The key facts

  • Godzilla Minus Zero grossed $31.6 million in the US and Canada in its first weekend — a record for a live-action foreign film
  • The worldwide opening gross was about $63 million, including roughly $17 million in Japan
  • The film's budget is estimated at under $20 million; its predecessor earned $57.1 million in North America over its entire run

Record-breaking opening in North America

Godzilla Minus Zero, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, grossed $31.6 million in its debut weekend in US and Canadian theaters. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film set a record for the biggest opening of a live-action foreign film in the North American market and topped the box office, beating Warner Bros.' animated feature The Cat in the Hat, which earned $20.5 million in North America and another $10 million abroad; the title character was voiced by Bill Hader.

Worldwide gross and context

Godzilla Minus Zero grossed about $63 million worldwide in its opening weekend, including roughly $17 million in Japan. The Japanese film's budget is estimated at under $20 million; a significant share of the revenue came from IMAX screenings, and the film received high marks from critics and audiences. For comparison: its predecessor, 2023's Godzilla Minus One, earned $57.1 million in the US and Canada over its entire theatrical run — meaning the sequel nearly matched that figure in a single weekend.

The rest of the box office

Third place in the North American ranking went to the musical drama Drummer Boy with $9.3 million. The Indian epic Ramayana: Rise of the Legends earned $8.7 million in the US and Canada plus another $32 million in India. It is also worth noting that, according to earlier reports, summer box office revenue grew by 45%, and the number of tickets sold rose by 26% compared with last year.