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Summary
Funke Akindele's Everybody Loves Jenifa set a new Nollywood record, grossing N206 million in its opening weekend and N87.8 million in a single day, surpassing her previous hit A Tribe Called Judah.
Nollywood actress, filmmaker, and producer Funke Akindele has once again etched her name in Nigerian cinema history with her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa. The film has set a new record for the highest-grossing Nollywood opening weekend of all time, earning an impressive N206 million.
In addition to this milestone, Everybody Loves Jenifa shattered the record for the highest-grossing single-day performance in Nigerian cinema history, raking in a staggering N87.8 million. It also set a new benchmark for opening weekend admissions in 2024, drawing in 38,353 eager viewers.
This achievement surpasses the record previously held by Funke Akindele’s 2023 blockbuster, A Tribe Called Judah, which earned N113 million during its opening weekend. On its opening day alone, Everybody Loves Jenifa attracted 9,409 admissions, eclipsing the 8,870 admissions recorded by A Tribe Called Judah, a remarkable feat given the challenges the earlier film faced with limited screenings in some cinemas.
Although A Tribe Called Judah still holds several Nollywood records, including the biggest opening weekend and the distinction of being the first film to surpass the N1 billion mark domestically, Everybody Loves Jenifa appears poised to break these milestones.
Currently showing in cinemas nationwide, the film continues to dominate the box office, solidifying its position as the biggest opening of 2024.
Ahead of its official UK premiere on December 20, Everybody Loves Jenifa has already sold out a second screening due to overwhelming demand, marking the first time a Nigerian film has achieved such a record for a UK premiere. The film is also set for a global rollout, premiering in 10 countries across four continents. For the first time, the Jenifa franchise will debut in markets like India, Sweden, Germany, and Finland, marking a significant expansion of Nollywood’s international reach.
Everybody Loves Jenifa boasts an ensemble cast of Nollywood’s brightest stars, including Falz, Omowunmi Dada, Jackie Appiah, Nancy Isime, Destiny Etiko, Patience Ozokwor, Lateef Adedimeji, Bisola Aiyeola, Chimezie Imo, Jide Kosoko, Ayoola Akinyoola, Michael Uba, Tobi Makinde, Hilda Baci, Wendy Ubakanma, Paschaline Alex, D’banj, Layi Wasabi, and Cute Abiola, among others.
Celebrating the historic milestone, Funke Akindele took to X to express her heartfelt gratitude, writing:
“Thank you Lord!!! Thank you Nigeria!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!!”
With its record-breaking performance, overwhelming demand, and international expansion, Everybody Loves Jenifa is set to redefine the standards for Nollywood films, cementing Funke Akindele’s legacy as a trailblazer in the Nigerian film industry.
