Nollywood’s Funke Akindele has delivered yet another cinematic sensation.
Her latest film, Everybody Loves Jenifa, raked in an impressive N16.8 million during its advance screenings, setting the stage for what could be another box-office triumph.
The film released on December 13, 2024, is distributed locally by FilmOne Entertainment and internationally by Nile Media.
A continuation of the much-loved Jenifa franchise, the new movie explores fresh challenges for its titular character. Jenifa’s popularity comes under threat when Lobster, a shady new neighbor, begins to outshine her charity work, forcing her to confront feelings of jealousy and inadequacy.
The stakes escalate when Jenifa and her friends, during a trip to Ghana, find themselves embroiled with a deadly drug baron after a bag of drugs is mistakenly left in their rental property.
Everybody Loves Jenifa boasts a stellar lineup of talent, with Funke Akindele herself in the lead role, joined by Stan Nze and Omowunmi Dada.
Akindele also co-directed the film with Tunde Olaoye, while the screenplay was penned by Akindele, Akinlabi Ishola, and Collins Okoh.
The advance earnings for Everybody Loves Jenifa reflect the strong anticipation for the film. Ticket prices, ranging from N7,000 to N8,000, suggest Nollywood is continuing to redefine its commercial model with premium pricing for high-profile releases.
Industry Impact
Moses Babatope, founder of Nile Media and former managing director of FilmOne Entertainment, is spearheading the international rollout.
Babatope’s partnership with Akindele highlights Nollywood’s growing ambition to capture global audiences.