released in West Africa. It sits just behind Black Panther and ahead of Spider-Man: No Way Home in Nigeria’s all-time rankings.
Globally, the film crossed $100 million in nine days, reached $200 million within four weeks, and eventually sailed beyond $300 million. Film analysts say its performance reflects a rising demand for genre-driven cinema in African markets, particularly thrillers and supernatural stories.
With 2025 shaping up as a historic year for Nigerian cinemas, the box office results show a market that is maturing quickly. Nollywood’s biggest titles are now competing comfortably with major Hollywood franchises, while indigenous-language films are earning the kind of figures once reserved for English-language releases.
As exhibitors look ahead to 2026, industry experts say the priority will be sustaining this momentum through stronger distribution networks, more diverse content, and continued investment in local talent.
Add a Comment