Nollywood’s undisputed “Box Office Queen,” Funke Akindele, has cemented her legendary status by achieving an unprecedented financial milestone. Her latest cinematic offering, Behind The Scenes, has officially crossed the ₦1.1 billion mark at the West African box office as of January 2, 2026.
The film has set a blistering new record, becoming the fastest Nollywood production ever to reach the ₦1 billion milestone, accomplishing the feat in a mere 19 days. This lightning-fast ascent outpaces Akindele’s previous record-breakers, proving her unmatched pull with the Nigerian cinema-going public.
With this achievement, Akindele becomes the first filmmaker in African history to score a “billion-naira hat-trick.” Behind The Scenesfollows the massive commercial success of Battle on Buka Street and A Tribe Called Judah, making it her third consecutive film to surpass the billion-naira threshold.
Starring Scarlet Gomez and a stellar ensemble cast, the film delves into the poignant and relatable theme of “black tax”—the financial burden placed on successful individuals by their extended families.
The momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Following its domestic triumph, Behind The Scenes is scheduled to premiere in theaters across the United States and Canada later this month, aimed at capturing the vast Nigerian diaspora.