Funke Akindele’s 2025 cinematic release, Behind the Scenes, has officially concluded its theatrical run by establishing record-breaking financial benchmarks across West Africa, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, and Canada. As of March 19, 2026, the film is the highest-grossing Nollywood production in global history.
Global Revenue and Milestone SummaryIn West Africa, the film generated over ₦2.7 billion, becoming the first Nollywood title to exceed the ₦2 billion threshold. Within the United Kingdom and Ireland, it recorded £159,000, securing the title of the highest-grossing Nollywood release in those territories.
Performance in North America was equally dominant; the film earned $301,505 during its opening window across the United States and Canada, eventually surpassing all previous regional records for Nigerian cinema.
Domestic and International Performance DriversThe film’s domestic trajectory included shattering the single-day gross record by earning ₦129.5 million on December 26, 2025. It reached the ₦1 billion mark faster than any previous production, including Akindele’s prior hits, A Tribe Called Judah and Battle on Buka Street.
Total cinema admissions exceeded 450,000 during the primary theatrical window. Distributor FilmOne Entertainment confirmed that the film’s success in the diaspora markets of the US and UK is a direct result of increased demand for high-production-value African narratives.
The drama, directed by Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, follows the life of Ronke Faniran, a real estate entrepreneur, and features a cast including Scarlet Gomez, Destiny Etiko, and Tobi Bakre.
Following its historic theatrical exit, Behind the Scenes is scheduled for a global streaming premiere on Netflix on April 3, 2026. This transition is expected to further expand its reach as the most commercially successful African film to date.
Source: Legit.ng
