Everybody Loves Jenifa Sets New Box Office Record with N206Million Opening Weekend

Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele has set a new box office record in Nigeria with her latest film, “Everybody Loves Jenifa” (ELJ), which earned an impressive N206 million in its opening weekend. Released on December 13, 2024, the film quickly took the top spot at the Nigerian box office, bringing in N45.22 million on its first Friday.

This strong start was 30% higher than the first-day sales of last year’s big movie, “A Tribe Called Judah.” With its great reviews and strong word-of-mouth, industry experts believe ELJ could break the Nollywood attendance record of 450,000 set by “Omo Ghetto.”

Even without being shown at Genesis Cinemas and with delays at Silverbird Cinemas, ELJ attracted 9,409 viewers on its opening day, more than “A Tribe Called Judah’s” 8,870. Funke Akindele shared on Instagram that “Everybody Loves Jenifa” had the highest single-day earnings in Nollywood history, making N87.8 million in one day. It sold 38,353 tickets over its first weekend, making it the biggest opening weekend for any Nigerian film in 2024.

The film also made its debut internationally in 30 countries, distributed by Nile Group Entertainment, broadening its reach beyond Nigeria.

“Everybody Loves Jenifa” continues the story of Akindele’s beloved character Jenifa, as she navigates fame, relationships, and personal growth. In this instalment, Jenifa faces challenges from a scheming new neighbour named Lobster, who overshadows her charitable efforts.

The drama escalates when Jenifa and her friends accidentally get involved with a drug baron in Ghana after mistakenly receiving a bag of drugs.

The film, co-written by Akindele, Akinlabi Ishola, and Collins Okoh and co-directed by Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, mixes comedy with life lessons. It has resonated with audiences both in Nigeria and internationally.

The cast includes well-known actors such as Patience Ozokwor, Nancy Isime, Stan Nze, Omowunmi Dada, Jackie Appiah, and Falz, adding to the film’s wide appeal and cementing it as one of Nollywood’s most successful films.