Nollywood has evolved into a billion-naira industry, with many actresses stepping behind the camera to produce films that have achieved remarkable commercial success. While numerous actresses have ventured into filmmaking, only a select few have produced films with publicly reported box office earnings running into hundreds of millions and, in some cases, billions of naira.
Here are five Nigerian actresses whose film productions have made a significant mark at the Nigerian box office.
1. Funke Akindele
Funke Akindele is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most successful filmmaker at the box office. The actress and producer has consistently broken cinema records with blockbuster productions that continue to redefine commercial success in Nollywood.
Her 2020 film Omo Ghetto: The Saga grossed more than N636 million, becoming the highest-grossing Nigerian film at the time. She later surpassed that feat with Battle on Buka Street, which earned over N668 million. In 2023, A Tribe Called Judah became the first Nollywood film to cross the ?1 billion mark before finishing its cinema run with more than N1.4 billion. She went on to break her own record with Everybody Loves Jenifa, while Behind the Scenes became the first Nigerian film to surpass N2 billion at the Nigerian box office.
2. Iyabo Ojo
Seasoned actress, filmmaker and entrepreneur Iyabo Ojo has steadily built a reputation as one of Nollywood’s successful actor-producers. Although she has been producing films for over two decades, she reached a new commercial milestone with her 2025 epic, Labake Olododo.
Produced by Iyabo Ojo and directed by Biodun Stephen, Labake Olododo enjoyed a successful theatrical run, grossing over N200 million at the Nigerian box office after a strong opening weekend. The film ranked among Nollywood’s highest-grossing releases of 2025, further cementing her reputation as a producer capable of delivering commercially successful cinema productions.
3. Toyin Abraham
Toyin Abraham has established herself as one of Nollywood’s leading filmmakers through a string of commercially successful productions.
She found success with the Alakada franchise and The Ghost and the Tout series, both of which recorded impressive performances in cinemas. Over the years, her productions have consistently ranked among Nollywood’s top box office performers, generating hundreds of millions of naira in ticket sales and reinforcing her reputation as one of Nigeria’s most commercially successful producers.
4. Omoni Oboli
Omoni Oboli has successfully combined acting, writing and filmmaking to build an impressive production career spanning several years.
Her Wives on Strike franchise became a fan favourite and enjoyed successful cinema runs, while The Uprising: Wives on Strike further strengthened her reputation as a commercially successful producer. Through these and other theatrical releases, Omoni Oboli has established herself as one of Nollywood’s respected filmmakers with a proven record of producing successful cinema titles.
5. Mercy Aigbe
Mercy Aigbe made a successful transition into cinema production with films that resonated with audiences across Nigeria.
Her debut cinema production, Ada Omo Daddy, grossed more than N200 million, making it one of her highest-grossing Nollywood films of 2023. She followed it with Thin Line, further strengthening her presence as a producer and proving she is among the new generation of actor-producers making a notable impact at the Nigerian box office.
As Nollywood continues to expand, these actresses have demonstrated that success in the industry extends beyond acting. Through strategic storytelling and commercially successful productions, they have helped shape the growth of Nigeria’s film industry while delivering some of its biggest box office hits.