Nollywood is putting up a strong challenge against Hollywood’s grip on local cinemas, competing favourably with films that have global appeal.
So far, both industries have been locked in a fierce competition for viewers in Nigerian cinemas.
A close look at this year’s opening weekend numbers reveals who is in the early lead, and why opening weekend earnings can help Nollywood achieve its aim this year. In the fast-paced world of cinema, a film’s opening weekend at the box office can make or break its success, setting the tone for its entire theatrical run.
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Hollywood has landed the year’s biggest openings so far. Leading the pack is ‘Captain America: A Brand New World,’ which stormed into Nigerian cinemas in February 2025 with N135.8 million. Close behind is ‘Sinners,’ Ryan Coogler’s latest project, which pulled in N111.4 million over the Easter weekend. These numbers underscore Hollywood’s enduring ability to draw crowds, fuelled by global franchises and a star power like Michael B. Jordan.
But Nollywood is not backing down. ‘Reel Love’ debuted with N99.3 million in February 2025, landing third place and claiming the title of the fourth highest-grossing Nollywood opening weekend ever. Right behind it is ‘Owambe Thieves,’ which raked in N76 million during the Easter weekend in April. ‘Labake Olododo’ brought in N50.5 million in March
Nollywood claimed six of the top 10 spots, with ‘Den of Thieves’ raking in N45.4 million and ‘A Working Man’ bringing in N37.8 million.
Though Hollywood took the top two, Nigeria’s homegrown industry is showing its strength in numbers and consistency this year.
Who is really winning?
Total opening weekend revenue tilted in Hollywood’s favour, totalling N450.6 million from 15 films, versus Nollywood’s N385.5 million from 12. However, Hollywood’s average opening stood at N30.04 million per film, while Nollywood edged ahead at N32.13 million.
This means more Nollywood films hit decent numbers, while Hollywood had a mix of huge wins and smaller earners.
Hollywood’s ‘Captain America’ and ‘Sinners’ soared above the rest, but its lows sank deep, with ‘Creations of the Gods II’ at just N4.3 million. Nollywood, meanwhile, had fewer massive hits but more steady performers. Seven Nollywood films opened above N20 million, compared to only four from Hollywood.
Why opening weekends matter
A strong opening weekend often sets the pace for a film’s success. ‘Captain America: A Brand New World’ has already crossed N400 million at the Nigerian box office after raking N135.8 million during its opening weekend. ‘Sinners’ is also capitalising on its hot start, thanks in part to its Easter weekend timing.
For Nollywood, ‘Reel Love’s N99.3 million launch has pushed it to a N300 million gross so far, signalling a strong debut that can open bigger doors.
‘Makemation,’ Nollywood’s first AI-themed feature film, which was directed by Michael ‘AMA PSALMIST’ Akinrogunde and produced by Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, grossed N32.9 million during its Easter opening weekend.
On the flip side, a weak opening spells trouble. ‘Recall’ by Kunle Afolayan, a big name in the film industry, only managed N5.3 million on its opening weekend. Outings like this show that even with hype or experience, missing the mark with audiences can hurt the movie financially.
Timing is everything
Release dates play a big role too. Easter weekend boosted ‘Sinners’ (N111.4 million), ‘Owambe Thieves’ (N76 million), ‘Makemation’ (N32.9 million), and ‘Aso Ebi Diaries’ (N27.7 million). Holidays mean more people visit the cinemas, juicing up opening figures. Both industries know how to play this game, but Nollywood’s knack for holiday wins shows it’s learning fast.
“This is just the beginning. It shows there is something we are doing right,” said Kehinde Ajogun, a lecture of Theatre Arts.
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Implications for Nigerian Cinemas
Nollywood’s solid performance isn’t just good news for filmmakers like Timi Egbosun, it is a boost for the whole industry. More hits could draw bigger investments, pushing up production quality and putting Nigerian films on the global map.
With audiences loving local stories, Nollywood’s growth could shift the balance, challenging Hollywood’s grip on the market. FilmOne, in their 2024 report, predicted that Nollywood could account for nearly 50 percent of Nigeria’s box office revenue by the end of 2025.
“It is a demonstration of how far the Nollywood can go. It has what is required to compete,” said Ike Ibeabuchi, an emerging markets expert.
