Faith-based Onobiren dethrones Timini’s Love and New Notes after four-week box office reign

Laju Iren’s faith-driven drama Onobiren has ended the four-week box office dominance of Timini Egbuson’s romantic blockbuster “Love and New Notes,” claiming the top spot with ₦30.5 million in its opening weekend.

“Love and New Notes,” which opened Valentine’s weekend with a record-breaking ₦106 million and became the first Nollywood film to cross ₦100 million outside December, earned ₦28.3 million in its fourth weekend (March 6-8).

The film has now grossed ₦294.2 million cumulatively and held the #1 position for three consecutive weekends before Onobiren’s arrival.

The dethroning is significant: Timini’s romantic drama had been the unstoppable force of Nigerian cinemas since February 13, setting multiple records, including the highest single-day gross of 2026 (₦48 million on Valentine’s Day). For a faith-based film to beat it represents a shift in what’s dominating Nollywood’s box office.

Church film beats romantic blockbuster

Onobiren marks Laju Iren Films’ biggest production and first theatrical release. Laju Iren, better known as the wife of Pastor Emmanuel Iren of Celebration Church Lagos, produced and wrote the film, which tells the story of a young woman challenging gender roles in Delta State’s Itsekiri fishing communities.

The ₦30.5 million opening is strong for any Nollywood film, but especially notable for a faith-based production competing against an established romantic hit. Onobiren’s success suggests the film is connecting beyond the church audience that might have been expected to support it.

Famous Iraoya, who directed “Finding Nina,” helmed the project. The film stars Ruby Akubueze alongside Nollywood veterans Patience Ozokwor, Deyemi Okanlawon, Bisola Aiyeola, and Norbert Young. The title “Onobiren” means “woman” in Itsekiri language.

A competitive weekend across the board

Another new release, “Mother’s Love,” took third place with ₦25.1 million, while “Scream 7” earned ₦18 million in its second weekend (₦53.2 million cumulative). “Crime 101” pulled ₦13.8 million (₦126.1 million total), and “BTS” rounded out the top six with ₦11.9 million in its 12th week, bringing its cumulative total to a massive ₦2.72 billion.

For Timini, losing the top spot after four weeks doesn’t diminish “Love and New Notes'” commercial success.

The film is approaching ₦300 million and remains a box office force. But Onobiren’s opening proves that faith-based films with strong production values can compete directly with romantic blockbusters for Nigerian audiences.

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Whether Onobiren can sustain this momentum or if “Love and New Notes” reclaims the #1 position next weekend will determine which film dominates the rest of March. For now, the faith-based underdog has won the weekend.