'Godzilla Minus Zero' stomps to record-setting $31.6M debut
Godzilla Minus Zero dominated the North American weekend with a record $31.6 million debut for a foreign-language film, signaling strong cross-border appeal for Takashi Yamazaki’s postwar epic and the broader international slate. Its launch outpaced Warner Bros.’ The Cat in the Hat, which opened at $20.5 million, aided by a near-simultaneous global release that also included India. The film benefited from a sub-$20 million budget and a sizable IMAX rollout, contributing to a broader global intake and foreshadowing potential momentum for the franchise ahead of Godzilla x Kong: Supernova. Critics and audiences responded well, reinforcing the model of high-profile, non-English releases drawing U.S. audiences, with ongoing discussion about future theatrical strategies and releases.
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Godzilla Minus Zero opened to $31.6 million in the U.S. and Canada, outperforming The Cat in the Hat, which earned $20.5 million domestically and $10 million overseas as part of its weekend totals.
The film is a sequel to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, crafted on a budget reportedly under $20 million, expanding the franchise’s roots in Japanese storytelling while aiming for broader global distribution.
IMAX played a significant role, with $21.3 million of the worldwide gross (about 34%) coming from large-format screenings; the title received an early IMAX-only release.
Other notable debuts included Ramayana: Rise of a Legend in the same weekend, a Hindi-language epic that opened with $8.7 million domestically and $32 million in India, illustrating a wide, multi-market rollout.
Japan contributed about $17 million to the weekend total for Godzilla Minus Zero, underscoring strong domestic interest in the continued Godzilla lineage.
Critical and audience reception was favorable, with Rotten Tomatoes at 90% fresh and an A CinemaScore, indicating strong word-of-mouth potential for the franchise.
Looking ahead, the industry expects continued attention on non-English blockbusters as the release calendar includes Godzilla x Kong: Supernova in March, which will test whether this momentum persists across English-language productions.