Ori: The Rebirth crosses N400 million, becomes second highest-grossing film at Nigerian box office

Muyiwa Ademola’s Ori: The Rebirth, a Yoruba-language film rooted in spirituality and mysticism, has pulled in N419.1 million at the Nigerian box office, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2025.

It edges just ahead of Captain America: Brave New World, which earned N418.5 million, and marks a major moment for Nollywood as local films continue to gain ground over Hollywood titles.

Directed and co-produced by Ademola alongside Adekola Tijani and Tope Adebayo Salami, Ori: The Rebirth opened in cinemas on May 1, 2025. Its debut was explosive, grossing N97.8 million in its first weekend alone.

The Yoruba-language epic pulled in N19.5 million on its first day, setting a record for films in the language. By the end of its opening weekend, the film had already amassed N78.3 million, confirming its breakout status.

Even now, in late July, Ori: The Rebirth remains in cinemas and continues to climb, signaling strong demand for indigenous storytelling. Its current gross of N419.1 million is among the highest seen by a locally produced film in recent memory.

About the film
The movie serves as a spiritual continuation of Ademola’s 2004 classic Ori, which won Best Indigenous Film at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in 2005. This time, the story follows Bisade, a man killed by a secret cult and thrust into a metaphysical journey. The cult is led by the villainous Yeye Fernandez, but hope appears in the form of Temidun, a mysterious figure trying to stop the group’s dark plans.

Shot primarily in Yoruba, the film draws deeply from Yoruba cosmology, blending cultural depth with emotional resonance. Its themes of fate, sacrifice, and consciousness have connected strongly with Nigerian audiences while finding relevance across African cultures.

Production budget and reception
Ademola revealed in interviews that the film cost over N400 million to produce. He described it as a personal passion project and urged the public to support it, highlighting the need for such films to be profitable to ensure future high-budget indigenous productions.

Critics have praised the movie for its rich visuals, storytelling depth, and authenticity. Industry experts believe its box office run sets a new standard for indigenous-language films, long overshadowed by English-language and foreign titles.

With Ori: The Rebirth still running in cinemas, there’s growing optimism that it could cross N450 million, a landmark achievement that speaks to the evolving strength and reach of Nollywood.