Nollywood drama, Behind the Scenes, produced and co-directed by Funke Akindele, has expanded to global streaming after a record-setting run in cinemas, becoming available on Netflix and Kava TV on Friday, April 3, 2026.
The film, which opened in Nigerian cinemas on December 12, 2025, has generated significant commercial and public attention. Industry reports place its total box office earnings at approximately ₦2,755,489,396, making it the first Nollywood film to cross the ₦2 billion mark. It was also reported to be the fastest film in West Africa to reach ₦1 billion.
Directed by Funke Akindele and Tunde Olaoye, the film follows Aderonke, also referred to as Ronke, a successful real estate entrepreneur whose life becomes unstable due to strained relationships and betrayal from people close to her. The story focuses on trust, personal boundaries and the consequences of unchecked loyalty.
The cast includes Funke Akindele, Destiny Etiko, Ibrahim Chatta, Tobi Bakre, Uche Montana and Iyabo Ojo.
Nigerian filmmaker Biodun Stephen described the film as closely aligned with her own life experiences.
“I just finished watching Funke Akindele’s Behind the Scenes. So apt, so true, so relatable,” she said in a video shared on Instagram.
Stephen said she was particularly struck by the lead character’s relationships. “What kept bugging me as I was watching was how Ronke, such a good person, could be surrounded by so many bad people,” she said.
She added that the story led her to reflect on her own experiences. “Then I realised that Ronke is me. I am a good person. If you know me, you know I believe in pouring into people,” she said.
According to her, this pattern has often resulted in betrayal. “But I have a bad taste in selecting those around me, and so repeatedly, they have hurt me,” she said.
Stephen also recounted a recent personal experience. “A few weeks ago, I was on the phone with my friend, and I was crying bitterly because somebody had just betrayed me,” she said. “I kept asking myself, am I really a good person? Because how can a good person have so much bad taste in the people around her?”
She added, “When I was watching Behind the Scenes, I realised Ronke’s love was kind. Love is kind, but it does not have to be nice because there are so many dragons out there,” she said.
On social media platform X, viewers have also shared their reactions following the film’s streaming release.
Actor Timini Egbuson wrote that while A Tribe Called Judah remained his favourite, “Behind the Scenes is number 2, for obvious reasons”
Another user, questioned the title, writing, “So Behind the scenes is not a movie about people working backstage in the movie industry?”
Another viewer wrote: “So y’all saw this in the cinema all these months and acted normally? This movie was not hyped enough.”
Others commented on specific performances. One user, wrote, “I just want to tell you guys that Tobi Bakre is such an amazing actor. Never seen him not nail any role.” Another viewer said, “I insist again that Tobi Bakre was robbed of a Best Supporting Actor AMVCA.”
Tobi Bakre himself responded: “After BBN. Didn’t see it coming. But what can’t God do,” he wrote.
So far, Behind the film has seen a ₦2.76 billion gross profit on cimemas. Based on standard Nigerian cinema revenue models, after deductions for taxes (about 11 percent), exhibitor shares, distributor fees and withholding tax, the producer’s share from cinema earnings may be around ₦990 million.
Under this model:
- Estimated tax deduction: about ₦303 million
- Net box office after tax: about ₦2.45 billion
- Split between cinemas and distributor-producer pool: roughly ₦1.23 billion each
- Estimated withholding tax: about ₦123 million
- Estimated distribution fee: about ₦110 million
These figures are based on typical industry structures and are not official disclosures. Now that Behind the Scenes is airing on streaming platforms, this could add more revenue through licensing and international viewership.
