F1 movie leads weekday box office haul

Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ movie led box office haul in Nigerian cinemas for the period from July 27 to August 2, 2025. The movie which was released globally on June 27 earned N56.5 million amidst a vibrant mix of Hollywood blockbusters and Nollywood productions.

This report, based on data shared by the Nigerian Box Office on X, provides a comprehensive overview of the top 10 performing films, and their earnings, reflecting the dynamic cinema landscape in Nigeria as of July 8, 2025.

Box Office Performance

The top spot was claimed by F1 Movie, an action-packed sports drama starring Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, a retired Formula One driver returning to the track to save a struggling team. Its opening week earnings of N56.5 million underscore its appeal, likely boosted by Pitt’s global star power, rising influence of British Nigerian actor Damson Idris and the film’s connection to the popular Formula One racing series. The movie, directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Apple Original Films, premiered internationally in June 2025.

Industry observers note that F1 would have a bigger impact as it is crushing all industry expectations as it nears the $300M mark at Global box office after hitting a 144M Global opening, one of the biggest for a Hollywood original Post-Covid according to Luis Fernando, Hollywood box office analyst. The movie has become the highest ever grossing film produced by Apple beating ‘Napoleon’ and biggest racing original surpassing ‘Ford Vs Ferrari’.

Fans also don’t have to worry about the 200M production price tag used for the production of the movie as Apple has already paid for it.

In second place, ‘Ballerina’ earned N33 million in its third week, contributing to a cumulative total of N217.2 million. This John Wick spinoff, starring Ana de Armas as a ballerina assassin, has maintained strong performance, resonating with Nigerian action enthusiasts. Its setting during John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and high-octane fight scenes have been key draws.

Nollywood’s ‘Iyalode’ secured third place with N31.2 million in its fourth week, adding to a total of N275.2 million. Directed by Adebayo Tijani and starring Toyin Abraham and Bukky Wright, the film tells the story of Asabi Onile, a warrior seeking justice in her village, Kulende. Its cultural resonance and strong female lead have fueled its sustained success.

New releases also made an impact, with ‘MEGAN 2.0’ debuting at fourth with N18.8 million. The sequel to the 2023 horror hit ‘M3GAN’, it introduces a new AI antagonist, Amelia, blending horror and sci-fi. Mission Impossible 8: The Final Reckoning, in its sixth week, earned N13.9 million, contributing to a total of N358.3 million, reflecting Tom Cruise’s enduring popularity and final run as Ethan Hunt.

The full top 10 list, as provided, is detailed are F1 The Movie (N56.5M), Ballerina (N33), ‘lyalode’ (N31.2M), MEGAN 2.0 (N18.8M), Mission Impossible 8 (N13.9M), 28 Years Later (N12.5M), Red Circle (N12.1M), My Mother is A Witch (N9.5M), Mending (N7.6M), and Ori: The Rebirth (N6.7M).

Notable long-runners include ‘Ori: The Rebirth’, which in its ninth week added N6.7 million Naira to reach a total of N412.7 million Naira, and ‘My Mother is A Witch’, earning N9.5 million Naira in its eighth week, though cumulative figures were not provided for the latter.

The performance reflects a robust cinema culture in Nigeria, with both international and local films finding favor. F1 movie’s success highlights the growing interest in sports dramas, while ‘Iyalode’ and Ori: The Rebirth underscore Nollywood’s strength in cultural storytelling.