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Summary
With Red Circle, Nora Awolowo became the youngest Nigerian filmmaker to earn ₦100 million at the box office.
Nora Awolowo has made Nollywood history as the youngest cinematographer and producer to lead a film past the N100 million mark at the local box office, following the remarkable success of Red Circle. The film’s success is especially notable as an original, non-franchise title without backing from a major studio.
The crime thriller, released on June 6, 2025, quickly gained momentum, earning over N88 million in its first three weeks before crossing the nine-figure threshold. Co-produced by Nora Awolowo and Abdul Tijani-Ahmed and directed by Akay Mason, Red Circle has become a standout at the Nollywood box office.
Nora, who was just 24 when the film went into production and is now 26, becomes the youngest filmmaker in the country to achieve this milestone. Her approach to the project, grounded in honesty and collaboration, has resonated with the audience.
Behind the scenes, Nora worked with a youthful creative team, many long-time collaborators, and friends. Together, they brought to life an intimate and electrifying film that shows a new direction for the industry.
The film’s cast includes Bukky Wright, Lizzy Jay, Folu Storms, Omowunmi Dada, Tobi Bakre, Lateef Adedimeji, Mike Afolarin, Timini Egbuson, Ibrahim Suleiman, Ruggedman, Detola Jones, Debo Adedayo, William Benson, and Femi Branch, who returned to the screen in a celebrated performance.
“We didn’t just want to tell a story — we wanted to tell it well. No handouts, just clarity, heart, and a crew that believed. I didn’t set out to break a record. I just wanted to make something honest. But I hope this shows that young people can lead. Not later. Now,” Nora said in a statement shared with Nollywire.
With Red Circle, Nora Awolowo set a new record and signalled the rise of a powerful new generation of women filmmakers, reshaping Nollywood with vision and fearless storytelling.
