By Ayo Onikoyi

The Nigerian film industry witnessed a remarkable surge in 2024, with the Box Office generating an impressive N11.5 billion in revenue, marking a 60% increase compared to 2023.

This was disclosed by Mr. Ope Ajayi, National Chairman of the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to Ajayi, the revenue growth is a significant improvement from the N7.2 billion recorded in 2023. He also noted that cinema attendance rose slightly, with 2.66 million admissions in 2024 compared to 2.54 million in the previous year.

“We have recorded 60 per cent growth in revenue in 2024 and about 4.5 per cent growth in admissions despite the harsh economic climate,” Ajayi said. “This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the industry’s resilience, creativity, and determination.”

Ajayi added that this marks the first increase in cinema admissions since 2020, signaling a positive turnaround for the sector.

Top Nollywood Films of 2024

Ajayi revealed the top-grossing Nollywood films of 2024, with Everybody Loves Jennifer leading the pack. The film generated a record-breaking N1.124 billion at the Box Office. Other top earners included:

Queen Lateefah – N365.5 million

Ajosepo – N257.3 million

Ajakaju – N252.8 million

Alakada Bad & Boujee – N229.1 million

Ajayi noted that Everybody Loves Jennifer and Alakada Bad & Boujee are still showing in cinemas, continuing to draw audiences.

Hollywood’s Impact

In addition to Nollywood’s success, Hollywood films also made a significant contribution to Box Office revenues in Nigeria. The top-performing Hollywood movies of 2024 included Deadpool & Wolverine, Bad Boys 4, Gladiator II, Moana 2, and Venom 3.

Ajayi commended the resilience and creativity of stakeholders in the cinema subsector and expressed optimism about the continued growth of the industry in the coming years.