Indigenous film Ori: The Rebirth secures a spot among Nollywood’s top earners. Produced by veteran actor and filmmaker Muyiwa Ademola, the drama ran in cinemas nationwide for 13 weeks, during which it grossed ₦419.5 million. This makes it the highest-grossing Nigerian film released in 2025 so far and the eighth highest-grossing Nollywood film of all time. And also the highest-grossing non-December Nollywood release ever.

Ori: The Rebirth continues the 2004 classic Ori, a spiritually driven Yoruba drama that cemented Ademola’s legacy. In the new chapter, the film explores themes of destiny, sacrifice, and spiritual accountability. It follows Bisade, a successful man whose life begins to spiral after a string of strange events. As the story unfolds, Bisade uncovers an ancestral burden tied to his past. His only way forward lies in awakening spiritually and making painful sacrifices.

Ademola returns to the screen with a powerful performance, reprising his iconic role. He also co-directed the film, taking creative control of both story and style. The cast features a strong mix of Nollywood veterans and rising stars. Which include; Toyin Abraham, Omowunmi Dada, Sola Sobowale, Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekoya, Ibrahim Chatta and Lattef Adedimeji.

The film opened with a weekend gross of ₦97.8 million in just three days, with ₦19.5 million. Within three weeks, the film crossed ₦260 million. By its fifth week, it had climbed to ₦342 million. Continued support from fans pushed its final earnings to ₦419.5 million. These numbers showed that Nigerian audiences werw hungry for high-quality stories rooted in culture and spirituality.

While Ori: The Rebirth leads the box office for 2025, it stands alongside other major hits. Funke Akindele’s Everybody Loves Jenifa still holds the all-time record with ₦1.8 billion. Following closely for 2025 releases is Reel Love with ₦356,824,175, Labake Olododo with ₦264,281,948 and Owambe Thieves with ₦205,055,028.

Unlike many box office hits driven by romance or comedy, Ori: The Rebirth dares to dive into spiritual and metaphysical themes. Its success proves that audiences are ready for deeper narratives. Ademola’s vision, combined with a skilled cast and cultural relevance, delivered one of the most impactful Nollywood films in recent years. 

This marks a significant achievement, especially considering that by this time last year, no Nollywood film had crossed the ₦400 million mark. Historically, most of the titles on the highest-grossing list owe their success to December releases. Ori: The Rebirth offers a promising glimpse into the potential for record-breaking earnings even before the usual end-of-year box office surge.

As 2025 continues, new releases may challenge Ori’s top spot. But no matter what, this film has already secured its place in Nollywood history.