Global Hits, Local Screens: How International Films Took Over Nigerian Cinemas in 2024

The Nigerian film industry underwent a significant transformation in 2024 as international blockbusters increasingly dominated local cinemas. Films such as *Deadpool and Wolverine*, which grossed over ₦700 million, and Disney’s *Moana 2*, which earned over ₦200 million, have shown the vast appeal of global cinema. Other high-performing films, including the historical epic *Gladiator II* and the musical *Wicked*, also found success at the Nigerian box office, proving that audiences are eager for diverse global narratives.

The 2024 box office landscape, both locally and globally, has been defined by the success of franchises and sequels. Disney Pixar’s *Inside Out 2* became the highest-grossing film of the year, crossing the billion-dollar mark, while Marvel’s *Deadpool and Wolverine* became the highest-grossing R-rated film, with over a billion dollars worldwide. The *Monsterverse* expanded with *Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire*, which grossed $571.8 million globally, while *Moana 2* defied expectations, earning $717 million and becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2024.

However, the rise of Hollywood blockbusters in Nigerian cinemas has posed a challenge to local films. Larger budgets and higher production values often attract Nigerian audiences to foreign films. Still, local films are finding success at the box office. For instance, Films like Funke Akindele’s “A Tribe Called Judah” and “Queen Lateefah” have shattered box office records and proved that local films can go head-to-head with international films. The problem though, is not every local production company has the marketing budget for a Nigerian blockbuster film. Akindele’s film historically crossed the billion naira mark at the box office and screened in other countries like the United Kingdom partly  due to its strategic visibility across billboards, news sites, and advertisements.

Notably, limited cinema infrastructure—just 81 theatres nationwide—has amplified the competition between local and international films for available screening slots. The reality is that cinemas prioritize films with higher revenue potential, often opting for Hollywood blockbusters that promise larger returns. This has prompted many filmmakers to look beyond traditional cinemas, turning to film festivals, streaming platforms like Amazon Prime and Netflix, and YouTube to gain visibility.

Ironically, the rise of international films has fueled growth within the Nigerian box office. By the end of 2024, box office revenues are expected to surpass ₦8.76 billion, partially driven by the success of global hits. This influx has not only increased foot traffic to cinemas but has also benefited Nollywood films, which now share in the expanding market. In 2024, international films have transitioned from being temporary visitors to becoming an integral part of the local entertainment scene.

The following films were instrumental in defining the box office success of 2024.

1.  “Inside Out 2”

The biggest commercial surprise of 2024, Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” sequel to 2015’s “Inside Out,” took audiences down another trip inside Riley Andersen’s mind, earning $1.6 billion globally in the process. This is almost double of its predecessor’s $858 million cumulative.

Records along the way for the $200 million animation were numerous:

• The highest-grossing film of 2024.
• The second-highest global opening weekend of 2024, with $295 million.
• The second biggest global opening weekend for an animated film, defeating the record held by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
• The year’s first $100 million-plus debut and the largest since 2023’s “Barbie.”
• The first billion-dollar film of 2024.
• The highest-grossing Pixar film of all time, surpassing “Incredibles 2.”
• The highest-grossing animated film of all time, dethroning “Frozen 2” and “The Lion King.”

Pixar Animation Studios has the film’s incredible legs and solid 91 Rotten Tomatoes score to thank for the outstanding success. By its fifth weekend in theaters, “Inside Out 2” was still showing in 3,800 of the initial 4,400 North American screens it opened with while pulling in an impressive $19 million.

“Inside Out 2” ‘s leggy performance in North American and global theaters was the same story in Nigeria. Its Nigerian debut wasn’t as groundbreaking as its global performance, earning a modest ₦9.4 million during its opening weekend and ₦24.2 million in its first week.

This placed it well behind the ₦50 million debut of “Muri & Ko” and the ₦100 million launch of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” for the Jul. 14–20 week. However, it bowed with ₦112 million—an 11.9 multiplier—and joined “Despicable Me 4” and “Moana 2” as the only ₦100 million-plus animations of the Nigerian year.

