In brief
‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ opened at the top of the North American box office, earning $31.6 million and setting a record for the biggest opening of a live‑action foreign‑language film. Distributed by GKIDS, the film surpassed Zhang Yimou’s 2004 ’Hero’ and received a 90 % approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and Angel Studios’ ‘Drummer Boy’ finished second and third.
Los Angeles, Nov. 8 – The Japanese science‑fiction movie “Godzilla Minus Zero” topped the North American box office this weekend, pulling in an estimated US$31.6 million, according to measurement firm Rentrak.
The release, a direct sequel to the 2023 Oscar‑winning “Godzilla Minus One,” is the 39th entry in the long‑running Godzilla franchise and the newest live‑action monster film shot and dubbed in a foreign language.
Opening Weekend Figures
For the first four days of showings, the film earned a record $31.6 million, eclipsing the prior benchmark for a live‑action foreign‑language movie set by Zhang Yimou’s “Hero,” which grossed US$17.8 million in 2004.
The distribution company GKIDS handled the North American release, coordinating theatrical releases across the United States and Canada.
The film’s success positioned it ahead of two other newcomers that opened that same weekend. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s fantasy adaptation of the 1957 children’s book “The Cat in the Hat” captured the second spot with US$20.5 million, while Angel Studios’ musical drama “Drummer Boy,” based on a historical figure, slipped into third place with a take of US$9.3 million.
Critical Reception
Critics have largely praised “Godzilla Minus Zero,” citing its high‑energy action sequences and faithful continuation of the Godzilla mythos.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 90 % approval rating, calculated from 170 reviews submitted by mainstream and independent critics.
Audience polling, conducted by CinemaScore, awarded the film an “A” grade on its A+ to F rating scale, indicating strong word‑of‑mouth enthusiasm among moviegoers.
While these metrics highlight the film’s positive reception, they also underscore the growing appetite for high‑quality foreign‑language blockbusters within the North American market.
