Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus Zero” opened to a chart-topping $31.6 million domestically over the weekend, establishing a new record for the largest opening weekend for a live-action foreign-language film in North America.
Surpassing the previous benchmark set by 2004’s “Hero,” which debuted at $17.9 million, the Toho-produced sequel outperformed Warner Bros.’ animated release “The Cat in the Hat,” which finished its opening weekend with $20.5 million domestically and $10 million overseas.
Distributed in North America by GKids, the post-World War II sequel follows the success of its 2023 predecessor, “Godzilla Minus One,” which won an Academy Award for best visual effects and grossed $57.1 million in the United States and Canada.
Produced on a budget under $20 million, “Godzilla Minus Zero” earned an additional $17 million in Japan over the weekend, contributing to strong global momentum.
Toho Global president Koji Ueda commented on the film’s international launch in a statement:
“This historic opening shows how deeply audiences around the world connect with Godzilla and with Takashi Yamazaki’s vision.”
The film’s performance was bolstered significantly by its IMAX screenings, which pulled in $21.3 million globally and accounted for 34 percent of its total box office earnings. It has also received positive audience and critical reception, holding a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes alongside an “A” CinemaScore following its New York Film Festival premiere last month.
Other international titles also performed well during the weekend box office window. The Hindi-language epic “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” brought in $8.7 million in North America and $32 million in India, while last year’s anime feature “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” previously pulled in $70.6 million.
The box office momentum precedes upcoming major franchise entries, with Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures scheduled to release “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova” in March.