Report: Nollywood films dominating Anglophone West African cinemas since 2019

A report by FilmOne, the entertainment company, showed that Nollywood films have been dominating cinemas in Anglophone West African countries since 2019.

The report, titled ‘Nigeria Box Office Year Book 2022’, examined the percentages of Nollywood and Hollywood movies released in cinemas across the region from 2016 to 2022.

Data from the report showed that in 2019, Nollywood had 62 per cent of movies across cinemas in Anglophone West African countries while Hollywood had 38 per cent.

In 2020, which witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic, Nollywood also accounted for 50 per cent of movies in the cinemas while Hollywood had 37 per cent.

Further breakdown showed a similar trend in 2021 as Nollywood had 57 per cent compared to Hollywood’s 43 per cent.

In 2022, Nollywood had 68 per cent of movies across the region’s cinemas while Hollywood got 32 per cent.

This is the fifth edition of the publication, which is released annually by FilmOne.

In a post via her LinkedIn page, Ladun Awobokun, the editor-in-chief for this year’s edition of the publication, said the report provides “valid insights” about the movie industry.

“Although this has come out a bit later in the year, the insights are very valid and indeed timely with the current trends and growth tracking in the region. Nonetheless, this edition also includes Q1 2023 performance as well as full-year box office predictions, based on market indicators. In our usual fashion, we have carefully collated activities, performances, box office insights, and critical perspectives from stakeholders in the Nigerian film industry,” she wrote.

“It is our intention to showcase the incredible growth in the industry despite the effects of the pandemic, and also highlight how huge the opportunities are in the film industry in Anglophone West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, over the years to come.

“Amongst other highlights, we also have compiled a sample research on consumers’ perspectives, with responses obtained from numerous states across Nigeria, and lists of highest-grossing actors, directors, editors, DOPs, and screenwriters, among other industry makers of 2022. Our key objective is for readers, film enthusiasts and investors, to have a complete grasp on the state of the industry, and we hope that’s accomplished after reading.”

Chinaza Onuzo, co-founder at Inkblot productions, also shared insights from the publication via his Twitter page.

Except for the 2 COVID years where there was reduced Hollywood product, Nollywood share of box office has hovered around 30% since 2016. This is effectively a stable equilibrium that needs to be broken. pic.twitter.com/YwuTiarA91

— Naz Onuzo (@nazonuzo) June 18, 2023

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