Lagos film screening sets Guinness record with 51,000 viewers

A screening of the Nigerian crime thriller Black Market in Lagos has set a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a film screening, with 51,000 qualifying viewers.

The film by Damilola Osikoya and Nora Awolowo was shown at Tafawa Balewa Square on 26 September 2026. Guinness World Records certified the audience count after the event, including only viewers who met its requirement to remain for the screening. The crowd was larger than the number ultimately recognised for the record.

The new tally surpassed the previous record of 43,624, set in the Philippines on 4 October 2015. That audience gathered at the Philippine Arena for a screening of the Filipino film Felix Manalo, organised by Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu congratulated the filmmakers and the wider production and screening team in a statement on 28 September. He linked their achievement to the broader role of Nigeria’s creative industry, saying the sector was building businesses, creating jobs and bringing the country’s stories and culture to audiences around the world.