‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Overtakes ‘Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti’ at the Box Office
Bolane Austin-Peters’ Nollywood biopic, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, has been overtaken at the Nigerian box office by the Hollywood blockbuster Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, according to data from the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN).
CEAN’s recent report on the top 10 films from May 24, 2024, to May 30, 2024, revealed that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga claimed the number one spot, grossing ₦53.3 million in its debut week. This new entry has pushed Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti to second place.
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti premiered on May 17, 2024, and initially held strong at the box office, earning ₦46.3 million in its opening week and ₦42.7 million in its second week, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood film within that period. To date, the biopic has amassed ₦89.1 million.
The film chronicles the life of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, the pioneering mother of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, from her days as the first female student at Abeokuta Grammar School to her marriage with Israel Ransome-Kuti. The cast includes Omowunmi Dada, Joke Silva, Kehinde Bankole, Adunni Ade, Iyimide Ayo-Olumoko, Ibrahim Suleiman, and Iremide Adeoye.
The comedy-drama Ajosepo, which previously dominated the box office for a month, grossed ₦50.4 million in its first five days (April 10 to April 14). It now holds the fifth position, with a weekly total of ₦11.6 million and a cumulative gross of ₦240 million.
Meanwhile, the Yoruba epic film Blacksmith: Alagbede has dropped to eighth place, having earned ₦11.3 million in its opening weekend. It currently has a weekly total of ₦4 million and an overall gross of ₦60.3 million.
The dynamic shifts at the box office underscore the intense competition and diverse preferences of Nigerian moviegoers.
