Nigerian cinema has best-ever box office returns, thanks to a new
generation of quality films and savvy marketing
Despite a gloomy economy and an uncertain outlook, the Nigeria movie
industry has just enjoyed its best year at the box-office with an amazing
N1 billion from a record 50 locally-produced titles. After years of
predictions, it seems that Nollywood is finally delivering on its promise
and putting quality before quantity.

As a result, movie-goers have rewarded the industry with a massive
increase in cinema ticket sales. The N1 billion bonanza, represents nearly
30 per cent of the N3.5 billion generated from just 28 cinemas across
Nigeria, which includes movies from Hollywood and around the world.

The Wedding Party, Nigeria’s latest blockbuster movie, has broken box-
office records at every milestone since it was released nationwide to
critical acclaim on December 16. It took just two weeks to eclipse the
record of N176 million held by AY’s A Trip to Jamaica, emerging with a
staggering N200 million before the New Year weekend was over.
Both films led a strong lineup of popular Nigerian films in 2016, including
Wives on Strike, The CEO, 93 Days and ‘76.
A Trip to Jamaica had an amazing run during September-October and
looked set to close the year as the box-office champion. However, The
Wedding Party hit the cinemas with the biggest opening weekend in
Nollywood history with N36 million; the best-ever opening week with
N66 million; the biggest week ever with N110 million; and a jaw-
dropping Christmas box-office total of N146 million.
What followed appears to be unprecedented, with cinemas in many parts
of the country reporting sold-out screens throughout the rest of the holiday
season, as excited fans who saw earlier screenings returned for a second
round, often with friends and family in tow. Much of the appeal of the
film is due to a heartwarming storyline, beautiful sets and gorgeous
costumes, while most of the audience can identify with the lavish Nigerian
wedding, contentious relatives and almost-chaotic proceedings that defy
even the most careful planning.
This amazing response to a Nigerian film suggests that the producers,
ELFIKE Film Collective, were right to assemble such a stellar cast and to
trust director, Kemi Adetiba, to guide them to superb performances.
Relative newcomers like Banky W and Adesua Etomi look comfortable
alongside veteran actors, Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ireti Doyle, while the
comedy genius of Sola Sobowale, Ali Baba and AY shine through.
ELFIKE relied on the collective experience of the partners, EbonyLife
Films, Film One, Koga Studios and Inkblot Productions, to ensure high
production values throughout.
ACCORDING to Executive Producer, Mo Abudu, “We really believe that
the Nigerian consumer will support ‘made in Nigeria’ products if the
quality is comparable to international standards. We wanted to create a
film that would make our people proud and the response of movie-goers
suggests that we have succeeded. Equally important has been the support
of so many sponsors, including Dubai Tourism, Airtel, Diageo and Bank
of Industry, who were instrumental in getting us off to an amazing start.”
COO of FilmOne Distribution, Moses Babatope, is delighted by the public
response, noting enthusiastically, “This has been an amazing year for
Nigerian cinema. With returns of well over N200 million, The Wedding
Party is on track to deliver numbers we have never seen before for a
Nigerian film. It’s important to note that it is selling more tickets than
Rogue One, part of the Star Wars franchise and the biggest film
worldwide this season. For the first time, Nollywood is competing with
Hollywood at the Nigerian box-office and winning.”
The Wedding Party is only the second film produced by EbonyLife Films.
It’s predecessor, Fifty, was the most successful film at the Nigerian box-
office in 2015 and has spawned a television series due to air on EbonyLife
TV in 2017. Fifty was the only Nigerian film and one of only five African
films from a global selection of 238 films to be screened at the 59th BFI
London Film Festival.
There are two new films in the works, including a sequel to The Wedding
Party that will ensure more outstanding commercial success for
EbonyLife in 2017/18. The Wedding Party is still showing at all cinemas
across Nigeria.
Source:- https://m.guardian.ng/art/nollywood-defies-recession-as-the-wedding-party-breaks-record-in-2016/