Oversabi Aunty hits N1bn, first Nollywood directorial debut to reach milestone

Nollywood actress, filmmaker, and producer Toyin Abraham has achieved a major milestone at the Nigerian box office, as her latest film, Oversabi Aunty, crossed the N1 billion mark in ticket sales, solidifying her reputation as one of the industry’s most commercially successful talents.

The achievement was confirmed by West African distributor Film One Entertainment, which announced the landmark success on X.

According to the distributor, Oversabi Aunty has become the first Nollywood directorial debut to gross over N1 billion, while also ranking as the fourth highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time (unadjusted for inflation).

Film One Entertainment described the milestone as a moment for celebration, noting that the film continues to draw audiences in cinemas across Nigeria and Ghana, with select screenings ongoing in the UK and planned releases in the United States and Canada.

The film’s early success was driven by strong cinema attendance and effective pre-release marketing. It opened with N87.8 million during its opening weekend, and earned an additional N12.7 million from preview screenings, bringing total opening earnings to N100.5 million.

This performance made it the second-highest grossing opening weekend in Nigeria at the time and marked the second-biggest Nollywood opening of 2025.

Industry analysts say the film’s strong run underscores the growing commercial viability of locally produced Nollywood titles, especially comedies led by established box office stars.

Oversabi Aunty features a notable supporting cast, including Mike Ezuruonye, Efe Irele, Queen Nwokoye, Jemima Osunde, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Tana Adelana, and Toyin Afolayan. The film premiered in Lagos on November 14, drawing prominent industry stakeholders and members of the cast.

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The comedy follows Toun, portrayed by Toyin Abraham, a well-meaning but overbearing church usher who believes she must intervene in the personal lives of those around her.

Her constant interference eventually turns her household into chaos, driving the film’s humour and central conflicts.

The milestone also marks Toyin Abraham’s first N1 billion box office run. It builds on her previous success with the 2024 comedy film Alakada: Bad & Boujee, which grossed N500.3 million, making it one of the highest-grossing Nollywood films at the time.

Released on December 20, 2024, Alakada maintained audience interest over a 13-week theatrical run.

Oversabi Aunty remains in cinemas nationwide and is still showing in select theaters in the United Kingdom. With planned releases in the United States and Canada, industry watchers believe the film may generate additional revenue from diaspora audiences, potentially boosting its total box office earnings further.