Niyi Akinmolayan’s My Mother is a Witch Surpasses ₦100 Million at Nigerian Box Office

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Niyi Akinmolayan’s latest film, My Mother is a Witch, has officially crossed the ₦100 million mark at the Nigerian box office, establishing itself as one of the highest-grossing Nollywood films of 2025. 

The achievement marks another major win for the acclaimed director and Anthill Studios, reinforcing their reputation for bold, emotionally resonant storytelling that pushes genre boundaries.

Since its theatrical debut, My Mother is a Witch has steadily gained momentum, drawing audiences with its layered exploration of mother-daughter relationships, memory, and cultural tension. 

The film stars Mercy Aigbe as a stern, misunderstood mother, and Efe Irele as her estranged daughter, a London-based fashion editor who returns to Nigeria and must confront a painful past in Benin City. 

What begins as a reluctant homecoming turns into an emotional reckoning, as buried wounds resurface and family secrets unfold.

Speaking at the Lagos premiere which attracted a notable crowd of celebrities, filmmakers, and critics Akinmolayan described the project as “a risky but necessary story.” 

He told the press: “We’re always looking for ways to tell stories that feel true to us Nigerian stories that are still entertaining, that celebrate who we are while also poking at our contradictions.”

This thematic approach has clearly struck a chord with audiences. 

Many viewers have praised the film’s bold dialogue, authentic performances, and haunting visuals, particularly its depiction of generational trauma and spiritual fear. 

The film’s title itself plays into a long-standing cultural anxiety around motherhood, power, and judgment elements that are rarely tackled with such emotional nuance in Nigerian cinema.

The screenplay reportedly drew inspiration from intimate conversations among friends and collaborators, many of whom shared personal experiences with strained maternal bonds and cultural stigma. 

That authenticity comes through in the film’s emotional core, as it walks the fine line between drama and psychological horror earning it both critical acclaim and commercial appeal.

My Mother is a Witch also marks a reunion between Akinmolayan and lead actress Efe Irele, following their previous collaboration on Hey You. 

In this latest outing, Irele delivers a powerful performance as a woman caught between modern independence and the inescapable weight of family expectations.

Beyond the narrative, the film’s success at the box office represents a broader shift in Nollywood’s creative direction. 

With over ₦100 million in earnings, the film proves that local audiences are ready to embrace more daring, genre-blending stories that challenge societal norms while still entertaining.

 It also affirms Anthill Studios’ place at the forefront of innovative Nigerian filmmaking.

As My Mother is a Witch continues its theatrical run, its commercial triumph and cultural relevance suggest a new era for Nollywood one in which personal stories, social critique, and genre experimentation can thrive side by side. 

For Akinmolayan and his team, it’s not just about breaking records; it’s about reshaping the narrative landscape of Nigerian cinema.

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