Takashi Yamazaki’s sequel Godzilla Minus Zero delivered a historic opening weekend, earning $31.6 million across the United States and Canada. The figure sets a new record for a foreign‑language live‑action film and comfortably surpasses the $20.5 million debut of Warner Bros.’ animated The Cat in the Hat.
Box‑office performance and comparisons
The film, produced by Toho and distributed in North America by GKids, also generated $10 million overseas, reinforcing its global reach. While the 2004 religious epic Passion of the Christ posted a larger opening ($83.8 million), that figure reflects a largely Aramaic dialogue film, making Yamazaki’s achievement notable for a Japanese‑language production.
Last year’s anime Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opened with $70.6 million, but Godzilla Minus Zero now holds the top spot for live‑action foreign‑language releases, overtaking the previous record of $17.9 million set by 2004’s Hero.
International releases and IMAX impact
The weekend also marked the widest North American release for an Indian film, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, which earned $8.7 million domestically and $32 million in India. Both titles received near‑simultaneous global releases, with Godzilla Minus Zero earning about $17 million in Japan alone.
IMAX screenings contributed significantly, accounting for $21.3 million (34 %) of the film’s total box‑office take. The early IMAX‑only release helped boost its opening numbers.
Critical reception and future outlook
Critics have responded favorably, giving the film a 90 % fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore from audiences. With a production budget under $20 million, the movie is poised to exceed its predecessor’s $57.1 million total gross.
Industry observers note that the strong performance may set expectations for the upcoming English‑language Godzilla sequel, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, slated for release in March.
Other weekend highlights
Warner Bros.’ The Cat in the Hat struggled to attract viewers, earning modest box‑office returns despite an $86 million budget. Competing titles such as Laika’s stop‑motion Wildwood and Angel Studios’ musical Drummer Boy performed respectably, with the latter pulling $9.3 million.
Overall ticket sales jumped 96.8 % from the previous weekend, according to Rentrak data, underscoring a robust rebound in cinema attendance.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
