Nollywood has a new benchmark and Funke Akindele is once again the name attached to it.
The filmmaker’s latest release, Behind the Scenes, has officially crossed ₦2 billion at the box office, making it the first Nollywood film in history to achieve the feat within Africa. The milestone, confirmed on January 12, 2026, positions the film as the highest-grossing Nollywood title of all time across Africa, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
With this record, Akindele further cements her dominance at the box office, becoming the first filmmaker to lead the African box office for three consecutive years. She now holds the unprecedented distinction of being West Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker, writer, director, and producer.
At its core, Behind the Scenes tells a deeply resonant story. The film follows Aderonke Faniran, a successful real estate entrepreneur who has become the financial backbone of her family and extended community. Through Ronke’s journey, the film interrogates the realities of black tax, emotional labour, and the quiet toll of endless sacrifice—asking a difficult but necessary question: when does generosity become self-erasure?
The film boasts a strong ensemble cast, led by Scarlet Gomez as Aderonke Faniran, alongside Funke Akindele, Tobi Bakre, Uzor Arukwe, Destiny Etiko, Iyabo Ojo, Ibrahim Chatta, Uche Montana, Ini Dima-Okojie, and Mr Macaroni.
Reacting to the achievement on Instagram, Akindele framed the moment as purpose over praise:
“Records are milestones, not the mission. From A Tribe Called Judah grossing 1B to Behind the Scenes crossing 2B and still counting, this is God in motion… Serve the story, respect the audience, refine the craft, and let the work earn its applause.”
The film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, also revealed that Behind the Scenes set a new single-day box office record in Nigeria, pulling in ₦129.5 million on Boxing Day alone.
