Burna Boy's Pan-African Thriller '3 Cold Dishes' Grosses ₦24.6M in Opening Weekend Across Africa

Burna Boy’s debut feature as a producer, 3 Cold Dishes, delivered a strong start at the Pan-African box office with a ₦24.6 million opening weekend, according to figures confirmed by Nigerian distributors and reported by outlets including Pulse Nigeria and The Nollywood Reporter. The early performance points to growing momentum for big-budget, cross-continental African films.

The thriller, directed by award-winning filmmaker Asurf Oluseyi and produced by Burna Boy’s Spaceship Films with his manager and mother, Bose Ogulu, opened on November 7 across cinemas in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, and Cameroon, with a simultaneous rollout in the United Kingdom. 

Variety noted that the London premiere was intentionally chosen to position the project as a Pan-African production rather than a strictly Nigerian title.

Shot across Nigeria, Benin, and Côte d’Ivoire with a reported budget of roughly $1 million, the film blends English, French, and Yoruba dialogue and is one of the rare Nollywood titles to release with a full French-dubbed version.

The story follows three women from West Africa who reconnect two decades after surviving human trafficking, setting out to confront their past and seek justice.

The film drew more than 1,700 guests to its world premiere at Indigo at The O₂ in London on October 3, with appearances from lead actress and executive producer Osas Ighodaro and cast members Wale Ojo, Fat Toure, MaudGuerard, and Ruby Akubueze. Burna Boy later promoted the release by screening a teaser at his sold-out Stade de France concert in April, reaching an audience of about 80,000 people.

Industry analysts said the opening numbers signal rising audience appetite for African films that combine higher production values with cross-regional storytelling. 

Early reviews have praised the cinematography by Kenechukwu Obiajulu, with The Guardian describing the picture as a stylish, Tarantino-inflected interpretation of the Abidjan-Lagos corridor, even as it noted pacing inconsistencies.

The project also highlights an industrywide trend of global African music stars expanding into cinema and helping push the continent’s creative industries into new markets. 

Nollywood, valued at more than $4.2 billion annually and responsible for 2.3 percent of Nigeria’s GDP, has seen renewed investment in international co-productions and theatrical releases targeting both Anglophone and Francophone audiences.

3 Cold Dishes opened the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos on November 2, aligning with this year’s theme, “The Rhythms of the Continent: The Afrobeat’s Film Movement.” A wider Francophone Africa release is scheduled for November 28, followed by a Canadian premiere on December 16 during Burna Boy’s North American tour.

Plans are underway for theatrical releases in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Houston later in the month. CAA is handling North American distribution, while Pape Boye is overseeing worldwide sales. 

With talent spanning nine African countries, including Ugandan producer Andrew Ahuurra on music and post-production, the film is being viewed by industry observers as a model for future collaborative African cinema.