Battle on Buka Street becomes the second film to cross the N500 million box office mark in Nigeria.
By Helena Olori
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has broken Nigeria’s box office records yet again with her latest film, Battle on Buka Street, grossing a whopping N668.4 million after a 17-week theatrical run.
According to the Nigerian Box Office, the comedy drama which made its cinema debut on December 12, 2022, displaced Akindele’s previous record held with Omo Ghetto: The Saga, grossing over N32 million more than the previous record of N636,129,120. This is even more remarkable as both films by the “Jenifa” actress are the only films to cross the N500 million box office mark in Nigeria.
The film’s success is not limited to Nigeria as it has had an impressive run in foreign cinemas, showing across 11 locations and earning more than $60,000 in the United States alone. It also recently received 9 nominations for the ninth Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), including the most coveted category, “Best Overall Movie.”
(Read also: Anikulapo, Brotherhood, and Shanty Town Steal the Spotlight at AMVCA Nominations Show)
Produced by Funke Ayotunde Akindele Network, Battle on Buka Street follows the story of two half-sisters whose rivalry unfolds when they start their food businesses on the same street. It stars Mercy Johnson, Nkem Owoh, Sola Sobowale, Kelvin Ikeduba, Tina Mba, and Akindele herself.
Funke Akindele’s rise to stardom began when she played Bisi in the popular sitcom I Need to Know, which ran from 1998 to 2002. Since then, she has had a remarkable career in the industry, both as an actress and a filmmaker, starring in several hits, including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, Chief Daddy, Jenifa, etc. She has won multiple awards.