‘Agbara Nla: The Return’ records N70m preview gross ahead of release

Nollywood faith-based film ‘Agbara Nla: The Return’ has recorded about N70m from 12,134 admissions during preview screenings held between September 25 and October 1, according to Nigerian Box Office, a Nigerian box-office analysis and consultancy platform. The platform described the performance as the biggest single-day preview gross recorded in West Africa for the period. It also ranked the film first for the period and said its admissions figure was the biggest first-day total recorded in 2026.

Nigerian Box Office further reported that the film’s gross was the biggest first-day gross for a Nollywood title and the biggest single-day gross recorded for October. The Nile Entertainment, the film’s distributor, had earlier announced similar opening achievements. The distributor said the film had recorded the biggest first-day gross for a Nollywood title and the biggest opening for a faith-based film.

It also said the single-day preview earnings had surpassed N71m. The film is now showing in cinemas nationwide, 33 years after the original ‘Agbara Nla’ was released. The new production is described as a modern reimagining of the 1993 Christian film created by filmmaker Mike Bamiloye, which was later released in English as ‘The Ultimate Power’ in 1994.

The story returns to Muwonleru, a village controlled by the herbalist Isawuru. Two believers, Olaboye and Olatomi, leave their city lives to take the Christian message to the community, creating a conflict with Isawuru’s spiritual power. Mike Bamiloye reprises his role as Isawuru.

Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua Bamiloye directed the new production, whose cast includes Aanu Kolade Abiodun, Remilekun Mosiko, Philip Olubakin, Gloria Mike-Bamiloye and David Kola Okeowo.