There is no better takeaway from this dispatch than the fact that, in 2024, cinema in Nigeria was alive, thriving and showing out.

FilmOne Limited, West Africa’s largest independent distributor and producer of Nigerian film content, has released its 2024 Box Office Report. Compiled using data from Comscore, the official reporting partner for Nigeria as nominated by the Cinema Exhibitors’ Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the report offers a comprehensive analysis of the year’s cinema performance across the country.

I have culled some highlights from the 97-page document which you can access [in full] here.

CINEMA-TO-POPULATION RATIO

The report opens with a sobering look at the cinema-to-population ratio across Sub-Saharan Africa, which remains painfully low—averaging 4.5 million people per cinema. In Nigeria, a country of over 200 million people, only 102 cinemas and 333 screens serve the entire population. The situation is even bleaker in countries like Liberia and Guinea, where barely two cinemas exist to cater to millions of residents.

However, Nigeria saw 24 new cinema openings last year — 14 more than in 2023. These openings were spearheaded by Filmhouse, Genesis, and Silverbird as they bet on an audience eager for the big screen experience, more than just streaming convenience.

Despite Nigerians suffering one of the most severe economic downturns, 2024 flipped the script on 2023’s ₦7.3 billion ($4.8 million) box office total, generating a record ₦11.58 billion ($7.7 million)—a 60% year-on-year increase and the strongest box office growth in recent history. Moreover, 2024 marked the first rise in cinema admissions since 2021, with a total of 2.7 million admissions.

Also worthy of note, for the first time ever, a Nollywood film crossed the ₦1 billion mark within a calendar year. Everybody Loves Jennifer not only became the highest-grossing Nollywood title of the year but also signaled a new era of possibilities for local productions at the box office, especially in an industry often overshadowed by Hollywood’s box office reign.

December, now arguably the crown jewel of the cinema calendar, accounted for 24% of the year’s total earnings, pulling in NGN 2.8 billion (USD 1.8 million) —the highest-grossing month since December 2019.

BIRD’S EYE VIEW

In 2024, a total of 205 films were released in Nigerian cinemas, comprising 74 Hollywood titles and 73 Nollywood titles. Cinema admissions reached 2.7 million, with Nollywood making a statement at the box office. Over 15 Nollywood films surpassed the ₦100 million mark, while 15 titles grossed above ₦200 million. Overall, Nollywood secured a 46% market share, while Hollywood maintained a slight lead with 52%.

Exhibitor Market Share

[Cumulatively] Filmhouse retained its position as Nigeria’s leading cinema chain, securing the highest box office revenue for the seventh consecutive year. With 12 locations nationwide, Filmhouse generated ₦3.8 billion ($2.5 million), contributing 28% of total box office revenue while also leading in admissions, recording 621,552 tickets sold.

Silverbird (7 locations) followed with a 19% market share, grossing ₦2.2 billion ($1.4 million), while Genesis Cinemas (9 locations) secured 18%, contributing ₦2.1 billion ($1.3 million). Despite having just one cinema location, EbonyLife Cinema made an impressive mark, snagging 7% of the market with ₦838 million ($557.8k) in revenue and 138,644 admissions.

Top Performers

With 102 cinemas nationwide:

• Highest-grossing Hollywood film: Deadpool & Wolverine
• Highest-grossing Nollywood film: Everybody Loves Jennifer (the first Nollywood title to surpass ₦1 billion in a calendar year)
• Highest-grossing cinema [spot]: EbonyLife Cinema - Victoria Island
• Highest-grossing distributor: FilmOne Entertainment
• Highest-grossing animated film: Moana

Inside the Nigerian Cinema Scene

By the end of 2024, cinemas were present in 21 out of Nigeria’s 36 states, totaling 102 cinema sites across the country. These cinemas accounted for 92.9% of Anglophone West Africa’s box office revenue during the review period.

Lagos remained the leading state in Nigeria’s cinema industry, boasting 36 cinema sites that contributed ₦5.7 billion ($3.7 million), representing 53.6% of the national box office. The state also led in admissions, recording 1.1 million ticket sales in 2024.

Abuja followed with just five cinema sites, yet it generated ₦852 million ($567.1k) from 188,000 admissions, securing a 7.9% market share. Edo, with six cinema sites, contributed ₦802 million ($533.8k) from 209,000 admissions, accounting for 7.5% market share. Rivers State, home to seven cinema sites, also performed strongly, bringing in ₦801 million ($533.1k) from 190,000 admissions, representing 7.4% market share.

Regional Disparities & Growth Opportunities

This means that the Southern region dominated Nigeria’s box office, accounting for about 84% of total revenue. In stark contrast, the entire Northern region had just 12 cinema sites, underscoring a major gap in cinema infrastructure and potential investment opportunities.

In essence, while concerns about economic constraints and shrinking disposable income persist, Nigerian consumers have demonstrated resilience in prioritizing entertainment - because why not???

Zooming into Lagos Cinemas

Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland each boast 18 cinema sites. However, ticket prices vary between the two regions. On average, a cinema ticket on Lagos Island costs ₦4,780, while on Lagos Mainland, it is more affordable at ₦3,478.

In terms of admissions, Lagos Mainland led with over 620,000 admissions in 2024, surpassing Lagos Island’s 546,000 admissions. However, Lagos Island contributed a larger share—54% of Lagos' total box office revenue—driven by top-performing cinemas such as:

• EbonyLife Cinema – ₦838 million
• Filmhouse Lekki – ₦821 million
• Filmhouse Ikota – ₦301 million

Meanwhile, Lagos Mainland accounted for 46% of the city's total box office earnings, led by:

• Silverbird Ikeja – ₦829 million
• Filmhouse Surulere – ₦397 million
• Genesis Festival Mall (Festac) – ₦387 million

2025 Projection

For 2025, FilmOne projects a box office revenue of ₦15 billion ($10 million), a 30% increase from 2024’s ₦11.5 billion, alongside a targeted 2.9 million cinema admissions—an 8% rise from the 2.6 million recorded in 2024. Several factors underpin these projections, including the anticipated opening of new cinema multiplexes, an expected increase in average ticket prices to ₦6,000 [$3.99] (a 38% jump from the current ₦4,341 - [$2.89]), increased foreign investment in local productions, a growing middle class [🧐], and the expanding availability of premium format screenings.