‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ Outperforms ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’

Funke Akindele has done it again! Her latest film, Everybody Loves Jenifa, has just beaten Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King at the Nigerian box office, setting a new record for the highest-grossing film in Nigerian cinema history. It’s a rare sight when Hollywood blockbusters, especially Disney’s highly anticipated films, struggle in the Nigerian market, but here we are!

While Mufasa: The Lion King has been ruling global box offices in countries like France, India, and the UK, the Nigerian audience has spoken loud and clear. Funke Akindele, one of Nollywood’s brightest stars, has proven that local talent can still outshine even the biggest international releases. Her comedy series Everybody Loves Jenifa has clearly struck a chord with Nigerian audiences, keeping it firmly at the top of the box office charts.

In fact, the movie has already grossed an incredible ₦1.466 billion, leaving Mufasa: The Lion King trailing far behind with just ₦173 million. When Everybody Loves Jenifa crossed the ₦780 million mark, Mufasa had barely started to catch up.

This isn’t the first time Akindele has pulled off such a feat. Back in 2022, her film Battle On Buka Street stunned everyone by outselling Avatar: The Way of Water in the Nigerian market, proving once again that local films are dominating home turf.

With this victory, Funke Akindele has now secured her place as the top four highest-grossing films in Nollywood’s history. Her previous film, A Tribe Called Judah, was the first Nigerian movie to break the ₦1 billion mark, with Battle On Buka Street and Omo Ghetto: The Saga following close behind.

What makes this achievement even more impressive is the sheer cultural impact Akindele has in Nigeria. Her ability to resonate with audiences time and time again, while Hollywood struggles to keep up, speaks volumes about her influence and storytelling power.