The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) have taken down MovieBox.ng, a popular website known for streaming pirated movies, music, and live sports in Nigeria. MovieBox.ng was officially shut down on July 20, 2025, after investigations revealed the site was part of a wider network using mirror domains to spread illegal content. According to a statement from the NCC’s Director-General, Dr. John Asein, this action marks a big step forward in cracking down on online piracy in the country. Rights holders in Nigeria’s film, music, and broadcasting industries have welcomed the development. The statement of Dr Asein, NCC Director-General says it all “the MovieBox.ng platform uses multiple mirror domains to access and promote pirated content, with domain histories linked to known piracy operations,” He assured that the NCC is now working to find and block related mirror sites, making it harder for MovieBox.ng to return under a new name. The NCC credited NiRA for quickly suspending the domain and called for all internet stakeholders, including service providers and platform intermediaries, to act fast when there are takedown requests as required by the Copyright Act of 2022. Dr. Asein emphasized that,“The role of internet stakeholders is crucial in enforcing copyright laws in the digital environment. Collaboration is key to tackling the rising tide of online piracy.” Digital piracy is a serious issue for creative professionals in Nigeria. A UNESCO report estimates that 50% to 70% of potential income in Nigeria’s film market is lost due to piracy. This not only affects the earnings of artists, actors, and producers but also discourages both local and foreign investors from supporting new projects. Many Nigerian filmmakers find it hard to fund future films because their revenue keeps getting slashed by piracy. Piracy doesn’t just happen on streaming sites like MovieBox.ng. Messaging apps such as Telegram have also become hotspots for illegal sharing, thanks to their user privacy features and ability to send large files in group chats. Recall, on the 9th of March, 2025, Daily Tech Nigeria reported that, Nigerian actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli called for urgent government intervention to combat rampant piracy on Telegram, which she describes as a growing threat to the survival of Nollywood. The NCC hopes digital copyright violation will become less attractive in years to come, and that more stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital space will join the fight to protect local creativity and industry.
Actress Chioma Akpotha celebrates YouTube milestone with 100,000 subscribers plaque
Nigerian actress Chioma Akpotha has reached a new milestone in her digital journey, receiving a YouTube plaque in recognition of hitting 100,000 subscribers on the platform. This achievement comes shortly after her triumph at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), where she won the award for Best Lead Actress. Expressing gratitude to her loyal subscribers, Chioma reflected on her rapid growth, recalling how she celebrated reaching 1,000 subscribers just a few months ago. Taking to Instagram, she shared her excitement, thanking her fans for their unwavering support. She pledged to continue providing premium content, urging viewers to stay tuned for more milestones ahead. With this latest achievement, Chioma Akpotha solidifies her presence as both an acclaimed actress and a digital creator, embracing the evolving landscape of entertainment.
Tantalizers Plc expands into entertainment with acquisition of grand media projects limited
Tantalizers Plc, a leading quick-service restaurant company in Nigeria, has announced a strategic acquisition of Grand Media Projects Limited, a respected entertainment company founded by acclaimed filmmaker Tade Ogidan. This move signals Tantalizers’ bold entry into the entertainment and digital content industry, diversifying beyond its traditional food business. The acquisition aligns with Tantalizers’ long-term vision to grow in high-impact, youth-driven sectors such as media, entertainment, and digital content development. With Nigeria’s entertainment industry rapidly gaining global recognition, this expansion positions the company to tap into new revenue streams and broaden its brand appeal. Chairman of Tantalizers Plc, Alhaji Adam Nuru, described the acquisition as a “quantum leap” into content creation, branded experiences, and event activations. He emphasized the growing convergence of food, lifestyle, and entertainment as a key opportunity to deliver enhanced value to stakeholders. Tade Ogidan, Chairman of Grand Media, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the creative possibilities and the potential to create lasting value for Nigerians and the global audience. He praised Tantalizers’ tech-driven entertainment platform as a forward-thinking initiative that will reshape the industry. The acquisition is part of a broader diversification strategy by Tantalizers, which recently secured fresh capital and expanded into Nigeria’s blue economy through investments in fisheries and marine ventures. The company plans to launch an entertainment platform in the coming months that will integrate music, storytelling, and live events, transforming Tantalizers into a multi-sector lifestyle brand.
