At Just 26, Nora Awolowo Breaks Nollywood Box Office Records with ‘Red Circle’

Nora Awolowo has officially made Nollywood history. At just 26 years old, she has become the youngest Nigerian filmmaker to see a movie she co-produced cross the ₦100 million mark at the local box office. A milestone many veterans are still chasing.

The film, Red Circle, hit cinemas on June 6, and within weeks, the gripping crime thriller soared to commercial success, raking in over ₦100 million despite being a completely original, non-franchise title. Awolowo, who was 24 when the movie was filmed, served as cinematographer and co-producer, making her the youngest Nigerian filmmaker to accomplish this feat.

Directed by Akay Mason and co-produced by Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, Red Circle stood out not just for its plot, but for the energy it carried. Raw, daring, and intentional. The film featured a robust mix of talent, including Tobi Bakre, Omowunmi Dada, Folu Storms, Lateef Adedimeji, Mike Afolarin, Timini Egbuson, Ibrahim Suleiman, Femi Branch and Bukky Wright in a notable return to screen. Comic names like Mr Macaroni and Lizzy Jay added levity to the otherwise tense narrative.

Though Awolowo is not new to the screen, she won Best Documentary at the 2023 AMVCA. This latest project marks her biggest public success yet. Her style is quiet but impactful, and her work on Red Circle has sparked conversations about what the future of Nollywood could look like if led by new voices with fresh eyes.

Marketing played a big role in the film’s success. Through cast-driven skits, teasers, and bold online promotions, the film built a buzz strong enough to earn it international attention. It recently launched in select Odeon cinemas in the UK and is expected to hit North American screens soon.

Beyond the numbers, Red Circle tells a deeper story. One about what happens when young Nigerians take control of their narratives and collaborate to make something powerful. It’s a film built by friends, not formulas. And Awolowo, standing behind the camera, is proving that being young, female, and fearless in Nigerian cinema is no longer the exception. It’s the new blueprint.

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