Nollywood filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has achieved another remarkable box office milestone with her latest film, 'Behind The Scene', which has become the fastest movie in West Africa to cross the ₦1 billion mark. This record was officially announced by FilmOne Entertainment, the film's distributor, on a Monday following its release. 'Behind The Scene' not only surpassed ₦1 billion in revenue at an unprecedented pace but also set a new record for the highest single-day gross in Nollywood history on Boxing Day, raking in ₦129.5 million. Furthermore, FilmOne confirmed it as the highest-grossing release of 2025 so far. This impressive feat builds upon Akindele's previous successes, including blockbusters like 'Omo Ghetto: The Saga', 'Battle on Buka Street', and 'Everybody Loves Jenifa', all of which have also achieved the ₦1 billion milestone.

The film's extraordinary success, however, stands in stark contrast to growing concerns and public lamentations from several Nigerian filmmakers regarding alleged unfair practices by some cinema operators that they claim undermine local productions. In recent weeks, prominent filmmakers such as Niyi Akinmolayan, Toyin Abraham, and Ini Edo have voiced complaints about issues including reduced screening slots, the abrupt withdrawal of films from cinemas, inconvenient showtimes, and preferential treatment given to other releases, especially during lucrative peak periods like the December holiday season. These filmmakers have gone as far as to describe these practices as a form of "sabotage," limiting audience access and suppressing the box office potential of their movies.

December has consistently emerged as Nollywood's most lucrative theatrical window, characterized by a surge of high-profile cinema releases. The current year was no exception, with several major titles, including 'Behind The Scene', 'Over Sabi Aunty', 'A Very Dirty Christmas', and 'Colour of Fire', competing for audience attention across cinemas nationwide. Amidst this competitive environment, PREMIUM TIMES previously reported allegations from filmmakers accusing cinemas of deliberately undermining their December releases through deceptive ticketing, unfavorable screening times, and skewed promotional support. Producers of 'Over Sabi Aunty', 'Colour of Fire', and 'A Very Dirty Christmas', specifically Toyin Abraham, Niyi Akinmolayan, and Ini Edo respectively, publicly raised concerns about discriminatory cinema practices, with 'A Very Dirty Christmas' further complicated by regulatory issues involving the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Among the December releases, 'Behind The Scene', 'Over Sabi Aunty', and 'Colour of Fire' all share FilmOne Entertainment as their distributor. FilmOne has released box office figures illustrating the performance of these titles. While 'Behind The Scene' has amassed a staggering ₦1.1 billion, 'Over Sabi Aunty' has grossed ₦382 million, and 'Colour of Fire' recorded ₦51 million. Box office figures for 'A Very Dirty Christmas' have not yet been publicly disclosed. 'Behind The Scene', released in cinemas nationwide on December 12, opened to a substantial audience turnout, recording one of the most prominent opening-day figures in Nollywood history and sustaining its momentum to reach the ₦1 billion mark in record time. Directed by Ms. Akindele, the film is also being screened in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with a premiere scheduled for United States cinemas on January 9, 2026.