Black Market Is Chasing a Guinness World Record for the Largest Film Screening Ever Held

Nollywood is attempting to put its name in the Guinness World Records book through sheer audience size. Rixel Studios, working with FilmOne Studios, Signet Ring Studios and Switch Visuals Production, plans to premiere its crime thriller Black Market to a single audience at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos on 26th September, aiming to beat the existing record for the largest attendance at one film screening.

What Record Rixel Studios Is Chasing

The current Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a single film screening stands at 43,624, set by the Iglesia Ni Cristo church at the premiere of Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena in 2015, according to NTA. Rixel Studios' own announcement, reported by Culture Custodian, put its target at 50,000 attendees, a figure repeated by Vanguard and BellaNaija in August. A more recent Vanguard report and BusinessDay put the figure at approximately 75,000. PINCHED could not confirm which number is current, so both are reported here.

What Black Market Is About

Black Market is a crime thriller about five market women who run a cross-border smuggling operation, NTA reports. ShockNG reports the story draws from familiar Nigerian realities of trade, hardship and resilience. Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman leads the cast as Zimuzo, with Omowunmi Dada as Adesua, Scarlet Gomez as Aramide, Teniola Aladese as Folake and Susan Pwajok as Jumai, while Lateef Adedimeji plays the rival, Junior. The ensemble also includes Itele D Icon, Uzor Arukwe, Folagade Banks and Tomiwa Tegbe.

Fatimah Binta Gimsay directs the film and co-writes the screenplay with Abdul Tijani-Ahmed, ShockNG reports. Production took place in Abeokuta, and Nora Awolowo and Nicole Ofoegbu serve as producers.

Black Market Poster. Source: @rixelstudios on Instagram

Why Rixel Is Attempting This

Nora Awolowo, who leads the team at Rixel Studios, told Culture Custodian that the attempt is more than a film project and is an opportunity to create history and showcase Nigerian creativity and Nollywood on a global stage. Damilola Osikoya, chief executive of Switch Visuals Production, which is producing the event, added that there is nothing more inspiring than seeing young people challenge conventions and push the boundaries of innovation.

The event has government backing. Vanguard reports it is being organised with the support of the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and is expected to bring together government officials, entertainment industry leaders, partners and dignitaries.

What the Scale Actually Requires

ShockNG notes that an event of this magnitude represents a significant logistical undertaking, and that organisers are planning for security, traffic management and additional experiences to support a gathering of tens of thousands of people in a public square. Rixel Studios previously released Red Circle in 2025, its debut production, and Black Market is its second major project, NTA reports.

What Nigeria's Cinema Calendar Looks Like That Week

The Black Market premiere lands four days before Nigeria Cinema Day, when the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria is running its own discounted admission day nationwide on 26th September at ₦3,000 a ticket, ShockNG reports separately. Cinema Day tickets have risen from ₦1,000 in 2023 and 2024 to ₦2,000 in 2025 and now ₦3,000, and ShockNG frames the initiative as the exhibition industry running a controlled experiment on its own pricing. Coincidentally, both events fall on the same Saturday, though Black Market's premiere at Tafawa Balewa Square is a separate, ticketed event from the nationwide Cinema Day discount.

What to Watch on 26th September

Whether the attempt succeeds will depend on turnout on the day itself and on Guinness World Records certifying the final count. If it clears the current record of 43,624, it would be the first Guinness World Records title held by a Nigerian film industry event of this kind.

Tickets are sold out already. Source: @rixelstudios on Instagram

Frequently Asked Questions

What Guinness World Record Is Black Market Trying to Break?

The record for the largest attendance at a single film screening, currently 43,624, set at the 2015 premiere of Felix Manalo at the Philippine Arena.

How Many People Does Rixel Studios Want at the Screening?

Reports differ. Rixel's original announcement and August coverage put the target at 50,000, while more recent September reporting from Vanguard and BusinessDay puts it at approximately 75,000.

When and Where Is the Black Market Premiere?

The premiere is scheduled for Saturday, 26th September 2026, at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

Who Stars in Black Market?

Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Lateef Adedimeji, Omowunmi Dada, Scarlet Gomez, Teniola Aladese, Susan Pwajok, Itele D Icon and Uzor Arukwe lead the cast.

Who Made Black Market?

Black Market is produced by Rixel Studios in collaboration with FilmOne Studios and Signet Ring Studios, directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, who co-wrote the screenplay with Abdul Tijani-Ahmed.