Godzilla Minus Zero stomps US box office with record $31.6m debut

Godzilla has roared back to the top of the US box office with a record-breaking opening weekend. According to The Guardian ^[1], the foreign-language film Godzilla Minus Zero took $31.6m in North American takings, generating $63m worldwide. This performance marks the biggest live-action foreign-language film opening in the region’s history.

The Independent reported ^[2] that the sequel to the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One easily thrashed Warner Bros’ animated The Cat in the Hat, which opened with $20.5m. While the Dr Seuss revival struggled, the Japanese production capitalised on a near-simultaneous global release strategy. Koji Ueda, president of Toho Global, stated that the historic opening demonstrated the deep global connection audiences have with director Takashi Yamazaki’s vision.

Set in 1949 Japan, the film features a radioactively regenerated Godzilla battling the three-headed Ghidorah. The Guardian ^[1] noted that the production relied heavily on on-location filming, utilizing sites such as a sports park in Ibaraki and a temple in Maizuru. Industry analyst David A Gross told the outlet that the success exceeded expectations, nearly tripling the previous opening of Godzilla Minus One in December 2023.

In Japan, the film also set domestic records. According to the Kyodo news agency via The Guardian ^[1], it earned $5.75m on its opening day, more than double the first-day earnings of its predecessor. The film’s use of Imax screens proved pivotal, generating 34% of its global box office take from large-format venues. The Independent ^[2] confirmed that $21.3m of the global total came from Imax, highlighting the format's role in driving audience interest.

Competition remained fierce, with the Indian epic Ramayana: Rise of a Legend earning $55.7m globally. However, as reported by The Guardian ^[1], the Hindi-language blockbuster only managed $8.7m in the US and Canada, placing fifth domestically behind Drummer Boy and You Can See Everything. Despite Ramayana being the most expensive Indian film ever made, it could not match Godzilla’s North American dominance.

The weekend’s overall ticket sales surged by 96.8% compared to the previous week, according to Rentrak data cited by The Independent ^[2]. This rebound suggests a strong appetite for diverse, non-English productions. With Godzilla x Kong: Supernova scheduled for March, the industry is watching whether this Japanese-led momentum will pressure Hollywood’s next entry into the franchise.