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On February 14, 2024, a funny love story called All’s Fair in Love started showing in cinemas in Nigeria. On its first day, it made N7.6 million from ticket sales.
Even though not many people usually watch romantic comedies, this movie kept bringing in more audiences. Just two days later, it made N10.4 million from advanced screenings.
Newslodge, a magazine, said that the film became “the highest-grossing romantic comedy, earning over N10.4 million in just two days.”
It was the first time Deyemi Okanlawon produced a movie. Usually, February is a slow time for Valentine’s movies, but this film did really well.
Movies released during this time were expected to make around N60 million. But All’s Fair in Love made N131,340,915.93 in total, which was 118% more than expected.
The movie also became the second most-watched Nigerian film on Prime Video when it came out. There were several reasons for this big success.
What the Filmmakers Said
Deyemi Okanlawon, who helped make the film, said the success came from several things. One key thing was the interesting story.
“The story is about the troubles in the relationships of two Nigerian business partners and friends, played by Deyemi Okanlawon and Timini Egbuson. They both end up falling for the same woman, played by Buhle Samuels,” Okanlawon told Newslodge. “The movie had a fresh and interesting plot that people could relate to. It was different from usual Nollywood stories, and this made it memorable.”
The way the film looked was also important. It used the latest technology to make each scene beautiful and engaging, drawing people into the world of the film.
Another important point was the casting. “The casting was spot on, featuring top Nigerian and South African actors who gave strong, believable performances,” said Okanlawon. Big names like Ireti Doyle, Juliet Ibrahim, Adedimeji Lateef, and Beauty Tukura were in the film. Their large social media following helped attract plenty of viewers.
Budget and Promotion
Newslodge said the movie cost between N150 million and N200 million to make.
This big budget helped make the film look good and spread the word about it.
The promotion for All’s Fair in Love was smart. They used social media influencers to talk about the film and make people excited. “The premiere event, along with big billboard ads, made sure lots of people knew about the movie,” another filmmaker said. “This buzz turned into lots of people going to watch it in theatres and online.”
Partnering with FilmOne, a top film distribution company, ensured the movie was seen by many people in Nigeria and around the world. This smart distribution helped it succeed both in cinemas and online.
Behind the Scenes
The team behind the movie included Deyemi Okanlawon, who wrote the story and was an executive producer together with Moses Babatope, Kene Okwuosa, and Colette Otuesho.
Deyemi Okanlawon and Esse Akwaka were in charge of choosing the actors, while Kayode Kasum and Ifeme C.S. directed and managed the camera work.
This talented team made the movie a huge success at Nigerian cinemas.
Deyemi Okanlawon studied chemical engineering at the University of Lagos. He worked at different companies, including the NNPC Kaduna refinery, before moving into sales and marketing.
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Hope this is simpler and more fun to read!