According to data from COMSCORE, Kayode Kasum’s hilarious crime caper Sugar Rush has grossed over ₦200 million, making it the seventh Nollywood film to do so. The film has done so in style, with its ₦211 million box office earnings coming in its fifth week at the cinemas while still playing nationwide at 55 locations. Previous films to cross the ₦200 million mark include The Wedding Party 1 and 2, Chief Daddy, Merry Men 1 and 2, and King of Boys.
Sugar Rush opened on Christmas day and made ₦110 million in its first week (the fastest Nollywood film to do so in 2019). And by its third week at the cinemas, the Jade Osiberu-produced film had accumulated ₦165 million.
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The film’s impressive box-office run was cut short when it was removed from the cinemas by the National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB). Following the backlash, the NFVCB explained the film was removed from the cinemas because it only got a temporal approval to play.
“I take responsibility for the gap in communication and the delay in granting final approval as the temporary approval given for the movie exhibition expired before we could release an official statement due to my preoccupation with extant responsibilities and backlog of movies requiring approval as a result of the December rush,” the NFVCB board Executive Director Adebayo Thomas says in a statement on the issue.
A week later, Sugar Rush returned to the cinemas and made ₦18 million in its new opening weekend thanks to increased demand for the film.
On top of its commercial success, the film has received mostly positive reviews.
The film follows three sisters—Bola, Shola, and Suzy—who happen upon 800,000 dollars and start to live the good life. Their lives take a different turn when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) begins to investigate them and the supposed owners of the money come for it. To save themselves, they must team up with unlikely partners to steal from a wealthy, dangerous man known for his viciousness and Juju powers.
Sugar Rush stars Adesua Etomi, Bisola Aiyeola, Banky W, Toke Makinwa, Uzor Arukwe, Mawuli Gavor, Williams Uchemba and Tobi Bakre. It is written by Jade Osiberu and Bimbo Aajkaiye.