Nollywood’s Queen Lateefah Hits N216 Million in Nigerian Cinemas
Sahara Weekly Reports That Nollywood’s latest box office hit, Queen Lateefah, has achieved a significant milestone, raking in an impressive N216 million in ticket sales across cinemas nationwide. The film, produced by renowned Nollywood actress Wunmi Toriola, has remained the top-grossing movie in Nigerian cinemas for three consecutive weeks since its release on September 27, 2024.
According to data from the Nigerian Box Office, Queen Lateefah earned N41.5 million in revenue over the weekend of October 11-13, 2024, further cementing its status as a cinematic success. The film had already grossed N150 million within just 12 days of its release, a testament to its widespread appeal among Nigerian audiences.
Queen Lateefah opened to impressive figures, amassing N58 million in its debut weekend alone. This early success set the tone for the film’s continued strong performance, showcasing the growing sophistication of Nigeria’s film industry and the increasing appetite for high-quality local productions.
The film’s gripping narrative follows Lateefah Adeleke, a 30-year-old businesswoman with aspirations of social mobility. However, her carefully crafted image of success begins to unravel when she crosses paths with Jide Rhodes, a 35-year-old businessman, who exposes the gap between her self-curated facade and her true reality. Raised in poverty by her illiterate mother and residing in a dilapidated building, Lateefah projects herself as a globe-trotting, successful professional. This tension between appearance and reality drives the film’s storyline, creating layers of conflict and intrigue.
One of the key factors contributing to the film’s success is its stellar cast. Queen Lateefah features some of Nollywood’s finest talents, including Kunle Remi, Femi Adebayo, Nancy Isime, and two-time Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Award winner, Broda Shaggi. The combination of a strong ensemble cast and an engaging plot has resonated with audiences, leading to sold-out showings across the country.
With Queen Lateefah continuing to dominate the box office, the film is on track to surpass other Nollywood blockbusters like Ajakaju: Beast of Two Worlds, which grossed N250 million, and Lakatabu, which garnered over N200 million. The Nigerian box office is expected to remain strong in the final quarter of the year, with several highly anticipated films slated for release.
Among the upcoming titles generating buzz is 3 Working Days, starring Deyemi Okanlawon and directed by Jerry Ossai, set to premiere on October 18, 2024. Also debuting on the same day is The Uprising: Wives on Strike 3, the third installment of the popular trilogy directed by Omoni Oboli, which will be available in IMAX format at select theaters.
As the year draws to a close, the continued success of Queen Lateefah and the release of other major Nollywood productions signal a strong finish for the Nigerian film industry in 2024.
