Agbara Nla: The Return Makes ₦71 Million as Nollywood Film Sets Major Box Office Record
Nollywood film – Agbara Nla: The Return, has generated more than ₦71 million from single-day preview screenings, creating significant attention ahead of its nationwide cinema release.
The faith-based movie recorded more than 12,100 admissions during its preview, according to its theatrical distributor Nile Entertainment.
The performance places the film among the major Nigerian cinema stories of October 2026 and demonstrates the continued commercial potential of locally produced Nigerian films.
Modern remake of a Nollywood classic
Agbara Nla: The Return is a modern reimagining of the 1993 film Agbara Nla, a production associated with Mount Zion Film Productions and written by Mike Bamiloye.
The new version has been directed by Damilola and Joshua Bamiloye, with production involving Mount Zion Film Productions, Sozo Films and Circuits.
By revisiting a recognised title from Nigeria’s earlier home-video era, the filmmakers are combining nostalgia with a contemporary cinematic approach.
The strategy also gives audiences familiar with the original production an opportunity to experience the story in a new format.
Strong opening numbers
According to reports, the film’s preview performance exceeded ₦71 million from more than 12,100 admissions.
It has been reported as achieving several box-office milestones, including the biggest opening for a faith-based film and the biggest first-day gross for a Nollywood title, as well as the highest single-day gross for an October release.
The distributor has also described the preview result as the biggest single-day preview performance in West Africa.
These figures underline the scale of interest surrounding the film before its wider cinema rollout.
Faith-based cinema finds a growing audience
The performance of Agbara Nla: The Return also highlights the continued importance of faith-based storytelling within Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Faith-based films have developed a dedicated audience in Nigeria and among African communities abroad, particularly where religious themes are combined with drama, family stories and contemporary filmmaking.
The film’s early box-office performance could encourage producers to invest further in similar productions.
What comes next?
With its cinema release now underway, attention will shift from preview numbers to the film’s overall theatrical performance.
The success of Agbara Nla: The Return could also influence future decisions around remaking older Nigerian films for contemporary audiences.
For Nollywood, the film provides another example of how established African stories can be repackaged for modern cinema while retaining their original cultural and religious appeal.
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