Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus Zero
claimed the top spot at the North American box office this weekend, earning $31.6 million during its opening period.
The R-rated sequel to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One was projected to take the No. 1 spot from Warner Bros.’ The Cat in the Hat, Vulture reported.
The film’s worldwide debut reached $63 million, GeekTyrant reported. A significant portion of that total came from India, where the movie earned $32 million, GeekTyrant added.
In the United States and Canada, the film earned $12.2 million over four days, while another $11.5 million was collected across 37 international markets handled by Sony, GeekTyrant stated.
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ opens with $31.6M at the domestic box office 💰 Biggest domestic opening ever for a live-action international film pic.twitter.com/akcOAnLNhD
The weekend’s top domestic performers included:
- “Godzilla Minus Zero”: $31.6 million
- “The Cat in the Hat”: $20.5 million
- “Drummer Boy”: $9.3 million
- “You Can See Everything”: $8.8 million
- “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend”: $8.6 million
- “Wildwood”: $7.0 million
- “Clayface”: $6.6 million
- “Wild Horse Nine”: $6.0 million
These figures were provided by Rotten Tomatoes.
Godzilla Minus Zero
holds a 90% critics approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Hollywood Reporter reported. The film’s success was bolstered by interest in premium large formats, with IMAX screens contributing $12.7 million, Vulture reported.
Specifically, IMAX screens contributed $12.7 million, which accounts for 40% of domestic grosses, Vulture reported. This makes Godzilla Minus Zero
the first Japanese production ever filmed in IMAX. According to a press release, the sequel also earned $21.3 million worldwide on IMAX screens, marking the largest global IMAX opening for a Japanese film. In this release, IMAX screens provided approximately 34% of the global opening despite representing less than 1% of the total screens.
Chance Huskey, head of distribution for GKIDS, noted that an evolution in the American moviegoing consciousness is occurring, citing examples such as the success of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which opened to $70.6 million.
The production, released by Toho and GKIDS, is set in 1949 Japan during the aftermath of World War II. The story follows the Shikishima family—including former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (played by Ryunosuke Kamiki), Noriko (Minami Hamabe), and their adopted daughter, Akiko (Sae Nagatani)—as they attempt to rebuild their lives following Godzilla’s attacks.
The sequel’s opening significantly exceeds the domestic start of the previous film, Godzilla Minus One,
which opened to $11.4 million in December 2023, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
While Godzilla Minus One
eventually collected $57.1 million in the U.S. and Canada and earned nearly $114 million worldwide, Godzilla Minus Zero
has already surpassed that figure in its opening weekend, The Hollywood Reporter noted. The new installment is the first R-rated entry in the series, Fangoria reported.
The weekend also featured Ramayana: Rise of a Legend,
a religious epic from director Nitesh Tiwari with a reported budget exceeding $420 million. The film is projected to earn $6 million over the four-day weekend and holds a 75 score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. It has broken opening records for Indian films in several markets, including $3 million in the United Kingdom, $550,000 in Thailand, $240,000 in the Netherlands, and $75,000 in South Africa, GeekTyrant reported.
Additionally, Fathom released the biopic Jimmy,
starring KJ Apa as Mr. Stewart, which opened to $2.2 million. Searchlight Pictures’ Wild Horse Nine
opened in 1,100 North American theaters, earning $6 million, following $900,000 in Thursday previews.
‘GODZILLA MINUS ZERO’ has opened with $31.6M domestically. Biggest domestic opening EVER for a live-action international film. pic.twitter.com/jY9pahloqu
Earlier coverage: Godzilla Minus Zero Sets North American Record for Foreign-Language Film
‘GODZILLA MINUS ZERO’ debuts with $31.6M in its opening weekend. The biggest opening for a live-action international film domestically. pic.twitter.com/GczmVjKBKs