Every December in Nollywood has a familiar rhythm. A new wave of holiday films roll in, cinemas fill up, producers begin their final push, and families search for the movie that will wrap the year with laughter, chaos, or healing. But in this festive noise, one name has always echoed louder than the rest, Funke Akindele.

For years, she has walked into December like she owns the calendar. Film after film, she has pulled crowds, broken personal records, created cultural moments, and proven that she understands not just filmmaking but the Nigerian psyche. When people say “we are going to the cinema this Christmas”, chances are the title on their lips is hers.

But this year, with a stronger lineup of December releases than we have seen in a long time, one question hangs in the air,
Can Funke Akindele do it again? And has Nollywood finally cracked her formula?

The Formula That Built a December Queen

Let us break down what makes her December releases unstoppable.

One, relatable stories.

Funke leans into family tension, society pressure, ambition, faith, humour, and the daily hustle. Nigerians watch her films and see themselves. That emotional familiarity is gold.

Two, casting that speaks to the nation.

She brings established faces, rising stars, and surprise cameos that get people talking.

Three, aggressive December marketing.

Weeks before release, she enters every space, interviews, social media, influencers, trailers, behind-the-scenes, radio, hashtags. She does not wait for hype, she manufactures it.

Four, timing.

She releases at the exact moment Nigerians feel soft, social, sentimental, and ready to spend.

And this formula has worked, consistently. Record-breaking ticket sales. Sold-out screenings. Massive word-of-mouth. A December box office crown with her name engraved on it.

But this year, something new is happening.

Other Producers Are Copying the Formula, And Some Are Getting Bold

When you dominate an industry long enough, imitation becomes the ultimate compliment. But this December, imitation looks more like competition.

Producers are rolling out films with bigger casts, richer storylines, stronger trailers, and December-long marketing blitzes that feel suspiciously familiar.

Movies like Over Sabi Aunty, A Very Dirty Christmas, Colours of Fire, and even documentary-style releases like Wizkid: Long Live Lagos are using the same weapons Funke sharpened.

They are telling relatable stories. They are pushing social media aggressively. They are dropping festive teasers early. They are positioning themselves as “the holiday movie of the year”.

For the first time in a while, it looks like other filmmakers are not just chasing Funke, they are running beside her.

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But Do They Have Stronger Storylines Than Her Upcoming Film?

This is the real heart of the debate.

Funke’s upcoming movie, Behind The Scenes, plays on ideas Nollywood audiences love, fame, pressure, identity, survival, and the reality beneath glamour. It is a story with emotional weight and cultural relevance.

But some of her competitors this year are not playing safe.

Colours of Fire brings big ambition and action, Over Sabi Aunty leans into comedy and relatability,
A Very Dirty Christmas blends chaos and holiday nostalgia, King of Boys 3 is gunning for the crown with its own loyal fanbase.

These aren’t small films. This is a December where Funke is not the only heavyweight in the ring.

But story strength is not just about scale or action. It is about connection. And connection is where Funke has always won.

She writes characters Nigerians recognize. She builds jokes you have heard in your own house. She creates moments your heart remembers. Her films do not just entertain; they mirror real life.

Even with the strong competition, nobody has mastered that emotional pull quite like her, yet.

So, Can She Do It Again?

The truth is this, Funke has the formula, but this year the battlefield is different. She has the experience, the audience loyalty, the emotional intelligence, the marketing instinct, and the December magic. If she delivers a strong story with the right faces and the right rhythm, she will break her own records again, effortlessly.

But this year will not be a walk in the park. Other producers smell blood. They want the December throne.
They are louder, bolder, and technically sharper than before.

This might be the first December where the crown is not handed to Funke, she may have to fight for it. And honestly, that battle is good for Nollywood. Competition means better stories, better films, better cinema culture.

Final Thoughts

Funke Akindele built the December formula. She perfected it. She owned it and she inspired others to try it.

Whether she breaks her record again or shares the festive spotlight this year, one thing is clear, December in Nollywood is more exciting because she exists.

The race is on. The audience are watching, and the box office is waiting.

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