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Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has continued to strengthen her position as one of Nigeria’s most successful cinema producers, with her films recording billions of naira in box office earnings. Behind these commercial achievements are several directors who have collaborated with her to bring different stories to the big screen.
From Omo Ghetto: The Saga in 2020 to her upcoming December 2026 release, The Four, Akindele has worked with five filmmakers across some of her biggest cinema projects.
The five released films associated with these collaborations have generated more than ₦7.35 billion in combined box office revenue, according to the figures provided. The numbers highlight the commercial success of the productions and the creative partnerships that have helped shape Akindele’s filmmaking journey.
JJC Skillz – Omo Ghetto: The Saga
One of Akindele’s notable directorial collaborations was with her former husband, JJC Skillz, on Omo Ghetto: The Saga.
Released in 2020, the comedy film became a major cinema success, grossing approximately ₦636.1 million. It continued the story of Lefty, a character played by Akindele, as she navigated life, family relationships and unexpected situations.
The film combined comedy, drama and action, attracting audiences with its entertaining storyline and familiar characters. Its commercial performance established it as one of the major Nollywood cinema releases of its period.
Tobi Makinde – Battle on Buka Street
Akindele later collaborated with Tobi Makinde on Battle on Buka Street, which was released in 2022.
The movie generated ₦668.4 million at the box office, further demonstrating the filmmaker’s ability to attract audiences to cinemas.
Makinde, who is also an actor and filmmaker, worked alongside Akindele on the production, which centred on two families whose rivalry played out through competing food businesses.
The film’s comedy-driven storyline and family themes contributed to its commercial appeal, making it another successful project in Akindele’s filmography.
Adeoluwa Owu – A Tribe Called Judah
Adeoluwa Owu directed A Tribe Called Judah, another major production featuring Akindele.
Released in December 2023, the film became the first Nollywood production to cross the ₦1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office. It eventually grossed approximately ₦1.404 billion.
The movie tells the story of a single mother raising five sons from different fathers, with each child possessing a distinct personality and background. The family faces a difficult situation that brings them together in an unexpected way.
Its commercial success marked a significant moment for Nollywood, demonstrating the growing capacity of local productions to attract large cinema audiences.
Tunde Olaoye – Two Major Box Office Hits
Among Akindele’s directorial partnerships, her collaboration with Tunde Olaoye stands out because of the commercial performance of the two films they worked on together.
Olaoye directed Everybody Loves Jenifa, released in December 2024, which earned approximately ₦1.883 billion. The comedy followed the familiar Jenifa character as she encountered new challenges and situations.
The filmmaker also directed Behind The Scenes, released in 2025. The production went on to gross approximately ₦2.760 billion, becoming the highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time based on the figures provided.
The two films have generated a combined ₦4.643 billion, making their collaboration one of the most commercially successful partnerships in Akindele’s recent filmmaking career.
Their achievements have also raised expectations for future projects involving the actress and producer.
Tope Adebayo Salami – The Four
Akindele is preparing for another cinema outing with The Four, scheduled for release on December 11, 2026.
For the upcoming production, she has teamed up with director Tope Adebayo Salami. The collaboration marks another addition to the list of filmmakers who have worked with her on major projects.
The film is expected to attract considerable attention following the success of Behind The Scenes and the growing anticipation surrounding Akindele’s December releases.
With a reported box office target of ₦5 billion, expectations are high as the production prepares to enter cinemas.
A Record Of Successful Collaborations
Akindele’s work with JJC Skillz, Tobi Makinde, Adeoluwa Owu, Tunde Olaoye and Tope Adebayo Salami reflects the importance of creative partnerships in filmmaking.
Although the directors have brought different approaches to their respective projects, the commercial results of the released films demonstrate Akindele’s continued influence in Nigerian cinema.
As The Four approaches its December release, audiences will be watching to see whether her latest collaboration can deliver another major box office milestone.
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