Funke Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ closes run in cinemas at ₦1.4bn

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The ground-breaking blockbuster film “A Tribe Called Judah,” by Nollywood actor and producer Funke Akindele, has concluded its run in Nigerian theatres, grossing a whooping ₦1.4 billion.

The movie, which debuted on December 15, 2023, breaks box office records to become the highest-grossing Nollywood production ever and the first to earn a billion naira at the box office.

It is the fastest Nollywood film to accomplish this accomplishment, having accomplished all of these within three weeks of its debut.

The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) provided data showing that, after 11 weeks, the film’s final weekend, which took place between February 23 and February 25, only brought in ₦14,745 from its two screens.

Before disappearing from the weekly top 20, A Tribe Called Judah had a final gross of ₦1,404,207,541, with 374,552 ticket admissions.

The film also screened in foreign countries including Ghana, the United Kingdom, and a dozen regions in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Rwanda, Senegal, and Togo.

Funke Akindele, known as the box office queen, has previously tasted success with films like “Omo Ghetto: The Saga” grossing N636 million in 2020, and “Battle on Buka Street” at N668 million in 2022.

The billion-naira record, previously held by Hollywood’s “Black Panther 2” at N1.04 billion, marks a significant milestone for the Nigerian film industry.

A Tribe Called Judah achieved a notable feat, surpassing admission records of blockbusters like Sugar Rush (229,060) and King of Boys (220,565) in only just three weeks.

In its first fifteen days as of December 30, the film had already amassed an impressive N780 million, maintaining an outstanding daily gross of N55 million to N75 million during the festive season. Recording about N60 million N60 million within the first 48 hours of release.

A Tribe Called Judah follows five brothers: Jide Kene Achufusi as Emeka Judah, Timini Egbuson as Pere Judah, Uzee Usman as Adamu Judah, Tobi Makinde as Shina Judah, and Olumide Oworu as Ejiro Judah, who must come together to rob a company to save their mother, played by Akindele as Jedidah Judah.