Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bolaji Ogunmola has questioned Nigerians’ support for local movies, pointing to the massive turnout recorded by two foreign films as evidence that audiences have the money to patronise cinema.
Ogunmola raised the concern in a series of posts on X while defending her decision to continue making films for the big screen despite the financial challenges facing Nigerian filmmakers.
Reacting to the reported ₦800 million opening weekend for Spider-Man, the actress expressed surprise at the figure and urged Nigerians to extend similar support to Nollywood productions.
“You people have the money!!! Support Nollywood movies this December,” she wrote, while encouraging movie lovers to watch local films in cinemas.
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Ogunmola also referenced Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, revealing that she recently watched the film and found a cinema hall filled to capacity on a weekday.
According to her, the experience reminded her that Nigerian filmmakers can also achieve significant cinema success if audiences turn up for their projects.
She argued that the industry’s challenges go beyond filmmakers’ ability to market their movies, noting that many productions lack the financial capacity required for extensive promotion.
Ogunmola further disclosed that a ₦60 million public relations budget had been proposed for her film Ajosepo, highlighting the huge financial demands involved in promoting a cinema release.
Despite the challenges, she said she remains determined to make ambitious films and believes Nigerian audiences will eventually show up for them.
