Nollywood has made history after 51,000 people gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos to watch the crime thriller Black Market in a Guinness World Records-recognised screening.
According to Punch News, the massive screening took place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, drawing tens of thousands of movie lovers to the Lagos venue for the record attempt.
Guinness World Records recognised 51,000 viewers as the qualifying attendance after confirming that they watched the movie from beginning to end.
The figure surpassed the previous record of 43,624 people, set in 2015 when the Filipino film Felix Manalo was screened at the Philippine Arena.
Although about 64,000 people were reportedly present at the event, the official Guinness figure was based on viewers who remained throughout the complete screening and met the requirements for the record.
The announcement was met with cheers and fireworks at TBS as the organisers celebrated the achievement.
Black Market, directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, tells the story of five women caught up in a cross-border smuggling operation during a period of fuel scarcity and economic hardship. Their situation becomes more complicated after the daughter of one of the women is kidnapped.
The movie features several Nollywood stars, including Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele D Icon, and Uzor Arukwe.
The event was organised as more than a conventional movie premiere, with music, food, games and a red-carpet session forming part of the programme. The gates reportedly opened at 2pm, while the main screening began at 7pm.
The record attempt had been announced months earlier, with organisers initially targeting an audience of 50,000 people.
The project brought together Rixel Studios, FilmOne Studios, Signet Ring Studios and Switch Visuals Production, with support from the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and other partners.
The achievement adds another notable milestone to Nollywood’s growing list of international records and highlights the ability of Nigerian films to attract massive audiences.
With 51,000 qualifying viewers officially recognised, Black Market has turned its Lagos screening into a record-breaking moment for Nigerian cinema.
Credit: Punch News
