The Story⚡
On Christmas Day, Nigerian cinemas saw local films dominate ticket sales, with Funke Akindele’s Behind the Scenes leading the pack and Toyin Abraham’s new release Oversabi Aunty edging out Hollywood’s Avatar: Fire and Ash for second place.
Tell Me More
As Detty December reaches its peak, Nigerian audiences continue to favor homegrown stories during the holiday season. Funke Akindele’s Behind the Scenes (often abbreviated as BTS in box office reports), now in its second week, pulled in ₦413.1 million over the Christmas period, bringing its cumulative total to ₦752 million. The comedy-drama, which follows the chaotic and relatable world of Nollywood production, has maintained strong momentum since its December release, crossing ₦500 million earlier in the month and positioning itself as one of 2025’s top earners.
Close behind is Toyin Abraham’s directorial debut, Oversabi Aunty, a comedy centered on Toun, a devout church usher whose well-intentioned interference in family matters leads to humorous chaos. Released on December 19, the film earned ₦195.4 million, with a running total of ₦208.1 million. This placed it ahead of James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in the Pandora saga featuring returning stars Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña exploring new Na’vi clans and conflicts. The sci-fi epic, a global draw with its visual spectacle, recorded ₦190.2 million cumulatively in Nigeria.
Further down the chart, Disney’s animated sequel Zootopia 2 held steady in its fourth week with ₦37.9 million (total ₦109.6 million), while the Nollywood holiday comedy A Very Dirty Christmas added ₦36.3 million (total ₦49.7 million). These figures reflect a familiar pattern in Nigeria’s December box office, where local comedies and dramas often outperform international titles during the festive rush to cinemas.
In Summary
This Christmas Day showdown highlights the enduring appeal of Nigerian storytelling amid the holiday crowds. Whether you’re drawn to the familiar laughs of Behind the Scenes and Oversabi Aunty, the immersive world of Avatar: Fire and Ash, or family-friendly options like Zootopia 2, cinemas remain packed with choices.
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