Box Office: Femi Branch Chides Cinemas For Favouritism

Actor Femi Branch has raised concerns about the growing trend of cinemas promoting one movie over others.

His frustration came to light during a meet-and-greet event for Toyin Abraham’s latest film, Alakada Bad and Boujee, at a cinema.

In a video shared online, Branch revealed that some cinema staff promote certain films by wearing promotional T-shirts, removing media cards for other movies, and replacing them with the cards of the favoured film.

He also alleged that staff members encourage patrons to watch the promoted film, claiming it is a better choice than what they initially planned to see.

Branch emphasised that cinemas should not dictate movie choices for the audience and called for an end to these practices.

He argued that this trend causes division within the industry and undermines fairness for filmmakers, appealing for more transparency and fairness in cinema promotions.

Toyin Abraham had earlier spoken about the challenges faced by film producers in cinemas, noting that some fans expect gifts in exchange for watching her movie, which creates an uneven playing field for producers unable to offer such incentives.

Abraham, along with Mercy Aigbe, had also accused some cinemas of sabotaging their films.

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.