Within the last decade, African cinema has experienced a remarkable transformation that has attracted global attention and stunned stakeholders. The entertainment industry in Africa, like many other sectors, has abused the predictions of many critics who prophesied that streaming innovation and video-on-demand subscription-based service would cripple the continent’s local content creation.
Today, the reverse is the case, and local content creators have taken huge advantage of platforms like Netflix and YouTube to take the entertainment industry in Africa to new heights. It is no longer news to see African movie stars on the biggest entertainment stages worldwide.
In addition to the massive exposure and acceptance, African content creators and actors gross high revenue for their works. African content creators have continued to make a mark for themselves by establishing that Africans can tell their stories. In response, Africans are gradually shifting from foreign content (even those that are African-themed), towards those made locally.
For example, a mid-year report in 2024 revealed that top Nollywood movies sell an average of 2 million tickets in Cinemas and rake in millions of views on Netflix and other top streaming platforms.
As Usual, Data Says it All – Nigeria Leads the Way.
When it comes to the entertainment industry in Africa, one country comes top of the list – Nigeria. The West African giant has taken advantage of its 223.8 million population and rich cultural heritage to build a formidable entertainment industry.
Nigeria’s entertainment industry, Nollywood, is the second largest film industry globally, after Bollywood and ahead of Hollywood. In 2023, it was revealed that Nollywood accounted for 96.5% of the box office revenue in English-speaking Africa.
Within the last four years, the Nigerian box office has generated a cumulated revenue in excess of 25 billion Naira (approximately USD 16,179,344). The spike in revenue can be attributed to a combination of prolific film releases and a rise in Cinema ticket sales in the country between 2021 and 2024.
One of the leading figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry in 2024 is Funke Akindele, a deputy governorship candidate in her native Lagos State in the last elections.
In 2024, her movie, A Tribe Called Judah, grossed 609.1 million Naira with 160,326 admissions within a few months of release. Her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa has grossed 1 billion Naira within a month of release in December 2024.
Nigerian content creators have taken advantage of the country’s population and partnerships with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and international Cinema houses like Genesis, FilmHouse, etc. to connect to the buzzing youth population in pushing its entertainment industry.
In addition, Nigeria produces over 2,500 movies annually, this is twice the number of movies released in the United States yearly. Hollywood produced 6,181 movies from 2019 to 2023, within that period, Nigeria alone produced over 12,500 movies.
Highest Grossing African Movies in 2024
In the past, ranking has led to a major misconception in the international entertainment industry. On many occasions, when ‘African Movies’ are ranked, Hollywood movies with African themes, like Black Panther and The Gods Must Be Crazy, often make the list.
As a result of this, the hard work and successes of indigenous African content producers and actors often go unnoticed. Although the tides are changing, and there are now indigenous African movies that can come on the same list as Black Panther and the likes, albeit lower, this is a proper ranking for African movies.
Below, we have ranked the top ten African movies based on their gross revenue in 2024.
- Everybody Loves Jenifa: Directed by the Nigerian award-winning actress turned producer, Funke Akindele. Everybody Loves Jenifa grossed 1,466,852,338 billion Naira since its release in December 2024. It contributed to 40% of the December box office revenue in the region and ranks as the fastest African movie to reach such heights.
- A Tribe Called Judah: This captivating Funke Akindele production has set new milestones in Nigerian cinema. Shortly after its release, the movie grossed 400 million Naira and surpassed the 1 billion Naira mark by January 2024. Despite experiencing a 55% decline in ticket sales between January 12 and 18, 2024, A Tribe Called Judah maintained its dominance, holding the top spot on the box office charts for five consecutive weeks. By mid-January, the film had earned an impressive 1.32 billion Naira, cementing its status as a blockbuster hit.
- Heart of the Hunter: Released on April 6, 2024, this South African film has made waves, though exact box office figures remain unavailable. However, its remarkable success on Netflix—with 11 million views and 20 million viewing hours—places it among the most lucrative African films of the year. Based on streaming data, Heart of the Hunter is estimated to be the second-highest-grossing African movie of 2024.
- Queen Lateefah: Directed by Adeoluwa Owu and starring Wumi Toriola, this Nollywood drama has captivated audiences with its compelling storytelling. Since its release on September 27, 2024, the film has grossed 357,711,417 Naira and sold over 80,500 tickets. Its widespread appeal highlights the increasing demand for authentic Nollywood narratives.
- Ajosepo: Directed by Kayode Kasum, Ajosepo is a heartwarming comedy-drama that follows the story of two estranged brothers who must reconcile to save their father on the eve of a wedding. With themes of family and forgiveness, this Nigerian film resonated deeply with audiences, grossing 257.3 million Naira during its theatrical run.
- Beast of Two Worlds (Ajakaju): Directed by Adebayo Tijani and Odunlade Adekola, this Yoruba-language Nigerian film grossed an impressive ₦252,801,675. The story centres on a desperate king banished from his kingdom due to his three wives’ inability to bear a son. In a dramatic twist, he marries a mysterious woman from another world who promises him an heir, setting the stage for a gripping narrative.
- Lakatabu: This Yoruba-language Nigerian film explores the downfall of a man who misuses his supernatural powers for criminal activities, endangering the lives of others. His reign of terror begins to unravel after he kidnaps the daughter of a man who once wronged him. Lakatabu surpassed the ₦200 million milestone just weeks after its release, cementing its place as a box office success.
- Farmer’s Bride: Produced by FilmOne Studios, Farmer’s Bride is a 2024 period drama set in the 1980s. Released on 27 September 2024, the film features a star-studded cast, including Tobi Bakre, Femi Branch, Gbubemi Ejeye, Mercy Aigbe, Efe Irele, and Wumi Toriola. This evocative drama resonated deeply with audiences, crossing the ₦200 million mark within weeks of its cinematic debut.
- Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti: This 91-minute biopic grossed ₦157 million just hours after its release. A masterful portrayal of one of Nigeria’s most iconic women, the film chronicles Funmilayo’s life as an activist, educator, mother, and wife. It delves into the sacrifices and challenges she faced while fighting for equality, delivering a poignant and inspiring narrative.
- A Soweto Love Story: This South African romantic comedy captures the intertwined lives of three brothers in Soweto, each navigating unique relationship challenges. While exact revenue figures are not publicly available, its popularity, accolades, and streaming success suggest significant earnings. The film’s heartfelt and relatable themes have endeared it to audiences across the continent.
Conclusion
It is important to clearly state that there were a lot of great African movies released across Africa in 2024, many of which may have grossed more than some of the movies in this article. However, the directors of these movies, for some reason, do not have accurate data on gross earnings in the public domain, making it difficult to list based on strict criteria, such as gross revenue.
Also, our list does not make these movies rank as the ‘best’ movies from Africa in 2024. In entertainment, revenue can be a product of good marketing and publicity – something that a lot of the movies from Nigeria seem to be enjoying at the moment.
Some good African movies worthy of mention that were released in 2024 include; Ahl Al Kahf (Egypt), Nome (Guinea-Bissau), Makula (Uganda) Half Heaven (Cameroon), Otis Janam (Kenya), Everybody Loves Touda (Morocco), Tug of War (Tanzania), to mention a few.
Credit: Forbes, Box Office, Netflix, Yahoo News
https://www.africanexponent.com/highest-grossing-african-movies-in-2024-according-to-data/
