Nigeria’s cinema industry recorded its strongest first-quarter admissions in six years, with total ticket sales rising to 752,136 in Q1 2026.
This is signalling a sustained recovery in theatrical demand and a growing dominance of Nollywood productions at the local box office, according to data from the Nigerian box office on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
The performance represents a notable increase compared to 661,720 admissions recorded in Q1 2025, and marks a clear rebound from the softer numbers seen in the preceding years.
The latest figures highlight a turning point for the Nigerian box office, driven largely by the strong theatrical runs of local titles such as Behind The Scenes and Oversabi Aunty, both of which delivered standout performances and drew significant audience turnout across major cinema circuits.
A breakdown of historical trends further contextualises the current growth trajectory. In Q1 2021 and 2022, admissions stood at 709,803 and 709,979, respectively, before declining sharply in 2023 and 2024. The recovery began in 2025 and has now accelerated in 2026, positioning the industry on a firmer growth path.
Nairametrics previously reported that Toyin Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty crossed the N1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office, reinforcing her status as one of the industry’s most bankable creative figures and Funke Akindele’s Behind The Scenes, now on Netflix, raked in an estimated N2.7 billion since its release.
Despite slower growth in admissions, box office revenue is expected to expand at a much faster pace. Gross box office revenue rose from N7.36 billion in 2023 to N11.58 billion in 2024, before jumping 28% to N15.64 billion in 2025.