“Ajosepo” Tops Nigerian Box Office And Kayode Kasum Joins “Billion Naira Club”

Kayode Kasum’s romantic comedy “Ajosepo” has emerged as the top release at the Nigerian box office for three consecutive weeks, fending off stiff competition from other major releases.

According to data from the Nigerian Box Office on X, from April 12 to 18, “Ajosepo” raked in an impressive ₦50 million in its first week, including a ₦32.1 million opening weekend. The film’s total box office sales currently stand at ₦132 million after three weeks of release.

These impressive numbers mark a significant milestone for director Kayode Kasum, as “Ajosepo” has become his biggest opening film in its first week, surpassing his previous record held by the 2019 action comedy “Sugar Rush,” which opened to ₦17 million.

With “Ajosepo,” Kayode Kasum joins three other directors in the exclusive “Billion Naira club” to have grossed over ₦1 billion or more across their career in filmography. “Sugar Rush” remains his highest grossing movie with ₦287 million.

“Ajosepo’s” success at the box office is even more remarkable when compared to other notable releases during the same period. As at April 18, it had outperformed the Hollywood blockbuster “Godzilla X Kong,” which earned ₦34.6 million, the Yoruba epic “Beasts of Two Worlds (Ajakaju)” with ₦34.2 million, the animated feature “Kung Fu Panda 4” with ₦12 million, and Alex Garland’s latest epic, “Civil War,” which brought in ₦11.6 million.

However, it’s worth noting that apart from “Civil War,” “Ajosepo’s” lifetime gross of ₦132 million ranks below the totals of its competitors as. “Beasts of Two Worlds (Ajakaju),” in particular, leads the pack with a cume of ₦227.2 million as of April 30, after debuting with a historic ₦63.2 million opening weekend – the biggest of 2024.

Additionally, the Hollywood blockbusters “Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire,” the highly anticipated animation sequel “Kung Fu Panda 4” have also performed impressively at the Nigerian box office, garnering totals exceeding totals of ₦180 million and ₦90 million, respectively, as of April 18.

“Ajosepo,” written by Dare Olaitan and Stephen Okonkwo, tells the story of a young soon-to-be-wedded couple dealing with family tensions on the eve of their wedding. The film stars Timini Egbuson, Mike Afolarin, Tomike Adeoye, Mercy Aigbe, Yemi Solade, Ronke Oshodi, Deyemi Okanlawon, Bisola Aiyeola, Muyiwa Ademola, Bolaji Ogunmola, Kanaga Jnr., and Lizzy Jay, with Kayode Kasum at the helm.

As April draws to a close, “Ajosepo” alongside with the ₦130 million Deyemi Okanlawo’s “All’s Fair in Love” and “Beasts of Two Worlds (Ajakaju) emerge as the only ₦100 million-plus earners of the last three months. The movie’s performance is expected to see positive growth, backed by reviews and a relentless marketing campaign.