Against stiff competition, Biola Alabi’s movie, ‘Banana Island Ghost’, B.I.G, has soared to the top, grossing N35 million in its opening week in the Nigerian box office that saw the release of two Hollywood blockbusters, ‘Dark Tower’, a Steven King bestseller, starring Idris Alba and Matthew McConaughey, and ‘Girls Trip’ starring Jada Pinkett and Queen Latifa.
The audiences across the country overwhelmingly thronged
the cinema houses to see the Nollywood fantasy, action-comedy
blockbuster – Banana Island Ghost. The movie premiered recently at
Harbour Point Event Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Amidst other great home grown choices like Alter Ego
starring Nollywood superstar Omotala Jalade Ekeinde, and Hakkunde,
Banana Island Ghost (B.I.G) found its spot at number 1.
Of the news, Executive Producer – Biola Alabi said, “We are
extremely proud of the audience response thus far. Convincing people to
leave their homes and give you their hard earned money is never easy.
There’s still a lot to do in order to make our investors happy.”
Industry experts are predicting that Banana Island Ghost
will continue to sellout cinema screens and remain number one all
through the Sallah holiday in August and well into September. This is
expected even as Nigerians continue to choose Nollywood over big
Hollywood pictures.
When asked to comment on the impressive results, the
Writer/Director BB Sasore said “Frankly, Thirty-Five million naira is
humbling. To see so many people respond well to something you created is
satisfying. I know how hard my cast and crew worked to achieve the
quality we did, and I think that is what Nigerians are reacting to.
Picture quality, visual effects, and great comedy, all tied up in a
Nigerian story made 100% by Nigerians.” Part of the success of the film
seems to come from its innovative use of social media and strong word of
mouth.
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