April 06, (THEWILL) — Nollywood actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo has announced that her latest film, Return of Arinzo, emerged as the highest-grossing movie of the Easter weekend at the Nigerian box office.
The movie earned ₦104.8 million during its opening weekend from April 3 to April 5, 2026, surpassing all previous records for a film released during the Easter holiday.
Ojo shared the milestone on X:
“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.”
The film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, also confirmed the achievement:
“₦104.8M in its opening weekend, biggest Easter opening, and the highest-grossing film of the weekend.”
The distributor highlighted that the success reflects a strong connection with audiences across West Africa:
It added, “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.”
“The Return of Arinzo” is a sequel to the 2013 Yoruba hit “Arinzo”. The film follows a character previously thought dead and explores themes of revenge, identity, family betrayals, and dangerous political scandals. It features a star-studded cast including Funke Akindele, Mercy Aigbe, and other Nollywood and Ghallywood actors.
The sequel also ranks as the second-highest opening weekend of 2026 and was the #1 film at Nigerian cinemas during Easter.
The strong Easter performance, coupled with ongoing audience buzz, underscores the film’s commercial impact and highlights renewed interest in locally driven Nollywood sequels.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
