Nollywood has officially overtaken Hollywood in both market share and ticket sales at the Nigerian box office, marking a historic shift in domestic cinema culture. According to data released on January 28, 2026, local titles are currently dominating theater earnings, with Nollywood securing a 49.4 percent market share compared to Hollywood’s 48.8 percent.
This surge is fueled by a growing audience preference for culturally resonant stories over international imports, a trend that has seen homegrown films occupy six of the top ten spots on the weekly charts.
The charge is led by Funke Akindele’s record-breaking film, “Behind The Scenes” (BTS), which has grossed a staggering ₦2.41 billion in its seventh week. BTS has not only become the highest-grossing Nigerian film of all time but also the first to cross the ₦2 billion mark in Africa.
Hot on its heels is Toyin Abraham’s “Oversabi Aunty”, which earned ₦41.8 million over the previous weekend to surpass the ₦1.017 billion cumulative milestone. These comedic powerhouses have consistently outperformed global giants like James Cameron’s “Avatar 3: Fire and Ash”, which trailed in third place with ₦18.9 million for the weekend.
The dominance of local content is being attributed to high-quality production values and narratives that tap into everyday Nigerian experiences, offering better “value-for-money” entertainment amidst economic pressures.
While fresh Hollywood releases like “Mercy” and “Border 2” debuted in fourth and fifth place respectively, their opening numbers (₦17.2m and ₦11.3m) were dwarfed by the sustained momentum of Nollywood’s “Queens of the Box Office.” Industry experts predict that with 3 million tickets projected to be sold in 2026, this year will solidify Nigeria as a primary global hub for domestic-led cinematic growth.
