8th August, 2014
Daniels Ekugo
Half of a Yellow Sun has set a new first weekend box office record in Nigeria. The record came from showing the movie in 15 cinemas across Nigeria in its first three days, with Lagos cinemas topping the charts.
P.M.NEWS Entertainment Cafe learnt that HOAYS is at the number one spot in Nigerian cinemas, ahead of Marvel Studio’s ‘Guardian of Galaxy’.
The movie is expected to also break the record of the highest grossing movie in Nigeria, being the country of the author of the book, and the director and executive producers of the movie.
Kene Mkparu, CEO, Film One Distribution, the distributors of the movie said: “We have always maintained that the success of Half of a Yellow Sun is the success of Nollywood. If it succeeds and from the figures we have, it will succeed, it signifies success for Nollywood. It is our belief that if a film is well done, Nigerian audiences would respond to it and drive its success.”
He continued: “HOAYs is a movie about Nigeria and we believe that Nigerians will drive its success. We are delighted that the Nigerian public has turned out in full force to support the film. We want to urge everyone who has seen this film to go back and see it again and encourage others to see it.”
HOAYs is a movie set in the Biafran war era in Nigeria. It is a story of love, lust, jealousy, greed and brings to light the effects of war on the lives of everyone it touches.
It is adapted from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-seller, and written and directed by Biyi Bandele. It features Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Genevieve Nnaji, O.C. Ukeje, and Zack Orji.
The film has been screened at film festivals around the world and already won several awards. It has been enjoying international cinema releases in countries including the UK, US and Australia.
The movie opened in Nigerian cinemas on 1 August.