2. “Deadpool and Wolverine”

It is without debate that “Deadpool and Wolverine” was the summer movie event of the year. Marvel’s R-rated comedy banked on pure humor and otherworldly superhero action and won big time at the box office. Not only is the film the second-highest-grossing film of 2024 (it crossed the elusive billion-dollar mark with $1.3 billion made at the worldwide box office), but it is also the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. It dethrones DC’s “Joker” which held the crown for five years.

No one expected less from the film because Marvel productions always outperform their peers; 11 Marvel films have grossed over a billion dollars worldwide, inclusive of “Avengers: Endgame” and “Avengers: Infinity War” which did the impossible by making over $2 billion worldwide.

The Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman-led superhero film, which was released on Jul. 26,  made $211.4 million in the United States and Canada on opening weekend—the biggest for an R-rated film. Overall, it achieved $636.7 million domestically while international markets contributed $701.3 million, highlighting its universal appeal.

Notably, the film set more records by becoming the highest-grossing Deadpool or X-Men franchise film, outpacing both “Deadpool” and “Deadpool 2.” This strong performance was bolstered by positive audience reception and the dynamic camaraderie between Reynolds and Jackman.

In Nigeria, “Deadpool and Wolverine” performed exceedingly well, becoming one of the top-grossing Hollywood films in the country. It earned ₦41.6 million on its opening day and ₦144.1 million on opening weekend, making it the country’s highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. Within the first week, it reached  ₦299 million in total earnings and continued its box office dominance.

As of early October 2024, “Deadpool and Wolverine” had crossed the ₦700 million mark, making it one of the highest-grossing Hollywood films in Nigeria’s box office history. It joins the exclusive list of top-performing films like “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

3. “Moana 2”

“Moana 2” set sails for the box on Nov. 27 and has not looked back ever since. The Disney animation, the sequel to 2016’s “Moana,” continues the titular character’s journey as she discovers life beyond her small Polynesian island.

Despite its low rating among critics, the film has been a massive success at the worldwide box office, setting records and surpassing expectations. The film had a historic opening, achieving the highest-ever five-day domestic debut for a Walt Disney Animation in the United States and Canada with $225 million, beating “Frozen 2’s” previous record of $130.3 million.

Globally, it reached $389 million in five days, making it the largest global animated debut of all time. “Moana 2” has now grossed $719.6 million worldwide, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2024. These figures surpass “Moana” which made $643 million during its box office run.

“Moana 2” did surprisingly well in Nigeria with little promotion. It had the highest opening for an animated film with  ₦106.4 million made during its opening weekend. The film’s strong reception includes ₦81.2 million from its weekend release and an additional  ₦25 million from advanced screenings.

Since its release, it has topped the Nigerian box office charts with no signs of slowing down. It has now made ₦244.6 million at the box office, surpassing other films like “Wicked” and “A Ghetto Love Story.” If “Moana 2” keeps impressing with its worldwide numbers, it just might cross the billion-dollar mark and join the elites— “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

4. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”

The latest installment of the Monsterverse franchise debuted on Mar. 29 following 2021’s “Godzilla vs Kong.” Directed by Adam Wingard, the film pit the iconic titans of the universe against a new antagonist in an epic battle that shook the earth’s core.

Even with a less-than-stellar critics score of 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Godzilla x Kong” ruled the box office earlier in the year as it recorded the biggest opening weekend of  2024 in March. It has grossed an impressive $571.8 million worldwide (196.3 million domestically and $375.4 million internationally), making it the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2024.

It devoured $80 million on opening weekend in the United States and Canada, showcasing a strong audience interest in the film. Its success is attributed to a loyal fanbase rapport built over the previous Monsterverse entries, an extensive marketing campaign, and the critically acclaimed “Godzilla Minus One” which won two Academy Awards at the 2024 ceremony.

