Nollywood producers and actors have repeatedly accused Nigerian cinema operators of practices that starve films of revenue, from unfair showtimes and ticket diversion to high cuts that leave filmmakers in debt.
1. Toyin Abraham
During the December 2025 box office rush, Toyin Abraham broke down on Instagram Live while promoting Oversabi Aunty. She alleged that some staff told fans her film was sold out when seats remained, then redirected them to other movies.
“I am not making money. They sell another ticket to people and take them to my movie hall,” she said.
She also questioned early and late slots:
“Some cinemas will give you 10 am and 9 pm. A 10 am showtime, how do you expect it to sell?”
She claimed she had evidence but noted that some people feared speaking out.
2. Niyi Akinmolayan
Director Niyi Akinmolayan, founder of Anthill Studios, raised a similar alarm over Colours of Fire, which opened on 24 December 2025. He said certain cinemas listed the film online, collected money, then refused to screen it.
“If by end of day, you don’t fix up, I am going to name all the cinemas that have Colours Of Fire on their website, collected money from people and are refusing to show them the film,” he wrote.
He added that cinemas could choose not to screen a title, but must not sell tickets and then deny the screening.
“It’s deliberate and it’s wicked. Not on my watch!”
He has also argued that an industry is not healthy when only one or two titles dominate holiday windows while most others struggle, a structure that discourages wider investment.
3. Femi Branch
Veteran actor Femi Branch made the case more broadly in late 2024. After a meet-and-greet for Toyin Abraham’s Alakada Bad and Boujee, he accused some cinemas of promoting one film over others.
“I am talking about cinemas promoting one movie above the other. It is so bad that some cinema staff wear T-shirts for one film. They remove the media cards of some movies from their counters and put others out there,” he said.
He asked, “Do cinemas want to kill filmmakers?” and argued that exhibitors should remain neutral rather than steer audiences.
4. Ini Edo and IK Ogbonna
Ini Edo and IK Ogbonna voiced parallel frustrations around A Very Dirty Christmas. Edo shared fan complaints about altered showtimes and staff telling people the film was not showing. She called the practices “very unfair and deeply discouraging.” Ogbonna wrote that “this dirty game of favouritism has to stop. Every film deserves a fair chance. Producers put in their money, actors put in their sweat, then some cinemas decide what the audience should or shouldn’t see.” He also alleged slots were replaced and conditions made uncomfortable.
5. Mercy Aigbe
Mercy Aigbe raised related concerns with Thinline in December 2024, apologising to fans after reports that some cinemas failed to screen it despite listed showtimes and that staff discouraged viewers.
The economics compound the scheduling problems. Actor-producer Deyemi Okanlawon explained on Channels Television that even a film grossing over ₦130 million can leave the producer with roughly 40 percent after cinema cuts and taxes, an amount that may not cover costs.
“You’re going to get about 40% of that amount. And for me, I’ll tell you, that didn’t cover my costs,” he said.
He noted that independent filmmakers face politics over showtimes and marketing spend, which is why many have shifted toward YouTube.
6. James Abinibi
Filmmaker James Abinibi issued a blunt warning in May 2025:
“Don’t take your movies to the cinemas. No Nollywood producer has broken even from their cinema releases this year. None. Not a single one.”
He argued that a ₦200 million film often needs ₦700–900 million in gross to recoup, a target he called nearly impossible amid high actor fees, dollar-linked equipment costs, and limited audience spend.
7. Jide Kosoko
Veteran actor and filmmaker Jide Kosoko told the African A-List podcast that his historical film Eleko: Oba Esugbayi, which reached cinemas in March, cost over ₦300 million from investors who expected returns.
“Different things happened and we did not earn our money back. The little that was earned was split. As I am, if you hear someone with debt dancing around their neck, it is me,” he said.