Iyabo Ojo Return of Arinzo Tops Nigerian Box Office at ₦224 Million

₦224 Million and Counting

Iyabo Ojo’s latest film “The Return of Arinzo” has grossed ₦224 million at the Nigerian box office, making it the highest-grossing Nollywood release of the Easter period and one of the top-performing Nigerian films of 2026 so far.

The film earned ₦104.8 million on its opening weekend alone, setting a new Easter box office record in Nigeria. That figure is remarkable for a Nollywood release, where competition from Hollywood and streaming platforms typically squeezes local films out of prime screen time during holiday periods.

The Power of the Nollywood Release Model

Ojo produced and stars in the film, which is a sequel to her earlier hit “Arinzo.” The original built a loyal audience, and the follow-up has clearly benefited from that foundation. The marketing was aggressive, the cinema rollout was wide, and the timing, landing on an Easter weekend when families were looking for entertainment, could not have been better.

This is the model that works for Nollywood right now: build a franchise, lean into established fanbases, and secure cinema windows during holiday periods when audiences are available and willing to spend. The streaming-only release model that some producers have adopted leaves money on the table, both in terms of revenue and cultural impact.

What This Means for Nollywood

A ₦224 million gross is not just a win for Iyabo Ojo. It is evidence that Nigerian audiences will pay for local content when the product is strong and the release strategy is smart. For an industry that has historically struggled with distribution, this kind of number shifts the conversation from “can Nollywood make money in cinemas?” to “how do we scale this?”

The Return of Arinzo continues to hold the top spot at the Nigerian box office. Whether it can maintain that position against upcoming international releases will be the next test.

Sources: Voice of Nigeria, Corruption Radar, Nollywood Reporter