West African cinemas generated a total of ₦15.6 billion in box office revenue in 2025, with Nollywood films accounting for the largest share for the first time.
The industry figures were released on January 6, 2026, reflecting cinema performance across the region for the January 1 to December 31, 2025 calendar year.
According to the data, Nollywood films captured 49.4 per cent of the total West African box office market in 2025, narrowly surpassing Hollywood releases.
Hollywood films followed closely with 48.8 per cent of the total market share, marking a significant shift in audience preference across West African cinemas.
The ₦15.6 billion gross was generated from approximately 2.79 million cinema admissions recorded across the region during the year.
A total of 248 films were screened in West African cinemas in 2025, spanning local and international productions.
The report showed that 81 Nollywood films, 92 Hollywood titles, and 52 Indian films were released in cinemas during the period under review.
Cinemas in the region operated across 122 locations, contributing to the year’s total box office performance.
The average cinema ticket price in West Africa for 2025 stood at ₦5,596, according to the industry data.
The figures also revealed that 14 Nollywood films each crossed the ₦100 million mark at the box office during the year.
In total, 16 films, including Nollywood and foreign titles, grossed over ₦200 million individually in 2025.
Among Nollywood releases, Behind The Scenes emerged as the highest-grossing local film of the year.
On the international front, Sinners ranked as the top-grossing Hollywood title in West African cinemas in 2025.
Zootopia 2 led the animation category, while Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Infinity Castle topped the anime segment.
Industry analysts described Nollywood’s performance as a historic milestone for African cinema.
“This is the first time Nollywood has taken the lead in market share over Hollywood in West African cinemas,” the industry scorecard released on January 6, 2026, stated.
The data also showed that films from China and Liberia jointly accounted for about 1.2 per cent of the total box office revenue.
FilmOne Entertainment emerged as the highest-grossing distributor across the West African cinema market in 2025.
The 2025 figures underscore a growing appetite for locally produced content and signal a major turning point for Nollywood’s commercial strength within the West African theatrical market.