Cinema Industry Reports Strong Start to 2024 with Over 322,000 Viewers Nationwide

National President of the Cinema Association in Nigeria, Opeyemi Ajayi has disclosed that total cinema viewership at the beginning of the year amounted to 322,833. He revealed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos

Ajayi highlighted a promising start to the year, noting Nigerians’ ongoing enthusiasm for the cinema experience. “In January 2024, total sales reached ₦1,202,195,706, with 322,833 admissions,” he stated.

Reflecting on 2023, Ajayi reported a revenue of ₦7.35 billion across cinemas, with 2,606,891 admissions. Compared to 2022’s ₦6.94 billion revenue, 2023 saw an appreciable increase in sales despite a slight decline in admissions, attributed to higher average ticket prices.

Notable Nollywood successes in 2023 included “A Tribe Called Judah,” “Malaika,” “Orisa,” “Ada Omo Daddy,” “Merry Men,” “Kesari,” “Something Like Gold,” “The Kujus Again,” “Afamefuna,” and “A Weekend to Forget.”

The year 2023 witnessed the highest December Gross Box Office (GBO) of ₦1.6 billion, with a notable uptick in admissions. “A Tribe Called Judah” emerged as the territory’s highest-grossing film of all time.

Ajayi attributed revenue growth in 2023 to an increase in average ticket prices, despite an 18.4% decline in admissions. Additionally, the opening of eight new cinemas contrasted with the closure of two due to escalating operational costs.

The inaugural Cinema Day in September saw a significant surge in admissions and revenue, marking a notable milestone in the industry’s calendar.

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