Editi Effiong’s ‘The Black Book’ makes it to Number 4 on Netflix worldwide

Editi Effiong’s million-dollar film, “The Black Book,” has soared to the top five spot on Netflix’s global rankings a week after its debut. The Nigerian movie ranks as the no.4 top movie on the streaming platform. However, as of September 27, 2023, FlixPatrol reported that the film ranks as no.1 on Netflix surpassing international titles like “Love at First” and “Spy Kids Armageddon.”

According to a report on Netflix’s Top 10- Global, “The Black Book” has rapidly ascended to the fourth spot, accumulating a remarkable 5.6 million views, an astounding 11.6 million watch hours, and a 2:04 runtime.

Speaking on this big win, Editi Effiong in a tweet said.

Thank you Nigeria. Thank you Nollywood. Thank you World!!! “The Black Book is the #1 film in the world on Netflix” sounds rather amazing, but let’s look at what the official Netflix data actually says – The Black Book hit #4 in the whole world TWO DAYS AFTER RELEASE!!! Our film came out 22 September. 22-24 September numbers alone to hit #4 globally is unreal. It’s simply insane.

This milestone is nothing short of historic for the African film industry. It is also not the first time a Nigerian production has claimed the coveted such a huge position on Netflix’s global platform according to a report.

Some other Nollywood movies that have made it to the Top 10 global list include Kunle Afolayan’s Anikulapo which peaked at #1, Femi Adebayo’s Jagun Jagun at #6, Mo Abudu’s Blood Sisters and Okechukwu Ogunjiofor’s Amina at #9, and Charles Okpaleke’s Glamour Girls at #5.

Read Also: “Just gunshots and dull dialogue;” The Black Book offers no drama 

A remarkable journey

Netflix premiered “The Black Book” on September 22, further strengthening Nollywood’s presence on the streaming giant’s platform. The film also marks a significant milestone in Editi Effiong’s career serving as his directorial debut and offering a fresh perspective on Richard Mofe-Damijo, who portrays the lead character, Paul Edima.

Co-written by Bukunmi Ajakiye, produced by Lala Akindoju, and shot by Yinka Edward, this action thriller stands out as the first Nollywood film crafted with a million-dollar budget. The journey to this Netflix original involved two years of script development, a year of pre-production, and a 13-month-long filming process.

Apart from the greater heights, this film is accumulating, what sets it apart is the stellar team of executive producers, comprised of Nigeria’s top 30 fintech magnates. The executive and production team were filled with familiar names in the African tech ecosystem.

The likes of Gbenga Agboola, founder and CEO of Flutterwave; Kola Aina, founding partner at Ventures Partner; Olumide Soyombo, co-founder of Blue Chip Technologies; Nadayar Enegesi, co-founder of Eden Life; Prosper Otemuyiwa, co-founder and CTO of Eden Life; Adesunbomi Plumptre, co-founder of Volition Capital; Ezra Olubi, co-founder of Paystack; Odunayo Oweniyi, co-founder and COO of Piggyvest; Somto Ifezue, co-founder of Piggyvest; and Joshua Chibueze, co-founder and CEO of Piggyvest.

Read Also: Editi Effiòng discusses ‘The Black Book’, Nollywood, and the future of streaming in Nigeria

A global win

“The Black Book” has not only conquered the hearts of its Nigerian audience but has also captivated viewers worldwide. In its debut week, it secured top positions in 38 countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

In the Americas, the movie is top in countries like Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru. Trinidad, Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela. In Jamaica and the Bahamas, it took the no 1 spot.

In Europe, it topped in countries like Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, and Romania. In Asia, countries like Israel, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia recognized the film’s brilliance.

In Africa, it took the top spot in Nigeria which is no surprise, and also topped in other African countries like Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, and South Africa.

The Black Book outshining the global competition

“The Black Book” not only reached the top of Netflix’s global rankings but also surpassed established international contenders. In its debut week, it outperformed “Mother’s Day” “The Wolf of Wall Street” “In Time,” and “The Croods: A New Age” in terms of viewing hours.

With the success of ‘The Black Book’ Nollywood might just be sending a clear message to the world, especially in a time where diversity in film matters.