30 Days In Atlanta is Nigeria’s highestgrossing film –Guy Murray-Bruce

After two months of showing at cinemas
across the country and making a whop­
ping N85 million, 30 Days In Atlanta, a
movie produced by top comedian, Ayo
Makun popularly known as AY, has been
pronounced as Nigeria’s highest grossing
film ever.
According to Mr. Guy Murray-Bruce,
Executive Director, Silverbird Distribution,
the movie raked in N85 million only in
eight weeks, which made it the highest
grossing film in Nigeria. “That it is N85
million is quite impressive for a Nol­
lywood film and we are so proud of AY.
We hope he produces more movies in the
nearest future,” he enthused.
The Muray Bruce-led Silverbird Film
Distribution has contributed immensely to
the development of Nigerian film industry
globally known as Nollywood. Since its
inception in 2007, the company has
released different genres of movies in­
cluding Hollywood, Bollywood and
Nollywood blockbusters.
Speaking on their achievements so far,
Ms Rosana Hart, Business Manager,
Silverbird Film Distribution, says 2014
has been a remarkable year for the
organization, with the release of
Hollywood movies like Think Like A Man
Too, Amazing Spider Man and The
Equalizer to mention a few. “Also, there
have been some great Nollywood releases
such as Knocking on Heaven’s Door,
Single, Married And Complicated 2, Being
Mrs. Elliot, A Place In The Stars, and
recently released 30 Days in Atlanta, a
movie that has topped box office charts
across the country, grossing an
impressive N85 million since its theatrical
release on October 31, 2014,” she said.
Described as a hilarious and roller
coaster twists, 30 Days In Atlanta is
based on a popular comic character,
Akpors, who is known for his display of
naivety and astuteness with grains of
truth in his act. The movie is a perfect
blend of Nollywood and Hollywood stars
starring the likes of Vivica Fox, Karlie
Redd and Lynn Whitefield. Others include
Richard Mofe-Damijo, Mercy Johnson,
Ramsey Nouah, Desmond Elliot and
comedian Ayo Makun (AY) as the lead
actor.
“30 Days In Atlanta is still in cinemas,
and if we extrapolate our data judging by
exit poll from cinema lovers, perfor­
mances and screen averages, the movie
might as well gross over N100 million
after Christmas,” Mr. Moses Babatope,
Executive Director, Filmhouse Cinemas
said.
Going by the figures made available by
Uwem Jacobs, West Africa Agent for
United International Pictures, South
Africa, Kunle Afolayan’s Figurine is
estimated to have grossed N20 million
while Through The Glass, a film produced
by Stephanie Okereke, grossed only N10
million in 2008. In 2010, Ije, starring top
acts like Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and
Genevieve Nnaji, raked in N57 million and
this year, two blockbusters, Half Of A
Yellow Sun and October 1 grossed an
impressive N60 million and N50 million
respectively.
To Miss Hart, the current milestones in
Nollywood confirms the belief of Mr. Ben
Murray-Bruce, President, Silverbird Group
that Nigerians would celebrate their
identity by supporting indigenous films in
the cinemas.
She said: “We are quite pleased with the
box office record set by 30 Days In
Atlanta and are very optimistic about the
possibilities of our local titles achieving
more successes in future. However, like
30 Days In Atlanta, we also expect
Lancelot Imasuen’s historical epic, Inva­
sion 1897, and Emem Isong’s
Champagne, which are currently showing
at cinemas, to turn out box office hits.”