Nollywood’s newest launch, “What About Us,” has made a major impression on the Nigerian field workplace, grossing N24.6 million in its first three days.
Premiering on July 12, 2024, the movie marks the chief producer debut for Emmanuel Iren, the lead Pastor of Celebration Church Worldwide.
Based on Filmoneng, the film’s distribution firm, “What About Us” is the highest-grossing movie throughout the weekend of July 12-14, 2024.
Whereas Emmanuel Iren serves as the chief producer and is credited with the story, the screenplay was penned by Ife Olujuyigbe and the movie was directed by Kayode Kasum. Bisola Badejo and Tochukwu Macdonald Sunday additionally co-produced the movie, which is owned by Narrative Leisure Manufacturing, an organization linked to Pastor Iren.
The plot of “What About Us” revolves round a Christian couple struggling to keep up their marriage. The arrival of a brand new couple subsequent door exacerbates their points, because the spouse develops an uncomfortably shut relationship with the neighbour’s husband.
The movie boasts an all-star forged, together with Uzor Arukwe, Folu Storms, Kunle Remi, Teniola Aladese, Aeyi Awolowo, Marycolette Unamka, and Atlanta Bridget Johnson.
Market Insights
The demand for faith-based motion pictures within the Nollywood trade is on the rise. This pattern will be traced again to the success of “God Calling,” produced by BB Sasore.
The movie grossed roughly N36 million on the Nigerian field workplace earlier than airing on Amazon Prime, the place it continued to realize traction. “God Calling” was a prime field workplace hit in 2019 and acquired 11 nominations on the Africa Magic Viewers’ Alternative Awards (AMVCA) in 2020, profitable in a number of classes.
One other current success on this style is “Breath of Life,” which won the Best Movie award at the 10th edition of the AMVCA. The movie acquired 11 nominations throughout varied classes, together with Greatest Film, Greatest Director, and Greatest Lead Actor, in the end profitable six awards.
Future Prospects
Given the sturdy marketplace for faith-based movies and the confirmed monitor report of these concerned in “What About Us,” the film has a excessive potential for continued monetary success. Director Kayode Kasum has a historical past of manufacturing box-office hits.
As of April, movies directed by Kayode Kasum had grossed greater than N1 billion on the Nigerian Field Workplace.
As an example, his 2019 movie “Sugar Rush” grew to become the fourth highest-grossing Nigerian movie of all time. Extra lately, his movie “Ajosepo” crossed the N250 million field workplace mark earlier this 12 months.
The forged of “What About Us” contains Kunle Remi, one in all Nigeria’s highest-grossing actors in 2023. His involvement provides appreciable star energy to the movie, seemingly contributing to its sturdy opening weekend efficiency.
