Nollywood reached a remarkable milestone in 2024, with the top 10 highest-grossing films collectively earning a staggering N3.6 billion at the box office.
This marked a significant jump from the N1.94 billion recorded in 2023, reflecting an impressive 85.5% increase. Even with the exclusion of Funmilayo Ransom Kuti, which contributed N156.6 million, the total could have reached N3.7 billion, showing the incredible growth of the Nigerian film industry.
This success can be attributed to several factors, including an average ticket price of N5000, stronger cinema admissions, and more films crossing the N100 million benchmark. However, the true driving force behind this growth lies in the actors and actresses who have become the faces of these films.
Whether established stars or rising talents, these performers have brought their characters to life with skill and passion, captivating audiences and propelling their films to box office triumph. Here, we highlight the lead actors and actresses behind 2024’s highest-grossing Nollywood films.
Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele is a versatile Nigerian filmmaker, actress, director, producer, politician, and realtor. Known for her iconic role as Jenifa in the hugely successful TV series Jenifa’s Diary and the Jenifa movie franchise, Funke has over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry, becoming a household name both locally and internationally.
With a career spanning acting, directing, and producing, she has become the highest-grossing director in Nigerian box office history, grossing over N2.9 billion and making her the second director to gross over a billion naira.
Her films, A Tribe Called Judah and ELJ, grossed N611.3 million and N1.24 billion, respectively, further cementing her position at the top of the Nollywood industry.
Funke Akindele obtained an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic). She also earned a Law degree from the University of Lagos.
Her breakthrough came in 1998 when she starred in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored sitcom I Need to Know, playing Bisi, a brilliant secondary school student. She rose to massive fame in 2008 after her role in the movie Jenifa, which became an instant hit.
The film’s success led to a sequel, The Return of Jenifa in 2011, and a soft reboot television series, Jenifa’s Diary, in 2015, where she continued her portrayal of the hilarious, street-smart Jenifa. Funke’s career expanded with successful films like Omo Ghetto (2010), which became a cult classic, and her directorial debut with the 2019 political drama Your Excellency.
Funke Akindele’s achievements go beyond acting, with multiple awards to her name, including the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 2009 for Jenifa.
She has won the Best Actress in a Comedy award at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs) in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022, making her the most-awarded actress in this category.
She is the most nominated actress/filmmaker at the AMVCAs and holds the record for the most wins by an actress with six awards.
