Funke Akindele's directorial debut, 'A Tribe Called Judah,' has etched its name in the annals of Nigerian cinema history by becoming the first film to amass a staggering ₦113 million in its opening weekend. As the drama unfolded on screens starting December 15, 2023, the film, distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, not only met but exceeded expectations, grossing an impressive total of ₦122.7 million, including advanced screenings ahead of its official release.
The narrative of 'A Tribe Called Judah' revolves around a band of brothers compelled to navigate the criminal underworld to save their mother's life. The gripping tale proved to be an irresistible draw, attracting a substantial audience of 34,996 cinema admissions, a figure that encompasses both regular and advanced screenings.
With this monumental achievement, the film's trajectory appears poised to surpass the current Nollywood box office champion, 'Battle on Buka Street,' another creation by Funke Akindele, which stands at ₦668.4 million. If the trend continues, Akindele could potentially claim the top three spots for Nollywood's highest-grossing films, as her previous work, 'Omo Ghetto: The Saga,' holds the second position with a total gross of ₦636.1 million.
In a weekend chart released by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), 'A Tribe Called Judah' stands unrivaled, outshining other films that debuted on the same day. Trailing behind was Mercy Aigbe's first major cinema production, 'Ada Omo Daddy,' which secured ₦27.6 million over the weekend and ₦30.5 million overall, accompanied by a total of 9,311 cinema admissions.
Further down the list, the Hollywood production 'Wonka' debuted with ₦6.7 million, slightly ahead of the struggling MCU film 'The Marvels,' which grossed ₦4.1 million, accumulating ₦132 million in six weeks. Closing the top five was Kayode Kasum's indigenous film 'Afamefuna,' earning ₦3.8 million during the weekend and reaching ₦42.9 million after three weeks.
As 'A Tribe Called Judah' continues to make waves, Funke Akindele's prowess in storytelling and filmmaking stands affirmed, leaving an indelible mark on the Nigerian cinematic landscape and paving the way for a new era in Nollywood's box office dominance.
