Follow Us on Google
By Chinelo Obogo
The Group Chief Executive Officer of Filmhouse Group, Kene Okwuosa, has said that the Nigerian box office generated N11.3 billion between January and October 2025, a 53% increase compared to 2024.
Okwuosa said this at the FilmOne Year-End Exhibitor Showcase, held in Lagos recently with the theme; “Lights. Legacy. Leaps.”
The event was held to celebrate progress in African storytelling, honour trailblazers, and unveil plans to push Nigerian cinema into the global spotlight. At the event, he said: “This sector is beyond recovery; we are now in a growth phase. From January to October 2025, the Nigerian box office has already generated N11.3 billion, a 53% increase compared to 2024. For the first time since COVID-19, cinema admissions have grown by 15%, crossing 2 million viewers. Filmhouse Group, which operates Nigeria’s largest cinema network, holds a 72% market share, contributing more than N8 billion in box office revenue and 1.4 million admissions.”
Okwuosa credited the growth to partnerships with Disney, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Angel Studios, and others, noting that international studios now trust Nigerian exhibitors to deliver world-class viewing experiences.
“They trust us to bring their films to African audiences in the most cinematic and immersive way. We’re also expanding into new genres, from anime to historical dramas, because cinema is for everybody,” he said.
At the event, Muyiwa Ademola, a veteran actor and film-maker, who received the Outstanding Cinematic Achievement award, said Nigerian filmmakers must take pride in their roots.
“Let’s tell our own stories in our own way. If we don’t, others will tell them for us. Our stories teach, inform, and entertain. They carry our culture,” he said.
Similarly, Niyi Akinmolayan, a film-maker, added that the big screen remains a powerful tool for national identity. “The big screen is the one that is ours. It gives us a voice, one that connects us to our people and to the world,” he said.
Despite the record growth, industry experts say Nigeria’s film sector still faces steep challenges. Ladun Awobokun, Chief Content Officer, Filmone Entertainment, highlighted weak institutional support and limited technical expertise as major barriers.
“We don’t have enough government support, and we lack enough skilled people in areas like sound, editing, and colour grading. Film business is real business. We must take ourselves seriously if we want to be taken seriously,” the COO said.
Speaking further, she noted Filmhouse Group and FilmOne Entertainment are now focusing on global expansion, ensuring that Nigerian films reach audiences beyond Africa. “We are doing the legwork to get visibility in cities where there are Africans generally and making sure that our story and our films and stories are heard. We want our diaspora to feel connected to home,” she said.
Filmhouse executives revealed that their upcoming production slate extends through 2026 and early 2027, with new partnerships and a stronger focus on education for local filmmakers. The company plans to sponsor workshops, create filmmaker residencies, and invest in new technologies to improve visual storytelling.
“It’s about future planning, helping creators become the best version of themselves. The infrastructure, the content, and the audience are ready. What we need now are more cinemas to meet demand,” Okwuosa said.
