When it comes to Nollywood releases, the usual routine is predictable: big malls, flashy cinema halls, and audiences who must travel long distances to watch a film. But Femi Adebayo decided to flip the script and the result has become one of Nollywood’s most inspiring success stories.

With his latest movie, Agesinkole 2, the award-winning actor and filmmaker introduced a bold idea: community cinema screenings. Instead of limiting the film to corporate theaters, he took it straight to the people (their neighborhoods, towns, and local viewing centers) across six states in Southwest Nigeria.

This approach made movie-going easier and more inclusive. Fans no longer had to deal with long commutes or expensive cinema experiences. The ticket prices were deliberately affordable (₦4,000 in Lagos and ₦3,000 in other states) ensuring that families, young people, and grassroots audiences could participate.

And Nigerians responded in a big way.

The movie has accumulated ₦417 Million in Just 12 Days!

From Christmas Eve to early January, Agesinkole 2 pulled in an impressive ₦417 million in ticket sales all within just 12 days. That figure alone makes the film one of the standout box-office performers of the festive season.

What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that it didn’t rely on luxury cinemas or premium ticket pricing. Instead, it thrived on volume, accessibility, and community support.Agesinkole 2 follows the success of King of Thieves (Agẹṣinkólé), Femi Adebayo’s 2022 epic that blended rich Yoruba culture, history, and spectacle.

The original film became a box-office hit and helped position Yoruba-language films as major commercial contenders in Nollywood.

With the sequel, Adebayo didn’t just expand the story, he expanded the audience.

Femi Adebayo is now widely recognized as the first Nigerian filmmaker to fully commit to community-style cinema distribution and his success proves the model works.

This strategy offers powerful lessons for the industry:

• Films don’t have to be limited to urban elites

• Affordable pricing can still generate massive revenue

• Community engagement can outperform traditional marketing

• Nollywood can grow by meeting audiences where they are

By decentralizing cinema access, Agesinkole 2 has opened the door for filmmakers to explore new revenue streams and untapped audiences across Nigeria.

Beyond the numbers, this achievement represents something bigger: innovation, courage, and leadership. Femi Adebayo didn’t wait for the industry to change, he created the change himself.

This is such a great move!