“Godzilla x Kong” was showcased in major cinema chains like Silverbird Cinemas and Genesis Cinemas, introducing audiences to a new brand of sci-fi films. It was among the highly-requested Hollywood blockbusters during its two-month theatrical run and made ₦244.4 million in total. Nigerian audiences were likely drawn to the film’s immersive experience and action-packed sequences; this helped cement its place as one of the top choices in cinemas.

5. “Wicked”

Universal Pictures’ musical fantasy film “Wicked” has emerged as a standout release, generating significant buzz within the film community and among audiences. It is an adaptation of the acclaimed Broadway musical which reimagines the classic “Wizard of Oz” story through the lens of the misunderstood antagonist Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo). She is mocked because of her skin color and hated because she refused to bend to the will of the Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile, her rival-turned-friend, Glinda, the Good Witch of the South (Ariana Grande) is praised for being normal and dainty.

“Wicked,” was released internationally on Nov. 22 and has performed exceedingly well at the global box office. It has defied gravity by grossing $527 million—$361.7 million in the United States and Canada and $166.1 million internationally. It is the second-highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical and the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2024.

The marketing campaign for “Wicked” was extraordinary, second only to 2023’s fantasy comedy film “Barbie.” Universal Pictures painted the world neon pink and green and forged over 400 partnerships across industries, ranging from cosmetics to luxury goods to get audiences to watch the film. Billboards, historical landmarks, subway stations, and social media buzz helped position the film as a cultural event, not just a typical film release.

Unfortunately, the film hasn’t performed quite as well at the Nigerian box office for two reasons: 1. Nigerians do not appreciate musicals. 2. They do not understand the “Wizard of Oz” lore. It may be popular in Europe and the United States, but not in this part of Africa. It earned ₦17.1 million on opening weekend which is significantly low compared to the $125-150 million opening weekend numbers of the United States and Canada. While it is too early to tell the total amount the film will gross at the Nigerian box office, it has already made ₦72.4 million in its third week of release. It is projected to cross the ₦100 million mark in week four.

6. “Venom: The Last Dance”

While Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock fought to coexist with his shape-shifting extraterrestrial friend in “Venom: The Last Dance,” the film itself struggled to keep the franchise’s future afloat with its mixed reviews and box office performance. Sadly, it wasn’t enough for Sony Pictures’ Spiderverse which is now set to conclude with “Kraven the Hunter”.

Despite grossing $475. 5 million globally—more than four times its $110 million production budget—“Venom: The Last Dance,” the last film in the “Venom” trilogy, was the franchise’s lowest entry.

The movie debuted with $51 million domestically over its release weekend, below projections of $65-$70 million, and the lowest of the franchise. For context, its predecessor, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” despite releasing in 2021—a time when cinemas were still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty loomed—opened with $90 million domestically and went on to finish with $506.9 million. Thankfully for director Kelly Marcel and Sony, the international market prevented a disappointing situation from turning into an outright bad outing, bringing in $124 million for a debut weekend for a $175 million global start.

“Venom: The Last Dance” still cracked the top ten highest-grossing films of 2024, standing at number nine—a position it is unlikely to retain once “Sonic 3” and “Mufasa” come online.

“Venom: The Last Dance” saw slightly better fortunes in Nigeria. The film sold 14, 369 tickets during its opening weekend, nearly 500 more than the 13,906 of “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.” Its five-day opening of ₦77 million (₦72 million weekend and ₦5 million advanced screening), ranked as the year’s second biggest. In fact, in its first full week, it outgrossed the next five films in the Nigerian box office charts combined (₦117 million to the total ₦73 million week earnings of “Queen Lateefah,” “The Uprising: Wives on Strike III,” “3 Working Days,” “Farmer’s Bride” and “Smile 2”).

