Nollywood campus drama Tele x Zikora, directed by Adenike Adebayo-Esho, recorded the strongest opening among new releases in Nigerian cinemas over the 23–25 October 2026 weekend, collecting ₦26.9 million (approximately US$19,970) from 4,168 admissions across 83 locations, according to Film Intelligence Digest.
Distributed by Lagos-based Cinemax, the film stars Genoveva Umeh, Mike Afolarin, Tomi Ojo and Emeka Nwagbaraocha. Its box-office performance strengthened through the weekend. The release forms part of Cinemax’s six-film slate extending into early 2027, giving the distributor an opportunity to build on the opening as competition intensifies.
Six new titles entered Nigerian cinemas during the weekend, generating approximately ₦60.9 million collectively, with four making the national top 10. The overall box office reached around ₦156.2 million, representing a roughly 4% increase on the previous weekend. The figures point to a competitive market in which locally produced films and international releases are competing for theatrical audiences.
Among the other newcomers, Warner Bros.’ horror film Clayface opened in fourth place with ₦16.8 million (approximately US$12,480). Political thriller A Land Apart debuted fifth, earning ₦8.4 million (about US$6,240) from 1,500 admissions. Abuja accounted for much of its audience, while Benue emerged among its leading locations for the first time, suggesting a broader geographical footprint for the release. Onibon Oje entered the chart in 18th place with ₦1.1 million (approximately US$820).
At the top of the overall chart, Mount Zion’s faith-based title Agbara Nla: The Return retained first place for a fourth consecutive weekend, collecting ₦32.8 million (about US$24,370). Meanwhile, Street Fighter fell 41% in its second weekend to ₦21.7 million (approximately US$16,110).
For Tele x Zikora, the rise in daily takings from Friday through Sunday offers an encouraging early signal, although its longer-term performance will depend on audience retention and the strength of competing releases. Four new films are scheduled to open on 30 October, including Wire Transfer and Phoenix Fury, setting up a fresh test for the drama’s second weekend.
The results also highlight the importance of distribution strategy and sustained theatrical visibility for Nigerian productions. Cinemax’s multi-film slate creates opportunities to build relationships with cinemas and audiences across successive releases, but the opening weekend alone cannot establish whether Tele x Zikora will maintain momentum over a longer run.
