Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Nollywood has set a new Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening in a single location after more than 51,000 people gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos on Saturday, September 26, 2026, to watch the crime thriller ‘Black Market’, a feat that Guinness World Records officially confirmed after the screening.
The record was announced by FilmOne Entertainment, the film’s distributor, in a statement shared on its social media platforms. “51,000+ people. One screen. One moment that just made history,” FilmOne said. “We’ve officially set a WORLD RECORD for the Largest Audience Gathering Ever for a Movie Screening. Nigeria, we didn’t just watch a movie. WE MADE HISTORY”.
The figure of 51,000 represents the qualifying attendance — viewers who remained at the screening from the beginning to the end of the film. Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat had earlier stated that about 64,000 people attended the event, but Guinness recognised only those who stayed for the full duration. The previous record of 43,624 viewers was set in 2015 during a screening of the Filipino film ‘Felix Manalo’ at the Philippine Arena. The ‘Black Market’ screening surpassed that benchmark by more than 7,000 qualifying viewers.
The event was organised as an official Guinness World Record attempt, with organisers initially targeting 50,000 simultaneous viewers. Gates opened at 2 p.m., followed by a red-carpet session at about 3 p.m., while the main screening ran from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The programme also featured music, food, games and other entertainment activities. Crowds began arriving hours before the screening, with long queues forming around the venue.
‘Black Market’ is produced by Rixel Studios, Signet Ring Studios and FilmOne Studios, and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. It was directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, who co-wrote the screenplay with Abdul Tijani-Ahmed. The film follows five market women involved in a cross-border smuggling operation amid fuel scarcity and economic pressure, with the plot taking a dramatic turn after the daughter of one of the women is kidnapped. It stars Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Lateef Adedimeji, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Itele D Icon and Uzor Arukwe.
The screening drew a cross-section of government officials and Nollywood personalities, including Deputy Governor Hamzat and Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture Toke Benson, alongside actors Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi, Stan Nze, Linda Ejiofor, Gabriel Afolayan and filmmaker Kunle Afolayan. Hamzat described the gathering as an inspiring demonstration of Nigerians coming together around creativity and called for continued support for young creators seeking to build businesses in the country.
The record-breaking screening represents a significant milestone for Nollywood, which has grown into one of the world’s most prolific film industries but has often struggled to translate its output into major theatrical events. The ‘Black Market’ premiere was designed not merely as a film launch but as a cultural moment, bringing more than 50,000 people together at one venue for a Nigerian film. The event was staged by Switch Visuals, with support from corporate partners including MTN, Puma, Swoop, PlaystreetNG, Oraimo and Shuttlers, alongside the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
For the organisers, the record validates an approach that treats a film’s premiere as an experience rather than a routine industry event. For Nollywood, it offers a template for how Nigerian films can command mass audiences and generate national pride. As FilmOne put it, the moment was historic — not just for the film, but for an industry that has long sought recognition on the global stage. The Guinness World Record confirmation adds a permanent entry to the record books, and the images of 51,000 people gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square will stand as a defining moment in Nollywood’s evolution.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments