TOP 5 NOLLYWOOD MOVIES THAT ROCKED THE BOX OFFICE IN SEPTEMBER.
September 2026 was an unforgettable month for Nollywood at the cinemas, proving once again that Nigerian stories are a true heartbeat of the box office. From record-breaking romantic comedies that refused to leave the charts, to faith-based blockbusters that turned preview screenings into historic events, and indigenous epics that kept cultural storytelling alive, audiences trooped out in their numbers. According to figures from the Nigerian Box Office, local titles outperformed some Hollywood releases in the final week, setting new milestones for admissions and gross earnings.
Here are the top 5 Nollywood movies that made it big in September:
(1) Call Of My Life
The biggest film of 2026 continued its historic run in September. On September 8th, distributor FilmOne announced it had crossed the ₦893 million mark, reinforcing its position as the highest-grossing Nollywood film of the year and pushing it into the top 5 highest-grossing Nigerian films of all time.
Directed by Dammy Twitch and written by Uzoamaka Power who also stars as Soluchi, the romantic comedy follows a hopeless romantic recovering from heartbreak after being abandoned by her lover Kalu (Zubby Michael). Her life changes when a work call connects her to Eli, a charming Ghanaian news anchor played by Andrew Yaw Bunting. What made its September performance remarkable is that it was released on May 15th outside the traditional December blockbuster season, yet still sustained strong ticket sales for months.
(2) Agbara Nla: The Return
The faith-based event film closed September with a record-shattering preview. Between September 25 and October 1, it generated ₦70 million from 12,134 admissions in preview screenings alone, becoming the biggest single-day preview gross ever recorded in West Africa and the biggest first-day admissions figure for any Nollywood title in 2026.
It is a modern cinematic reimagining of Mike Bamiloye’s 1993 classic Agbara Nla, directed by his sons Damilola and Joshua Mike-Bamiloye. The story returns to Muwonleru, a community dominated by powerful herbalist Isawuru (Mike Bamiloye), where two city believers Olaboye and Olatomi arrive to spread the gospel. Its success signaled a growing commercial momentum for faith-based films, with Lagos, Oyo and Ogun accounting for over 70% of its early revenue.
(3) Star Lomo / Starlomo
Star Lomo was one of the strongest Nollywood contenders during the final week of September, grossing *₦45.8 million from about 7,900 admissions* in that period to finish just behind Agbara Nla on the weekly chart.
The film has maintained a steady box office presence into October, building on word-of-mouth and strong regional performance. While competing against major releases, it held its own in the top 3, proving the audience appetite for indigenous contemporary dramas outside the faith and comedy genres.
(4) King Kosoko
King Kosoko made the September weekly top 10, earning ₦8.9 million during the September 25 – Oct 1 tracking period. As a historical epic, it tapped into the current audience interest in Yoruba history and royalty-themed storytelling.
The film portrays the life and reign of the legendary Lagos monarch, blending palace intrigue, colonial politics, and cultural pride. Despite a crowded slate with faith films and Hollywood blockbusters, it carved out a niche audience, particularly in the South-West, and showed that period epics can still draw cinema-goers.
(5) Ikenga
Ikenga closed out the top 5 Nollywood titles for the period with ₦7.7 million in the same late September window. It represents the Igbo epic genre that has been gaining traction at the box office this year.
Set in pre-colonial Eastern Nigeria, the film explores themes of strength, destiny, and spiritual powers tied to the Ikenga deity. Its modest but consistent earnings alongside King Kosoko showed in September that both Yoruba and Igbo historical films were able to coexist and find paying audiences even when bigger titles dominated the headlines.
The September box office chart tells a clear story – Nollywood isn’t just competing anymore, it is leading. From the romance of Call Of My Life to the spiritual punch of Agbara Nla: The Return and the cultural depth of King Kosoko and Ikenga, Nigerian filmmakers proved that authentic local stories have massive commercial power. As we move into the final quarter of 2026, all eyes are now on whether these September champions can hold their ground against the December blockbusters. One thing is certain: the Nigerian audience want more homegrown stories.
