Funke Breaks 2024 Day One Opening Numbers with “Everybody Loves Jenifa”

The Story⚡

Quadruple threat Funke Akindele continues her winning streak, outshining Omo Ghetto: The Saga and A Tribe Called Judah with a record-breaking ₦45m on opening day.

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Launched across the country at the Nigerian box office, Funke Akindele has made yet another record with Everybody Loves Jenifa, as the title has gone ahead to be the Nollywood film with the largest first-day opening in Nigeria in 2024.

Debut on Friday, 13th of December 2024, Everybody Loves Jenifa tops the Nigerian box office, having opened with a whopping ₦45.22 million Nigerian. This is a groundbreaking achievement at the box office this year.

The film is the latest sequel in the Jenifa franchise by Funke Akindele. It showcases Jenifa’s ever-entertaining journey of fame, relationships, and personal growth. Co-written by Funke Akindele, Akinlabi Ishola, and Collins Okoh, the title was co-directed by Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye. The comedy-drama offers reliable life lessons even as it entertains the audience. It stars Funke Akindele, Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, Omowunmi Dada, Jackie Appiah, Patience Ozokwor, and a host of many others.

Everybody Loves Jenifa is anticipated to unseat Funke Akindele’s previous box office hit, A Tribe Called Judah, which currently sits as the highest-grossing film in the history of Nollywood, having earned a trailblazing sum of ₦1.4 billion.

Top 5 Day One Opening Nollywood Movies in 2024

Here are the top five movies that opened high on their launch days at the Nigerian box office this year:

5. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti

The biopic about the legendary Nigerian female activist Funmilayo Ransome Kuti was released to cinemas on the 17th of May, 2024. Prior to its launching at the box office, the title premiered at the 12th edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), where it won the prizes for Best Overall Feature Film and Best Screenplay.

The title opened with ₦9.27 million on its first day. The film stars Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankola, and many others.

4. Lakatabu

Lakatabu is an indigenous film written and produced by Odunlade Adekola. It stars Adebayo Salami, Aderinoye Babatunde, Adunni Ade, Akin Lewis, Bolanle Ninilowo, Ibrahim Chatta, and others. Launched at the box office on the 21st of June 2024, the title opened with ₦12.99 million.

3. Queen Lateefah

Written by Anthony Kehinde Joseph and directed by Adeoluwa Owu, the film was launched at the box office on the 27th of September, 2024. It tells the story of a businessman falling in love with a wealthy and successful woman, only to discover that she is not what she takes her to be. It stars Bukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, and others. It opened with ₦15.08 million on its first day.

2. Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju)

The thriller film was produced by Eniola Ajao and directed by Adebayo Tijani and Odunlade Adekola, starring Eniola Ajao, Odunlade Adekola, Sola Sobowale, Femi Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji, Fathia Balogun, and others. The film follows the story of a king falling in love with a woman who is half-human and half-beast, all in his bid to get a male child.

It was released to the cinema on the 29th of March, 2024. It opened with ₦16.49 million on its first day and eventually bowed out of the cinema with ₦101.2 million.

1. Everybody Loves Jenifa

The comedy-drama made a sum of ₦45.22 million on the 13th of December when it was released.

Tangent

It can be safely said that Funke Akindele is really off to make a new record for herself with her new title, Everybody Loves Jenifa, as she outshines herself to set a new record of grossing highest on launch day.

On the 25th of December, 2020 when Omo Ghetto: The Saga was released, the title opened with ₦31.98 million. It would later cume ₦636.12 million after its cinema run. The title was c0-directed by Funke Akindele and JJC Skillz and stars Funke Akindele, Chioma Akpotha, Nancy Isime, Eniola Badmus, Bimbo Thomas, Mercy Aigbe, Deyemi Okanlawon, Timini Egbuson, Alex Ekubo, and many others.

In the same vein, A Tribe Called Judah opened with ₦31.09 million after its launch on the 15th of December, 2023. The title later went on to gross a total of ₦1.4 billion, making it the first Nigerian film to earn such at the box office. The flick was co-directed by Funke Akindele and Adeoluwa Owu. It starred Funke Akindele, Timini Egbuson, Jide Kene Achufusi, Uzee Usman, Tobi Makinde, Olumide Oworu, and others.

In Summary

Funke Akindele’s success at the box office is an indication that she has mastered the cinema business and has come to establish herself as the queen of it. In the coming days, weeks, and months, gazes are up to see how much Everybody Loves Jenifa will rake in. While we all anticipate the numbers, we project the title will make between ₦100 and ₦150 million in its first three days. However, ₦200 million will be a groundbreaking figure. But trust ShockNG to keep you in the loop as the numbers drop.