Nollywood faith-based film Agbara Nla has grossed ₦354.5 million at the Nigerian box office since its release on October 1, according to distributor Nile Entertainment, cementing its position as one of the notable cinema successes of the year.
The film, a remake of the 33-year-old Christian classic produced by Mount Zion Film Productions, also recorded an opening-weekend gross of $120,660 in selected cinemas in the United Kingdom and Canada, signalling its growing appeal beyond Nigeria.
Co-produced by Mount Zion Film Productions, Sozo Films and Circuits, Agbara Nla was distributed internationally in Europe in partnership with IFEC.
Nile Entertainment disclosed the figures in a statement on Tuesday, announcing that three films distributed by the company occupied the top three positions at the Nigerian weekend box office.
Agbara Nla led the ranking with ₦47.50 million, followed by Street Fighter, which earned ₦36.43 million, and The Other Mummy, which grossed ₦8.67 million.
Together, the three titles generated ₦92.61 million, accounting for 58.9 per cent of total weekend box office earnings. The distributor said its entire film slate contributed 68 per cent of the market’s weekend revenue.
Nostalgia Drives ‘Agbara Nla’ Campaign
Nile Entertainment attributed Agbara Nla’s strong performance to a marketing campaign that combined the enduring appeal of the original production with efforts to introduce the story to younger audiences.
“Released on October 1, Agbara Nla, a remake of the 33-year-old Christian film classic from Mount Zion, has grossed ₦354.5 million cumulatively at the Nigerian box office,” the company said.
“The film’s return to cinemas was supported by a nostalgia-led campaign targeting both audiences familiar with the original and a new generation of viewers,” the statement added.
According to the distributor, the campaign involved “engagement with the Mount Zion community, endorsements from church leaders, and online activations”.
The company said the promotional activities generated more than ₦71 million in advance ticket sales within a single day, highlighting the contribution of organised community engagement and established religious networks to the film’s commercial performance.
The distributor also reported several milestones for Agbara Nla in the United Kingdom, describing it as the biggest Nollywood release of 2026, the biggest opening weekend for a Nollywood film, the biggest pre-sales for a Nollywood film and the biggest-ever faith-based Nollywood film.
The reported achievements underscore the potential of faith-based productions to attract audiences in international markets, particularly when supported by established communities and targeted promotional campaigns.
Nile Entertainment Claims Top Three Weekend Positions
While Agbara Nla benefited from its long-standing recognition among Christian film audiences, Street Fighter and The Other Mummy were promoted through campaigns designed to appeal to their respective audiences.
Both films entered Nigerian cinemas on October 16, according to the distributor.
Nile Entertainment said the three releases demonstrated the importance of tailoring marketing strategies to a film’s genre, audience profile and existing cultural connections rather than relying on a uniform promotional approach.
“While Agbara Nla drew on decades of cultural recognition and an established faith-based audience, Street Fighter and The Other Mummy required targeted engagement with communities connected to their respective genres,” the statement said.
The company’s General Manager, Nowe Segun-Ojo, said the results reflected the distribution strategy adopted since the business began operations in August 2024.
“Since commencing operations in August 2024, we have focused on building a distribution business that understands the films it represents and the audiences they serve,” Segun-Ojo said.
“The performance of Agbara Nla, Street Fighter and The Other Mummy reflects the different audience engagement strategies behind each release.”
He described the three films’ dominance of the weekend rankings as an encouraging achievement for the relatively young distributor.
“Having three of our titles occupy the top three positions is an encouraging milestone for a relatively young company, and we remain focused on building on this progress with our production and studio partners,” he added.
The latest figures highlight the commercial opportunities available to Nigerian film distributors that combine audience-focused marketing with strategic partnerships and international cinema releases. For Agbara Nla, the combination of an established Christian film legacy and renewed promotional efforts has helped bring a familiar story to both returning viewers and a new generation of cinema audiences.