'Black Market' Sets Guinness World Record For Largest Film Screening Attendance

Nollywood movie 'Black Market' has entered the Guinness World Records for the largest attendance at a single film screening. The record-breaking feat was achieved on Saturday at Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos, where over 51,000 viewers gathered simultaneously to watch the premiere.

The record was confirmed on the screen at the event on Saturday night, with the Guinness World Records official announcing that more than 51,000 people had attended the screening.

The announcement was met with loud cheers, jubilation, and fireworks from the crowd.

The event drew dignitaries, film lovers, and industry stakeholders, including the Deputy governor of Lagos State and the 2027 APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat.

Hamzat also announced that 64,000 people attended the event, however, Guinness World Records clarified that the qualifying figure was based strictly on viewers who stayed from the beginning to the end of the film.

Additionally the movie's distributor FilmOne, issued a statement on its social media platforms on Saturday that the gathering had officially set a world record. "51,000+ people. One screen. One moment that just made history," FilmOne said. "We've officially set a WORLD RECORD for the Largest Audience Gathering Ever for a Movie Screening." The statement added, "Nigeria, we didn't just watch a movie. WE MADE HISTORY."

The record attempt was driven by a collaboration between Switch Visuals Productions and Rixel Studios. Switch Visuals, led by CEO Damilola Osikoya, handled event production, while Rixel Studios, led by filmmaker Nora Awolowo, produced the film.

'Black Market' is directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, who co-wrote it with Abdul Tijani-Ahmed.

The movie features a star-studded cast including Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Ibrahim Yekini, Scarlet Gomez, Omowunmi Dada, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, and Uzor Arukwe.