Three Movies, One Season, Different Fates: Nollywood’s Christmas Cinema Controversy

In the business of filmmaking, especially during Christmas, hope is never free; it comes attached to expectations of returns. After all, the festive season is Nollywood’s harvest period.

This year, three major titles marched confidently into cinemas: Over Sabi Aunty by Toyin Abraham, Behind the Scenes by Funke Akindele, and A Very Dirty Christmas by Ini Edo. Different stories, same season, same box office dreams.

Interestingly, on December 26, the celebration took a different turn. Both Ini Edo and Toyin Abraham took to Instagram and TikTok Live, respectively, voicing frustration over what they described as the politicisation of cinema showtimes. According to them, while one film allegedly enjoyed multiple prime-time slots, others were left scrambling for visibility, sometimes with just one screening a day.

Even IK Ogbonna, who stars in Ini Edo’s film, weighed in, not with jokes, but with a pointed critique of what he called “politics” in cinema showtime allocations. He claimed that some halls had allegedly tinkered with air conditioning and scheduling, making certain screenings unappealing to audiences, and urged theatre operators to cease what he described as manipulative tactics that hurt both filmmakers and the industry at large.

Toyin Abraham, clearly unimpressed, questioned the logic of scheduling a Christmas movie for 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. during the holidays. After all, who rushes to the cinema at dawn, and who survives family visits long enough for a late-night showing?

Meanwhile, Funke Akindele, whose Behind the Scenes had already crossed impressive revenue thresholds, becoming one of the season’s strongest performers with over ₦200 million in opening weekend gross, has taken a more subtle approach online, urging fans to support cinema attendance properly and avoid piracy that could dent the film’s earnings.

As the conversation grew louder, Nollywood lovers began to ask the obvious question: Why is the third filmmaker quiet? Is silence strength, strategy, or simply another story waiting for its own showtime?

In Nollywood’s Christmas cinema race, it seems not every film gets an equal seat; some are stuck watching from the lobby.