Femi Adebayo’s “Seven Doors” and “Lisabi: The Uprising” shine at AMVCA 2025
The 11th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) delivered a night of glamour, celebration, and major wins for Nollywood’s finest, with Femi Adebayo’s Seven Doors and Lateef Adedimeji’s Lisabi: The Uprising taking center stage as the most decorated films of the evening. Seven Doors, a Yoruba-language drama led by Femi Adebayo and Chioma Chukwuka, emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners. The film clinched three major awards: Best Music Score, Best Lead Actor, and Best Lead Actress. Femi Adebayo’s compelling portrayal of Adedunjoye, a reluctant king facing turmoil and personal tragedy, earned him the Best Lead Actor trophy, while Chioma Chukwuka’s performance as Queen Amaka was lauded for its emotional depth and authenticity-even more impressive given her Igbo heritage and her delivery in Yoruba. Composer Tolu Obanro was recognized with the Best Music Score award for his work on the film’s evocative soundtrack. Seven Doors had led the nominations with eleven nods, underscoring its critical and popular acclaim. Meanwhile, Lisabi: The Uprising also enjoyed a triumphant night, securing the award for Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa), among other honors. The film, starring Adedimeji Lateef, stood out for its storytelling and cultural resonance, closely following Seven Doors in total nominations. The AMVCA 2025, hosted in Lagos, attracted stars and industry leaders from across Africa, celebrating achievements across 27 categories. The event, organized by MultiChoice Africa, continues to be a premier platform for recognizing excellence in African film and television, with both jury-decided and audience-voted awards. Other notable winners included Leo Purman’s The Legend of The Vagabond (Queen Of Lagos) for Best Cinematography and Ifeoluwa’s Mai DùnDún for Best Documentary. The ceremony also honored industry veterans Nkem Owoh and Sani Mu’azu with the Industry Merit Award for their outstanding contributions to African cinema.
Muyiwa Ademola’s ‘Ori: The Rebirth’ shatters box office records with N97.8 nillion opening weekend
Veteran filmmaker Muyiwa Ademola’s latest movie, Ori: The Rebirth, has made a powerful debut at the Nigerian box office, grossing an impressive N97.8 million in its opening weekend. The Yoruba-language film, which officially launched in cinemas on May 1, 2025, pulled in N19.5 million on its first day alone. Over the weekend, ticket sales reached N78.3 million, pushing the total just shy of the N100 million mark and making it one of the most successful Nigerian movie openings this year. “Ori: The Rebirth” is a spiritual sequel to Ademola’s 2004 award-winning film, Ori-which means “Fate” in Yoruba. The new film explores themes of destiny, spirituality, and sacrifice, weaving a mystical tale around Bisade, whose sudden death is orchestrated by a malevolent cult. The story draws deeply from Yoruba cosmology and symbolism. On Sunday, the film unseated the previous box office leader, Sinners, earning N39.3 million compared to Sinners’ N33.7 million. However, Sinners maintained its lead as the highest-grossing film for the entire weekend. Ademola, who invested over N400 million in the production, described the film as a labor of love. “I believe people will connect with the movie,” he said, expressing confidence in its cultural resonance and urging public support. With its strong start, Ori: The Rebirth is now seen as a contender for one of the biggest box office runs by a local film this year.
Nigerian box office surges to N3.48 billion in Q1 2025, driven by blockbusters and local hits
Nigeria’s cinema industry kicked off 2025 with a bang, as box office revenues soared to N3.48 billion in the first quarter-a 54.7% jump from the same period last year. The figures, released by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, reflect a remarkable 132% increase compared to Q1 2023, underlining a robust recovery and growing appetite for cinema among Nigerians. Admissions also climbed, with 661,801 moviegoers visiting cinemas nationwide between January and March, up nearly 11% from Q1 2024. This steady growth is fueled by strong local content and a compelling mix of international blockbusters. Disney’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” led the pack, grossing N618.2 million to become the quarter’s top earner. Nollywood’s “Alakada: Bad and Boujee” followed closely with N500.5 million, while “Moana 2” and Marvel’s “Captain America: Brave New World” each drew large audiences, earning N400 million and N396 million respectively. Nigerian filmmakers continued to shine, with Funke Akindele maintaining her box office dominance and new names like Timini Egbuson making notable debuts. “Reel Love” and “Everybody Loves Jenifa” also contributed to the strong results, highlighting the broadening appeal of Nollywood productions. Industry experts say the surge in revenue and attendance signals a sustained recovery for cinemas after previous disruptions.