The Nigerian box office could be heading toward a historic first quarter in 2026, with Nollywood titles leading the weekly charts since late 2025.
If the trend continues, it would mark the first time in six years that indigenous films have topped the Nigerian box office every week during the early part of the year.
The streak began quietly in late November 2025 when Odunlade Adekola’s Warlord opened with ₦38.1 million during its debut weekend. It was followed by Funke Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa, which launched with ₦205 million.
The run continued through December and into February. On February 13, 2026, Love and New Notes, directed by Kayode Kasum and starring Timini Egbuson, opened with ₦108 million, extending Nollywood’s lead at the box office.
Such a sustained stretch of local dominance is rare. Over the past 18 years, it has happened only twice.
The first instance occurred between September and December 2018, when films such as Merry Men, King of Boys, and Chief Daddy led the market. The second stretch came between December 2020 and March 2021, when Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Ponzi, and The Razz Guy collectively held the top spot for 13 consecutive weeks.
If the current momentum continues, 2026 could mark another milestone for Nollywood’s theatrical performance and its growing influence at the domestic box office.
