Agbara Nla
Mount Zion’s much-loved gospel classic is back, and it has returned with a bang. Agbara Nla: The Return, the modern remake of Mike Bamiloye’s 1993 film, made more than N71 million from paid previews alone, pulling in over 12,100 cinema admissions and setting a new benchmark for Nollywood at the box office.
According to its distributor, Nile Entertainment, the faith-based film has now posted the biggest single-day preview gross ever recorded in West Africa, along with a string of other records, before most cinema-goers had even had a chance to see it.
Watch the Video
Here is the official teaser for Agbara Nla: The Return from Mount Zion Films:
The Records Agbara Nla Has Broken
Box office tracking platform NGAboxoffice put the preview takings at about N70 million from 12,134 admissions, while the distributor said the figure was above N71 million.
Nile Entertainment listed several milestones the film has reached so far:
- The biggest single-day preview gross in West Africa
- The biggest first-day gross for a Nollywood title
- The highest single-day gross for an October release
- The biggest opening for a faith-based film at the West African box office
Reports also say it recorded the highest first-day admissions of any film in Nigeria in 2026, an impressive feat in a year that has seen strong competition from both local and Hollywood titles.
Where the Money Came From
The South-West carried the film. Lagos alone accounted for about 50.8 per cent of the preview revenue, followed by Oyo with 13.2 per cent and Abuja with 10.7 per cent.
That spread is not surprising. Mount Zion’s Yoruba-language gospel dramas have long enjoyed a loyal following across the region, especially among church audiences who grew up watching the original on VHS.
A Story Their Father Wrote in 1993
The remake is directed by Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua “JayMikee” Bamiloye, the sons of Mount Zion founder Mike Bamiloye.
Speaking on the film’s reception, the brothers said it was a story their father wrote in 1993, and that they knew from the start they were carrying something that already meant a lot to many people.
That sense of legacy runs deep. The original Agbara Nla had a rocky road to the screen. Work on it started in 1987, but the project was abandoned after the cameraman disappeared with the tapes. It was later revived and finally released in 1993, with an English version, The Ultimate Power, following in 1994.
What the New Film Is About
The story follows two believers, Olaboye and Olatomi, who travel to the village of Muwonleru to share the Christian message. Their mission puts them on a collision course with Isawuru, a powerful herbalist who holds the community under his influence.
In a nod to fans of the original, Mike Bamiloye returns to play Isawuru, the role he made famous more than three decades ago.
The Cast and Crew
Alongside Mike Bamiloye, the cast includes Philip Olubakin as Olaboye, Aanu Kolade Abiodun, Remilekun Mosiko, Gloria Mike-Bamiloye, David Kola Okeowo and Damilola Mike-Bamiloye.
The film was produced by Chris Odeh in partnership with Mount Zion Film Productions, Sozo Films and Circuits. The team reportedly shot it in about three weeks, using modern cameras, graphics and special effects to update the look of the 1990s classic for today’s audience.
Quick Facts
- Title: Agbara Nla: The Return
- Genre: Faith-based drama (Nollywood)
- Directors: Damilola Mike-Bamiloye and Joshua Bamiloye
- Producer: Chris Odeh
- Distributor: Nile Entertainment
- Preview gross: Over N71 million from 12,100+ admissions
- Original film: Agbara Nla (1993) by Mike Bamiloye
- Next stop: Planned international release in the US, UK and Canada
Why This Matters for Nollywood
Big Nollywood box office numbers have usually come from December comedies and star-studded dramas. Funke Akindele’s record-breaking run with A Tribe Called Judah is a good example of how strong word of mouth can carry a local film.
What makes Agbara Nla: The Return different is that it is a faith-based film from a ministry-owned studio. Its numbers suggest that church audiences, many of whom rarely visit cinemas, are willing to buy tickets when the content speaks to them. It also shows the pull of nostalgia, with an older generation returning to see a story they first watched decades ago, and bringing their children along.
The success also comes at an emotional time for the industry, which has been mourning legends such as Olu Jacobs. The night of tributes for Olu Jacobs in Lagos was a reminder of how much the older generation shaped Nollywood, and the Bamiloye story is another example of that legacy being carried forward.
What Comes Next
The film is now showing in cinemas across Nigeria, and the producers say it will head to the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Industry watchers will be keen to see whether its strong start holds through the opening weekend and beyond.
For now, Agbara Nla: The Return has already done something few expected from a gospel remake: it has topped the record books. You can find more details from the original Vanguard report.
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