By its third weekend, “Venom: The Last Dance” brought in ₦34.1 million, achieving a cumulative haul of ₦247 million—a 35% drop from the previous ₦60.3 million weekend. The arrival of “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” meant it eventually closed its Nigerian box office run with just over ₦310 million, a solid performance despite its lukewarm international reception.

7. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s fourth outing as the bad boys of Miami, wowed audiences all over the world despite the former’s infamous 2023 Academy Awards controversy.

Released on Jun. 7, primetime summer for cinephiles, the R-rated action-comedy grossed $56.5 million in North America—in line with projections of $52 million—and $48 million internationally for a worldwide three-day opening of $106 million. Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia were its top international markets bringing in roughly $15 million each.

The movie’s $106 million opening bested the $97 million of 2020’s “Bad Boys for Life” but came just $22 million short of matching its franchise-high $426 million global total, settling at a $404 million cumulative gross. It still managed to push the Bad Boys franchise past the $4 billion mark worldwide. Critics loved the movie, no doubt: it received a 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 54 on Metacritic. However, it trailed yet again behind the 76% and 59% respective ratings of “Bad Boys for Life.”

In Nigeria, Will Smith’s star power proved too irresistible. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” grossed ₦18.5 million on its first day, ₦20.2 million on its second, and ₦25.2 million on its third for a three-day opening weekend of ₦64 million. At the time, it surpassed “Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju)”s ₦63.3 million to claim the title of Nollywood’s highest opening of the year. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” also sold over 101,000 tickets in Nigerian cinemas raking in ₦458 million over its lifetime to become the year’s highest-grossing film—briefly overtaking Kayode Kasum’s “Ajosepo.” Unfortunately for it, that record, and its opening weekend record, was obliterated by “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

It’s still a no-less impressive run for “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” especially considering that it battled the still-thriving “A Tribe Called Judah,” and other juggernauts such as “A Quiet Place: Day One,” “Lakatabu: The Monster,” “Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti” and “Inside Out 2.”

8. “Gladiator II”

The sequel to the Academy-Award-winning epic saga “Gladiator” may have taken 24 years to debut but director Ridley Scott will be happy to know that his patience and perseverance are paying off big time at the global box office. The film transports audiences back to Ancient Rome as Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) rises to glory in the violent political city filled with mad kings and scheming elites.

As the twelfth-highest-grossing film of 2024, “Gladiator II” has performed solidly at the worldwide box office, grossing over $399 million as of December 2024. Despite being an R-rated film, it opened with $60 million in the United States and Canada during the pre-Thanksgiving weekend. The timing of its release (Nov. 15 in the United Kingdom and Nov. 22 in the United States) played a crucial role in its early success.

It has now grossed $146.6 million in the United States and Canada and $252.6 million, proving that R-rated films are really the top choice of fans when it comes to theatrical viewing. All that is needed is a great marketing campaign to gather enough crowd, and Paramount Pictures spent $100 million on that.

Locally, the film got a head start at the box office, premiering in Nigerian cinemas on Nov. 15. This means that it had the chance to outperform its “rival” “Wicked.” They both share a release date and are seen as the new Barbenheimer. Fans have even dubbed the two films Glicked, a combined name celebrating their pop-culture significance.

“Wicked” may have performed better than “Gladiator II” at the international box office, but the reverse is the case in Nigeria, as audiences gravitated towards the historical epic. It had the year’s second-biggest opening, grossing a whopping ₦141.1 million, including advanced weekday screenings. The numbers drastically increased in the following weekends as the film continued to top the box office charts. It dominated “Wicked” on the weekend of Nov. 22-24, raking in ₦60.1 million in comparison to the former’s ₦17.1 million.

Even in its fifth week of screening, “Gladiator II” is still on the list of top five films currently screening in theaters, albeit hanging on to dear life at number five, but with a cumulative total of ₦372.1 million made at the Nigerian box office.

Statistics used in this piece were obtained from Wikipedia, Nigerian Box-Office, Box-Office Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic.