Nollywood filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has set a box office target of at least ₦5 billion for her latest production, The Four: No One Fights Alone, as she continues to push the boundaries of Nigerian cinema and expand its reach in international markets.
Akindele disclosed the target during a special edition of the #WithChude conversation with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo at the 2026 Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) in Lagos. She discussed the commercial demands of filmmaking, the importance of strategic marketing and the determination required to build a successful and enduring entertainment brand.
For the filmmaker, marketing is an essential part of the production process rather than an activity reserved for a film’s release. She explained that her approach involves constantly studying audience interests, adapting promotional strategies and developing content that appeals to different demographic groups.
From comedy skits and spoken-word videos to influencer collaborations and strategic partnerships, Akindele said she explores different ways to generate interest and connect with audiences. She stressed that understanding the preferences of different groups, including parents and Generation Z audiences, is critical to creating effective promotional campaigns.
“Marketing for me is everything. PR is everything,” she said, describing her willingness to change strategies, experiment with new ideas and adjust her approach to ensure that audiences remain engaged.
However, she acknowledged that sustaining such promotional momentum comes with personal and professional challenges. Recounting the campaign for one of her previous films, Akindele described her frustration when some cast members did not participate in promotional activities as expected, prompting her to take greater control of the campaign.
Working with her videographer, she began producing additional promotional content herself. One particularly demanding experience involved filming a spoken-word video, during which exhaustion and difficulty remembering her lines led her to abandon the shoot and return home in tears. She eventually resumed and completed the recording three days later.
The experience, she said, reinforced the importance of resilience and staying committed to a purpose, even when circumstances become discouraging.
“There are days you want to give up. But you have to be resilient. You have to keep pushing because you have a purpose,” she said, while emphasising the importance of surrounding oneself with people who believe in and support a shared vision.
That philosophy is reflected in the title of her new production, The Four: No One Fights Alone. Beyond its commercial ambitions, Akindele said she remains determined to break new records for Nollywood and create opportunities for Nigerian films to reach wider international audiences.
She revealed that the film is the first Nollywood production scheduled to premiere at Odeon Luxe in the United Kingdom, with its UK premiere set for November 29. According to her, tickets for the screening had already sold out at the time of the announcement.
For Akindele, such milestones represent more than individual career achievements. They demonstrate the growing possibilities for Nigerian cinema to compete internationally, attract new audiences and establish a stronger presence in the global entertainment industry.
“I need to keep breaking more records. More grounds,” she said.
With a ₦5 billion box office ambition for The Four: No One Fights Alone, Akindele is setting another demanding benchmark for herself and the wider Nollywood industry, placing strategic marketing, audience engagement and international distribution at the centre of her latest cinematic venture.
