Nollywood's 'Agbara Nla: The Return' Smashes Preview Records, Nets N71m

The faith-based Nollywood film, 'Agbara Nla: The Return', has achieved a remarkable N71 million from its single-day preview showings, preceding its general theatrical debut. According to data from Nigerian Box Office (@NGAboxoffice), a prominent platform for box-office analysis and consultancy in Nigeria, the movie garnered N70 million from 12,134 viewers during its preview run from September 25 to October 1.

This performance has been hailed as the largest single-day preview gross ever documented across West Africa, propelling 'Agbara Nla' to the top spot during that timeframe. Furthermore, the report highlighted that the film's 12,134 admissions marked the highest first-day admissions figure for 2026, and its N70 million gross stood as the biggest first-day earning for any Nollywood production. It also secured the highest single-day gross for the month of October.

Nile Entertainment, the film's distributor, had previously declared 'Agbara Nla: The Return' achieved the largest first-day gross for a Nollywood movie and the most significant opening for a faith-oriented production. The distributor issued a statement celebrating the film's achievements: “From the biggest first-day gross for a Nollywood title to the biggest faith-based opener of all time, the biggest single-day previews in West Africa (₦71M+), and the #1 movie of the week. The Legend didn’t just return. It roared back. And now, ₦71M+ and counting. This is the power of a story that never truly left us. This is cinema coming together for a moment that will be remembered.” According to the distributor, the movie's single-day preview revenue has now exceeded N71 million.

Currently, the movie is being screened across cinemas nationwide, marking 33 years since the debut of its predecessor. 'Agbara Nla: The Return' serves as a contemporary adaptation of the iconic 'Agbara Nla', which premiered in 1993. The initial movie, conceived by Christian filmmaker Mike Bamiloye, was subsequently launched in English as 'The Ultimate Power' in 1994.

This new iteration revisits the narrative set in Muwonleru, a village under the dominion of the formidable herbalist, Isawuru. The plot unfolds as two devout individuals, Olaboye and Olatomi, journey from their urban existence to evangelize the community, sparking a confrontation between their Christian beliefs and Isawuru’s mystic authority. Mike Bamiloye once again embodies the character of Isawuru, with Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua Bamiloye at the helm as directors for this latest production. The ensemble cast features Aanu Kolade Abiodun, Remilekun Mosiko, Philip Olubakin, Gloria Mike-Bamiloye, and David Kola Okeowo.