Nollywood historical epic, King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos is closing in on the ₦60 million mark at the Nigerian box office, with the production team set to celebrate the reported milestone with a special screening and audience discussion in Lagos.
The film, which arrived in Nigerian cinemas on August 28, 2026, will be the focus of a special edition of Silverbird Reel Talk on Friday, September 25, at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Directed by Adebayo Tijani, King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos tells a dramatic story inspired by the political struggles surrounding Oba Kosoko and the contest for control of the Lagos throne. Femi Adebayo plays the title character, while Odunlade Adekola portrays Akitoye.
The film was produced by Ayo Ajayi and Segun Olojo-Kosoko and distributed nationwide by FilmOne Entertainment. Industry reports ahead of its release described the production as a historical epic centred on the rise, reign and resistance of the 19th-century Lagos ruler.
Silverbird Cinemas currently lists the movie among its Nollywood titles, with screenings at locations including Silverbird Galleria in Victoria Island and Ikeja City Mall. The cinema chain lists its running time at two hours and 13 minutes.
Film Heads Towards ₦60m Mark
According to Executive Producer, Ayo Ajayi, the film’s reported approach towards ₦60 million represents an important achievement for the production, particularly given what he described as a traditionally slower period for cinema attendance.
Ajayi said the figure was significant not merely because of the amount involved but because of the conditions under which the historical drama has been performing.
“Approaching ₦60 million at the box office means far more to us than the figure alone, particularly because August and September have been generally slow months for cinemas,” he said.
He added that the performance demonstrated the willingness of Nigerian cinema audiences to support stories based on the country’s history.
The Executive Producer said the filmmakers understood from the beginning that mounting a historical epic of the scale of King Kosoko would present commercial challenges. However, the team believed the story of Lagos was worth telling through a major cinematic production.
Ajayi also expressed appreciation to audiences who purchased tickets, attended screenings and encouraged others to see the film.
The reported performance comes after an earlier industry box-office update showed the film generating ₦35.5 million cumulatively during its second week, after adding about ₦10 million between September 4 and 6.
Silverbird Reel Talk Set For Lagos
The reported box-office milestone will be marked with a special Reel Talk event at Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, on Friday.
Unlike a conventional cinema screening, the event is designed to combine the movie experience with an interactive conversation involving members of the production team.
Guests are expected to watch King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos before participating in a live discussion featuring the Director, Producer and cast.
Femi Adebayo, who plays Oba Kosoko, is scheduled to attend as the special guest.
According to the event details, guests will begin arriving from 5:00 p.m., while the film screening is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for the Reel Talk event are priced at ₦15,000. The ticket package includes admission to the film, cocktails, small chops, popcorn and a drink.
The organisers have provided telephone and WhatsApp contacts for bookings and enquiries.
Femi Adebayo Leads Star-Studded Cast
The film brings together a large ensemble of established Nigerian actors, with Femi Adebayo and Odunlade Adekola at the centre of the historical drama.
Other members of the cast include Tina Mba, Fathia Balogun, Femi Branch, Gabriel Afolayan, Jide Kosoko, Yinka Quadri, Dele Odule, Kolawole Ajeyemi, Aishat Lawal, Adeniyi Johnson and Sola Kosoko.
Silverbird’s current listing also identifies Faithia Balogun Williams, Foluke Daramola Salako, Taiwo Hassan and Shola Kosoko among the film’s cast.
The production has attracted attention partly because of its focus on a period of Lagos history that involved royal succession, political alliances, resistance and the growing influence of British colonial interests.
Rather than presenting a contemporary fictional storyline, the film uses the historical figure of Kosoko to explore questions surrounding authority, loyalty, succession and the struggle for political control.
A Story Rooted In Lagos History
King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos follows the historical conflict surrounding Kosoko’s struggle for the Lagos throne and his rivalry with Akitoye.
The story unfolds against a period of significant political and economic change in Lagos, as traditional power structures interacted with expanding European influence.
Industry coverage ahead of the film’s release described the production as part of a growing interest in historical storytelling within Nollywood, with filmmakers increasingly turning to major figures and events from Nigeria’s past for large-screen adaptations.
That approach has also made the film notable within the 2026 Nigerian cinema calendar, arriving alongside other productions exploring historical and culturally rooted stories.
The film’s production scale reflects the demands of recreating an earlier period of Lagos history, including period costumes, locations and settings intended to transport audiences to the era in which the story occurred.
Film Remains In Cinemas
Despite the arrival of several new titles in Nigerian cinemas, King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos remains on cinema schedules.
Silverbird currently lists the film as a “Now Showing” title, while Filmworld Cinemas also continues to list it among its available films, with a 7:40 p.m. screening shown on its current weekly schedule.
The continued theatrical run gives audiences who have not yet seen the historical epic an opportunity to watch it on the big screen before its cinema run eventually comes to an end.
For the filmmakers, the reported approach towards the ₦60 million mark provides another indication of the audience response to a story built around Lagos’ royal and political history.
The September 25 Reel Talk event is therefore expected to serve two purposes: marking the film’s reported box-office progress and creating an opportunity for audiences to engage directly with the people behind the production.
With Femi Adebayo set to attend alongside members of the creative team, the Lagos event will offer viewers an opportunity to discuss the making of King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos, its interpretation of the historical events and the challenges involved in bringing the story to the cinema screen.