Nigerian actress and producer Toyin Abraham is making waves yet again — this time with her ambitious cinematic offering Iyalode, which has quickly become one of the most commercially successful Nigerian epics of 2025.

Since debuting in cinemas on June 6, Iyalode has raked in a staggering ₦292.8 million within five weeks, positioning itself as a frontrunner in this year’s box office rankings and setting a high bar for locally-produced historical dramas.

Epic Storytelling Meets Commercial Success

Directed by veteran filmmaker Adebayo Tijani and co-produced by Toyin Abraham and Kolawole Ajeyemi, Iyalode dives deep into themes of resilience, power, and womanhood, set in a fictional ancient village called Kulende.

At the center of the film is Asabi Onile, a powerful female warrior whose tale of betrayal, vengeance, and eventual redemption offers a direct challenge to male-dominated tradition. Abraham stars in the lead role, supported by a star-studded ensemble including Bukky Wright, Kehinde Bankole, Ibrahim Chatta, Peju Ogunmola, and Aisha Lawal.

Critics and audiences alike have praised Iyalode for its immersive narrative, high production quality, and compelling performances — a combination that has clearly resonated at the box office.

Box Office Breakdown: A Nollywood Record in the Making

Iyalode opened with an explosive weekend gross of ₦103.7 million — a rare feat for a Nollywood film, especially one rooted in cultural and historical storytelling. The second weekend brought in another ₦61.6 million, pushing its total earnings beyond ₦200 million in just two weeks.

Now sitting at ₦292.8 million, the film is poised to cross the ₦300 million threshold — a level achieved by only a few local films. With this trajectory, Iyalode may soon surpass the lifetime earnings of recent hits such as Lakatabu, The Beast of Two Worlds, and Iyabo Ojo’s blockbuster epic — all of which ended their runs between ₦200 million and ₦250 million.

At the film’s premiere, Abraham disclosed that Iyalode had a production budget exceeding ₦1 billion — an unprecedented figure for a Nigerian film. She commended FilmOne Entertainment, the film’s distributor, for ensuring wide national access and robust marketing.

Competing Titles Struggle to Keep Up

While Iyalode continues its dominance, other titles in Nigerian cinemas have posted more modest results. The political drama Her Excellency, starring Shaffy Bello and Segun Arinze, debuted with ₦34.2 million.

Hollywood re-release Superman earned ₦21.7 million in its return, while Ballerina, now in its fifth week, added ₦20.3 million to its total, bringing its cumulative box office to ₦237.6 million.

Despite these figures, none have been able to match the cultural momentum and financial success of Iyalode.

A Game-Changer for Nollywood’s Epic Genre

More than just a box office phenomenon, Iyalode signals a growing appetite for large-scale Nigerian stories that combine heritage, drama, and modern cinematic flair. Its strong domestic performance has reignited discussions around the viability of investing in epic productions that explore indigenous narratives.

With near-record earnings and critical acclaim, Toyin Abraham has not only reinforced her star power but also demonstrated the commercial potential of high-budget, culturally grounded Nollywood films. Her gamble on Iyalode — both creatively and financially — appears to be paying off.

As the film edges toward the ₦300 million milestone, Iyalode stands as a triumph of vision, craft, and courage — and perhaps a glimpse into the future direction of African storytelling on screen.