Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has explained why she continues to promote her blockbuster film Behind The Scenes despite its record-breaking box office performance.
The film has grossed over ₦2.6 billion, making it the first Nollywood production to surpass the ₦2 billion mark at the Nigerian box office.
In a video shared on Snapchat on Monday, Akindele responded to a message questioning her continued publicity for the film.
“Someone sent a message to me, and he said, ‘Behind the Scenes has grossed over 2.6 billion. Why are you still promoting it?’” she said.
According to her, the motivation goes beyond financial success.
“It’s not about the money. No, it’s not about the money. The most important thing is consistency,” she explained.
“If you want to be successful, if you want to keep breaking your record, you want to keep breaking new grounds, you have to be consistent with whatever you are doing.”
She added that constant promotion keeps the film in public consciousness and encourages more people to watch it.
“I have to keep promoting, I have to keep making noise so that people can get to know about it. By the time I keep promoting, you’ll be like, oh, okay, let me go and watch it.”
The historic achievement was announced by distributor FilmOne Entertainment, which described the feat as unprecedented in Nollywood history.
“Behind the Scenes has officially BROKEN and SHATTERED records, hitting over 2 BILLION at the box office and becoming the first Nollywood film in West Africa to cross the ₦2 billion mark,” the company stated.
The distributor also noted that the film is now the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time in Africa, the UK, and Ireland, further cementing Akindele’s status as one of the continent’s most successful filmmakers.Akindele had earlier set a major record with her 2024 hit, A Tribe Called Judah, which grossed over ₦1 billion in just three weeks, becoming the first Nollywood film to reach that milestone within that timeframe.
Celebrating her latest achievement, Akindele credited discipline, hard work, and faith for the success.
“Records are milestones, not the mission. From A Tribe Called Judah grossing ₦1B to Behind The Scenes crossing ₦2B and still counting, this is God in motion,” she wrote.
“The lesson remains unchanged: serve the story, respect the audience, refine the craft, and let the work earn its applause.”
From humble beginnings with minor roles to becoming Africa’s highest-grossing filmmaker, Akindele’s journey continues to reflect Nollywood’s growing global influence and the expanding reach of Nigerian storytelling.
