Funke Akindele Breaks Records as “Everybody Loves Jenifa” Surpasses $100,000 In Diaspora Sales

Nollywood actress and producer Funke Akindele has set a new benchmark in the film industry with her latest movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa, becoming the first Nollywood film to generate $100,000 in diaspora sales.

The movie, released on December 13, has made history with the highest opening weekend earnings for a Nollywood film outside Africa. Akindele had previously announced that the movie would be shown in 30 countries within and outside Africa. The massive diaspora sales are dedicated to its showcase in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, and Norway.

Reacting to the achievement, Akindele shared her gratitude on X (formerly Twitter), thanking her fans, colleagues, and the diaspora community for their unwavering support. She described their love as the driving force behind her success.

In Nigeria, Everybody Loves Jenifa has also broken records, grossing ₦500 million within 12 days of release. It recorded the biggest opening weekend for a Nollywood film, earning ₦206 million, and achieved the highest one-day box office sales of 2024, with ₦87.8 million

Funke Akindele has produced the three highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time – A Tribe Called Judah: ₦1.4B, Battle on Buka Street: ₦668M+, and Omo Ghetto: The Saga: ₦636M+. Everybody Loves Jenifa continues Akindele’s reign as one of Nollywood’s most successful filmmakers.

Featuring a star-studded cast, Everybody Loves Jenifa tells the comedic and heartwarming story of Jenifa, a beloved community figure played by Akindele. The film features a star-studded cast, including Falz, Patience Ozokwor, Omowunmi Dada, Jackie Appiah, Nancy Isime, Destiny Etiko, Stan Nze, Chimezie Imo, Lateef Adedimeji, Bisola Aiyeola, and more. It adds to its charm and appeal with special appearances from Hilda Baci and D’banj.

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