Nigerian film distributor Cinemax has praised actress and first-time producer Wumi Toriola for the impressive box-office success of her film Queen Lateefah, which earned N100.2 million within its first week of release.

As reported by Nairametrics, the film opened with N58 million during its debut weekend, making it the highest-grossing Nigerian film released on a non-holiday weekend in 2024.

Cinemax, established by entrepreneur Ope Ajayi, aims to be a significant contributor to Nigeria’s dynamic film industry by collaborating with local filmmakers and championing African narratives.

In a conversation with Nairametrics regarding the significance of Queen Lateefah's achievement, Ajayi remarked, “By collaborating with a diverse array of creators, including the talented Wumi Toriola, Cinemax highlights the richness of Nigerian storytelling.”

Ajayi underscored the necessity of fostering local talent and promoting narratives that resonate with Nigerian viewers. He pointed out that Cinemax’s success is anchored in its goal to connect filmmakers with audiences, ensuring that quality content is accessible in cinemas across the country. “Looking ahead, Cinemax aspires to elevate Nigerian films on the international stage,” Ajayi stated to Nairametrics, also hinting at the company’s ambitions to explore global distribution partnerships.

The triumph of Queen Lateefah illustrates the rising prominence of Nollywood, which is increasingly competitive in the global entertainment arena.

The film, noted as one of the quickest Nigerian productions to exceed the N100 million threshold in 2024, is anticipated to maintain its strong performance in theaters for a minimum of 12 weeks.

With such a robust beginning, Queen Lateefah is poised to set additional box office records as it continues its theatrical engagement, having sold over 23,000 tickets to date.

The Nigerian box office has confirmed that "Queen Lateefah" is now the 37th Nollywood film to surpass the N100M milestone within just seven days.

Cinemax's commitment to nurturing both emerging and established filmmakers has resulted in a number of successful box-office performances in recent years. In 2023, the company collaborated with actress and producer Mercy Aigbe-Adeoti to co-produce and distribute "Ada Omo Daddy," which achieved the status of the third-highest-grossing Nigerian film.

Additionally, Cinemax has been responsible for distributing other significant Nollywood titles, such as Biodun Stephen’s "Sista," "Hotel Labamba," and Yemi ‘Filmboy’ Morafa’s "Silence."

Looking forward, Cinemax is preparing for an exciting lineup of releases and partnerships. One of the most anticipated films is "Thinline," a blockbuster set for December 2024, produced by Mercy Aigbe. Ajayi has also indicated that several other projects are in the works for 2025, with further announcements expected soon.