The Story⚡
The year 2025 has been a blockbuster one for Nollywood, with several films captivating audiences and breaking box office records.
As the curtains close on their theatrical runs, we take a look at the numbers racked up by four big screen movies. Let’s dive into the box office performance of ‘Ori Rebirth’, ‘Owambe Thieves’, ‘Makemation’, and ‘Aso Ebi Diaries’.
Tell Me More
Nollywood’s 2025 theatrical landscape is thriving, with films like Ori Rebirth, Owambe Thieves, Makemation, and Aso Ebi Diaries drawing crowds across Nigeria. Using weekly box office data, audience trends, and genre appeal, we’re projecting how these films might perform by the end of their theatrical runs, offering insights into Nollywood’s dynamic year.
Ori Rebirth has dominated the box office, earning ₦114 million in its first week, rising to ₦221.9 million by its second week, and reaching ₦277.7 million by its third week. Its weekly growth of ₦107.9M (week 1 to 2) and ₦55.8M (week 2 to 3) reflects strong momentum, fueled by its cultural resonance, as producer Muyiwa Ademola notes for its ability to connect across religious and cultural lines. Assuming a conservative ₦50M weekly increase for another 3-4 weeks—aligning with Nollywood’s typical 8-10 week runs—it could add ₦150M-₦200M, projecting a final gross of ₦427.7M-₦477.7M. A late word-of-mouth surge, common for culturally significant films, might push it toward ₦500M, though it’s unlikely to challenge Everybody Loves Jenifa’s ₦1.88B record.
Owambe Thieves, a comedy-crime film produced by Eniola Ajao, opened at ₦95M, grew to ₦143M by week 2, ₦168.3M by week 3, ₦187.2M by week 4, and ₦195.7M by week 5. Its early ₦48M jump (week 1 to 2) slowed to ₦8.5M (week 4 to 5), suggesting a peak driven by genre popularity but hampered by competition from Ori Rebirth and potential audience fatigue. With 2-3 weeks left, it may add ₦10M-₦15M weekly, projecting a final gross of ₦215.7M-₦230.7M, solid but short of cultural heavyweights.
Makemation, an AI-themed family film, debuted with ₦32.9M in its first four days, reaching ₦40.8M by week 1, ₦58M by week 2, ₦74.8M by week 3, and ₦87.7M by week 4. Its steady ₦12.8M-₦17.2M weekly gains reflect a niche appeal among families and tech enthusiasts, bolstered by critical praise for its youth empowerment focus. With 3-4 weeks remaining, it could add ₦10M-₦15M weekly, projecting a final gross of ₦117.7M-₦132.7M, a notable achievement for a tech-driven story.
Aso Ebi Diaries, a comedy-drama-romance by Biodun Stephen, earned ₦36M in week 1, ₦55.8M by week 2, ₦66M by week 3, ₦72.6M by week 4, and ₦75.9M by week 5. Its ₦3.3M week 5 increase signals audience saturation, despite the genre’s popularity, as it struggles against Ori Rebirth’s depth and Makemation’s innovation. With 1-2 weeks left, it may add ₦2M-₦5M weekly, projecting a final gross of ₦77.9M-₦80.9M, a modest run in a crowded market.
Nollywood’s 2025 surge, with diverse genres driving audience engagement, highlights a vibrant industry poised for growth, as evidenced by these films’ varied performances.
In Summary
The Nollywood film industry has set a new benchmark for blockbuster success at 200 million naira, but several recent titles have struggled to reach this milestone. Despite their engaging storylines and impressive production values, many movies have fallen short of expectations. As more titles hit the theaters, it’s hoped that the numbers will improve, paving the way for a stronger box office performance in the future.
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