October has opened on a difficult note for the Nigerian box office.
According to data from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), sourced via Comscore, cinemas across the country grossed just ₦177 million between October 2 and 9. The figure marks the lowest weekly total since March 21 and falls nearly 36% below the 2025 weekly average of ₦275 million, according to the industry tracker Nigerian Box Office.
It was a slow frame that saw no new release cross the ₦10 million mark. Universal Pictures’ supernatural horror HIM led with a modest ₦9.2 million debut.
The downturn wasn’t entirely unexpected. October had been projected to perform stronger, with titles such as Micheal (The Movie) and Mortal Kombat originally slated for release before being postponed to 2026. Their absence has left a thin release calendar, contributing to the slump.
This weak start continues a worrying trend from September, which closed at just ₦910 million, ending a five-month streak of ₦1 billion grosses that began in April.
Tron: Ares ultimately salvaged the ongoing week with a ₦30 million debut, preventing what could have been another dismal stretch for the Nigerian box office.
