A major conflict has erupted between Nigerian film producers and cinema operators, casting a shadow over the lucrative December film season. Several prominent filmmakers have publicly accused cinemas of employing unfair practices that deliberately sabotage the commercial success of their movies.
Allegations of Deliberate Frustration
The accusations, made independently by actress-producers Toyin Abraham and Ini Edo, as well as director-producer Niyi Akinmolayan, center on what they describe as intentional efforts to undermine their films. The issues reportedly include falsely declaring movies sold out, assigning commercially damaging screening times, and limiting shows to just one per day.
During an Instagram Live session in the early hours of December 26, 2025, Toyin Abraham voiced her frustration regarding her latest film, Oversabi Aunty. She claimed the movie was being sidelined in several cinemas. "I am not making money," Abraham stated. She alleged that some cinemas were selling tickets for other films but directing audiences to her movie's hall, and presented what she called evidence of these practices.
Abraham specifically criticized the allocation of poor screening slots. "Some cinemas will give you 10 am and 9 pm. A 10 am showtime, how do you expect it to sell?" she questioned. She further alleged that patrons were being told her film was sold out when empty seats were available, steering them toward other movies instead.
Producers Speak Out on Social Media
Film director Niyi Akinmolayan took to X (formerly Twitter) to raise similar concerns about his movie, Colours of Fire. In a series of posts, he made serious allegations against some cinema operators. Akinmolayan accused them of listing his film on their websites, collecting money for tickets, and then refusing to screen it for paying customers.
He issued a public ultimatum, writing: "If by end of day you don't fix up, I am going to name all the cinemas that have Colours of Fire on their website, collected money from people and are refusing to show them the film." In another post, he warned he was prepared to publicly identify specific cinemas and their managers if the situation did not improve.
First-time producer Ini Edo described her experience as exhausting. On her X account, she wrote, "Nigerian cinemas, this has been exhausting. As a first-timer, I learned on the go with humility and commitment, yet faced intentional frustration despite the sacrifice and investment poured into this project." She shared video recordings on Instagram featuring cinema-goers complaining about alleged misconduct. Despite the challenges, Edo expressed hope, stating, "But God is bigger than every barrier, bigger than gatekeeping and intimidation."
Peak Season Tensions and a Related Incident
These complaints highlight the intense competition and high stakes during December, the most competitive season for Nigerian cinemas. Multiple high-budget films are typically released simultaneously to capitalize on holiday crowds, making fair screen time allocation a critical and contentious issue.
In a related development, cinema-goers at Ojaja Cinema in Akure, Ondo State, reported an abrupt interruption during a screening of Funke Akindele's record-breaking film, Behind the Scenes. Videos shared online showed disappointed viewers reacting as the movie stopped unexpectedly. As of the time of the initial report, Akindele had not issued a statement addressing this specific incident. Her film had previously made headlines for grossing ₦512 million in just 12 days.
This wave of complaints has once again drawn significant attention to the power dynamics within Nigeria's film distribution system. It underscores the ongoing challenges producers face beyond piracy, particularly in securing fair and transparent exhibition practices from cinema operators during crucial release windows.
