The last weekend of September witnessed a fierce competition among three major releases, but it was Adeoluwa Owu’s “Queen Lateefah” that emerged victorious, opening with a robust ₦56.6 million over its first three days.
Starring Kunle Remi, Femi Adebayo, and Nancy Isime, “Queen Lateefah” outperformed its nearest rival, FilmOne’s “Farmer’s Bride”, which debuted at ₦33.2 million and secured second place. Meanwhile, “Hell Boy: The Crooked Man”, produced by Ketcup Entertainment, finished in third with a modest ₦11.3 million opening.
As of October 2, 2024, “Queen Lateefah” has grossed over ₦60 million, while “Farmer’s Bride” has surpassed ₦40 million and is still counting.
While these Nollywood films dominated the box office, several international releases held their ground. Isaac Florentine’s action flick, “Hounds of War”, added ₦6.4 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to ₦20 million.
Additionally, “Deadpool and Wolverine” continued its strong run, pulling in ₦5 million in its tenth weekend, pushing its cumulative earnings to an impressive ₦695 million. The superhero film is on track to surpass the ₦700 million mark, making it the first release of 2024 to achieve this milestone.
Given that “Ajosepo” opened 43% lower than “Queen Lateefah” (with around ₦32 million) and ultimately finished above ₦250 million, predictions suggest that “Queen Lateefah” will reach similar heights.
“Queen Lateefah” follows Adeleke, a 30-year-old woman who pretends to be wealthy and of high status. Her true origins in poverty are uncovered by Jide Rhodes, exposing her life with eccentric neighbors. Her charm and lies help maintain her facade.