The Story⚡
Labake Olododo and The Masked King stormed the box office in their debut week, landing at #1 and #4, respectively. Here’s a closer look at their standout openings.,
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Iyabo Ojo’s latest film, Labake Olododo, stormed the box office in its debut week, securing the number one spot and setting the tone for what promises to be a standout run. Released on March 28, 2025, Labake Olododo: The Warrior Lord marks another ambitious outing from box office regular, director Biodun Stephen. Set against the backdrop of Yoruba culture, the epic drama follows the journey of a fearless woman navigating the complex intersections of loyalty, power, and leadership.
The film boasts a stellar ensemble cast, including Tayo Faniran, Muyiwa Ademola, Scarlet Gomez, Ibrahim Chatta, Bimbo Akintola, Layole Oyatogun, Lololade Okunsanya, Ayo Mogaji, Nkechi Blessing, Fola Tinubu, Fathia Balogun, Abeni Agbon, Broda Shaggi, Olarotimi Michael Fakunle, and Wumi Toriola.
Upon its debut, Labake Olododo recorded an impressive opening weekend gross of ₦113.54 million, launching it to the number-one spot at the Nigerian box office. Released in 65 cinemas nationwide, the film earned ₦11.15 million on its first day, ₦11.20 million on day two, and ₦28.32 million on day three, culminating in a weekend total of ₦50.68 million.
The momentum continued into the week, with the film grossing ₦29.26 million on day four, ₦19.23 million on day five, ₦7.01 million on day six, and ₦7.34 million on day seven. These strong numbers firmly positioned the title as the top-grossing film of the week, with a cumulative opening figure of ₦113.54 million.
Labake Olododo‘s Box Office Breakdown:
Day 1 — ₦11.15 million
Day 2 — ₦11.20 million
Day 3 — ₦28.32 million
Day 4 — ₦29.26 million
Day 5 — ₦19.23 million
Day 6 — ₦7.01 million
Day 7 — ₦7.34 million
Total (Opening Week) — ₦113.54 million
With a triple-digit opening figure, Labake Olododo is off to a soaring start and well on its way to becoming one of the year’s standout Nollywood releases.
Similarly, The Masked King opened to a double-digit gross after its release. Also released on March 28, 2025, the title is a gripping epic of power, betrayal, and destiny. It centres around King Ensa’s fateful choices as he turns against his people. His mother faces an impossible choice, either to remain loyal to her son or alter his destiny for the greater good. With this, the fate of the kingdom hangs in a balance.
It was directed by Uduak Obong Patrick and produced by the 7eventh Studio and Fit Ofili Films with cinematography by Jonathan Kovel. The flick stars Daniel Etim Effiong, Shaffy Bello, Uche Montana, Segun Arinze, Uzor Arukwe, Gideon Okeke, Jenny Stead, and Jude Chukwuka.
On its first day, the title made ₦1.91 million, ₦2.79 million on the second day, and ₦5.53 million on the third day, totalling its weekend gross to ₦10.25 million.
On the fourth day, it grossed ₦4.40 million, ₦3.74 million on the fifth day, ₦1.40 million on the sixth day, and ₦1.63 million on the seventh day, to make a week’s gross of ₦21.44 million.
The Masked King‘s Box Office Breakdown:
Day 1 — ₦1.91 million
Day 2 — ₦2.79 million
Day 3 — ₦5.53 million
Day 4 — ₦4.40 million
Day 5 — ₦3.74 million
Day 6 — ₦1.40 million
Day 7 — ₦1.63 million
Total (Opening Week) — ₦21.44 million
By the end of the week, the title closed with a flash cumulative gross of ₦22.43 million.
Top 5 Movies (Last Weekend)
Here are the top five movies at the Nigerian box office from March 28 to April 3, 2025,
5. Novocaine
This American action-comedy, written by Lars Jacobson and directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, tells the story of a man who turns his rare condition, an inability to feel pain, into an unlikely superpower. In a high-octane quest to rescue the woman of his dreams, he takes on a gang of thugs with fearless determination.
Now in its second week, Novocaine grossed ₦7.17 million over the weekend, bringing its total week’s earnings to ₦13.93 million and its overall Nigerian box office total to ₦34.90 million.
4. The Masked King
Directed by Uduak Obong Patrick, The Masked King stars Daniel Etim Effiong, Shaffy Bello, Uche Montana, Segun Arinze, Uzor Arukwe, Gideon Okeke, Jenny Stead, and Jude Chukwuka. The film centres on King Ensa, whose betrayal of his people leads his mother to a difficult crossroads to either stand by her son or protect the kingdom.
The film earned ₦10.25 million over the weekend, closing its debut week with a total gross of ₦22.43 million.
3. Disney’s Snow White
Directed by Marc Webb and produced by Marc Platt Productions for Walt Disney Pictures, Snow White brings a classic fairytale back to life with a modern twist.
In its second week in Nigerian cinemas, the musical fantasy pulled in ₦10.13 million over the weekend and a weekly gross of ₦25.05 million, pushing its cumulative total to ₦49.74 million.
2. A Working Man
Co-written by Sylvester Stallone and director David Ayer, this American action-thriller stars Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Michael Peña, and David Harbour. The film delivers a gritty, high-stakes narrative that has resonated with Nigerian audiences.
On its debut weekend, A Working Man earned ₦34.96 million, with a total weekly gross of ₦66.25 million.
1. Labake Olododo
Dominating the box office is Labake Olododo: The Warrior Lord, a Yoruba epic directed by Biodun Stephen. The film opened with a commanding ₦113.54 million, securing its position as the number one title of the week.
Future Competition
Labake Olododo is set to face stiff competition in the coming days, with three highly anticipated Nollywood releases — Makemation, Owambe Thieves, and Aso Ebi Diaries — slated to hit cinemas over the Easter weekend.
Makemation is a coming-of-age drama set in rural Lagos, co-written by Nengi Diri and Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, and directed by Michael Akinrogunde. It follows a gifted yet underprivileged young girl who uses technology and AI to address major African challenges. Featuring stars like Richard Mofe-Damijo, Shaffy Bello, and Tomi Ojo, the film is hailed as Africa’s first feature spotlighting youth-driven innovation in AI.
Owambe Thieves, directed by Adeoluwa Owu, tells the gripping story of Cheta and Lola, a young couple pushed to the edge by economic hardship. As they struggle to care for their newborn during a severe recession, survival forces them to confront moral boundaries. The film features a star-studded cast and offers a powerful reflection of Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges.
On the other hand, Aso Ebi Diaries, directed by Biodun Stephen is a film that explores Nigeria’s vibrant party culture. Co-written by Janet Aiyegbusi, Abimbola Daramola, and Laide Daramola, it features a star-studded cast, including Shaffy Bello, Nancy Isime, and Kunle Remi. The story examines the evolution of the Aso Ebi tradition and its changing social relevance.
The films are set to debut over the competitive Easter weekend, creating a crowded box office landscape. With these three titles in the mix, Labake Olododo is expected to face stiff competition in the days ahead.
In Summary
It seems the love for epic titles, particularly Yoruba epics, is not just a trend but a growing force among Nigerian moviegoers. The swift and enthusiastic reception of Labake Olododo is a clear testament to this.
While the dynamics at the box office may shift in the coming days with the arrival of three highly anticipated Nollywood releases, Labake Olododo appears ready to hold its ground and weather the competition.
Do you think Labake Olododo has what it takes to cross the ₦300 million mark? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
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