Nollywood has set a new Guinness World Record after more than 51,000 people gathered at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos to watch the crime thriller Black Market.
The record-breaking screening took place on Saturday, September 26, 2026, as thousands of movie lovers converged on the Lagos venue for the film’s premiere. Guinness World Records confirmed 51,000 as the qualifying attendance for the record.
The announcement was made during the event, sparking celebrations among the audience and members of the film’s production team.
The achievement surpassed the previous record of 43,624 people, set in 2015 during a screening of the Filipino film Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena.
Organisers had initially targeted an audience of 50,000 people for the simultaneous screening, with the event designed to create a major milestone for Nigeria’s film industry.
Although reports indicated that the overall crowd at the venue was even larger, Guinness World Records’ qualifying figure was based on the number of people who remained throughout the screening. Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat reportedly put the overall attendance at about 64,000.
The event featured the red carpet, music, food, games and appearances by several Nollywood personalities. Long queues were reported around Tafawa Balewa Square as movie lovers arrived ahead of the screening.
Black Market is a crime thriller directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay and produced by Nora Awolowo. The film stars Omowunmi Dada, Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Ibrahim Yekini, popularly known as Itele D Icon, and Uzor Arukwe, among others.
The story follows five market women who become involved in a cross-border smuggling operation amid fuel scarcity and economic hardship. Their operation takes a dangerous turn after the daughter of one of the women is kidnapped.
The record-breaking premiere was supported by the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, alongside corporate partners involved in the event.
The achievement adds another international milestone to Nollywood, bringing together tens of thousands of Nigerians for a single cinematic experience and placing the Nigerian film industry in the Guinness World Records.
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