Toyin Abraham’s Bestie Cast Reveals Put Pressure on Funke Akindele’s The Four as December Box Office Rivalry Returns
Toyin Abraham’s step-by-step unveiling of the cast of her forthcoming film Bestie is adding fresh tension to Nollywood’s December cinema season, with a source close to Funke Akindele’s camp claiming the reveals are being watched closely. The report says Akindele’s team could adjust its promotion of The Four: No One Fights Alone as the release date approaches.
The two films are scheduled to open just five days apart. Akindele’s The Four arrives in cinemas on December 11, while Abraham’s Bestie follows on December 16. That proximity has revived one of Nollywood’s best-known commercial rivalries, and fans have already begun comparing the two projects on social media.
Abraham began announcing the Bestie cast earlier this month, and she has chosen to reveal names one at a time rather than publish the full list at once. Veteran actors Pete Edochie and Sola Sobowale were among the first names she confirmed. She has since continued the approach, and her most recent announcements included rapper Reminisce, whom she called the “GOAT of all GOATS.” Staggered reveals give a film repeated moments of online attention, with each name creating its own round of discussion.
According to the report, the source in Akindele’s camp said her team could rework parts of its promotional plan, especially after seeing how audiences respond to the moves coming from competing productions. This is an unnamed source’s claim. Neither Akindele nor Abraham had publicly commented on any change of strategy in the reports reviewed, and the claim should be treated as unconfirmed.
The Four already has a large ensemble. Names announced so far include Akindele herself, Bisola Aiyeola, Waje, Uzor Arukwe, Chioma Akpotha, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Timini Egbuson, Wunmi Toriola and Ali Nuhu, along with Ronke Oshodi, Antar Laniyan and others. The full Bestie line-up has not been released, though Abraham’s involvement is confirmed.
The rivalry has a history. It gained prominence in 2022, when Akindele released Battle on Buka Street on December 16 and Abraham followed a week later with Ijakumo on December 23. YNaija reported that Akindele’s film grossed about ₦668 million at the box office, against roughly ₦278 million for Abraham’s. Abraham congratulated Akindele and acknowledged her as the winner at the time. More recently, Akindele’s Behind the Scenes was reported to have crossed ₦2 billion in earnings.
Online reaction to the new clash has been mixed. Some users accused Abraham of copying Akindele’s rollout style, while others asked for evidence and defended her approach. Neither side has been proven right, and cast reveals are a common promotional tool in the industry.
Analysts note that competing releases can help both films by keeping cinema audiences engaged, though they also split attention and screen time during a crowded holiday period. The final result will depend on the films’ reviews, word of mouth and how many screens each secures.
With more than two months to go, both camps are expected to intensify their campaigns.
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