Iyabo Ojo’s latest film, Return of Arinzo, has emerged as the highest-grossing movie at the Nigerian box office over the Easter weekend, earning ₦104.8 million in its opening weekend.
The film set multiple records, including the biggest Easter weekend performance and the largest opening for a Nollywood sequel. Ojo shared the milestone on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, thanking fans for their support.
“Thank you, everyone, for the love you showed us. TROA opens with ₦104.8m, breaking multiple records in just one weekend. Highest-grossing Easter weekend performance, biggest opening for a Nollywood sequel. This was only possible because of you,” she wrote.
Distributor FilmOne Entertainment credited the success to strong audience engagement across West Africa. “₦104.8M in its opening weekend, the biggest Easter opening, and the highest-grossing film of the weekend. But beyond the numbers, this is what it looks like when a story connects… when people see themselves on screen and show up for it. West Africa, you didn’t just watch, you showed up… you filled the cinemas, you made it a moment,” the company said.
“Return of Arinzo” is a sequel to the 2013 Yoruba hit Arinzo, exploring themes of crime and personal transformation. The film features a star-studded cast including entity[“people”, “Funke Akindele”, “Nigerian actress”], “, “Nigerian actress”], and William Benson.
The premiere in Lagos generated considerable buzz, including a viral moment between Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham that sparked reactions across social media platforms.
The film’s success is especially notable given the competitive Easter release window, demonstrating Nollywood’s growing box office potential and the power of sequels in connecting with audiences.
