In brief
The Japanese film "Godzilla Minus Zero" opened at the top of the North American box office, earning an estimated $31.6 million in its first weekend and surpassing the record set by “Hero.” Distributed by GKIDS, the movie received highly favorable reviews and an “A” grade on CinemaScore. Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s "The Cat in the Hat" and Angel Studios’ "Drummer Boy" finished second and third.
According to Xinhua, the Japanese science‑fiction film "Godzilla Minus Zero" topped the North American box office during its opening weekend, earning an estimated US$31.6 million.
The release, a direct sequel to the 2023 Oscar‑winning "Godzilla Minus One" and the 39th entry in the enduring franchise, set a new benchmark for live‑action foreign‑language movies in the region, eclipsing the US$17.8 million opening of Zhang Yimou’s 2004 film "Hero.”
GKIDS, the North American distributor, achieved the highest opening for a foreign‑language film with a record‑breaking arrival that drew a wide audience across the continent.
Box‑office data from measurement firm Rentrak, cited by Xinhua, confirmed the strong debut and highlighted the film’s broad appeal among viewers of all ages.
Critics have responded favorably: on the review‑aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, “Godzilla Minus Zero” holds a 90 percent approval rating based on 170 reviews, while audience polls on CinemaScore awarded the film an “A” grade.
The competition for the second spot was led by Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s fantasy adaptation of the 1957 children’s book, "The Cat in the Hat," which brought in US$20.5 million over the opening weekend.
Angel Studios’ historical musical drama, "Drummer Boy," occupied third place, generating US$9.3 million during the same period.
Commentators point to the film’s combination of action, visual effects and a contemporary storyline as key factors that resonated with both domestic and international audiences in the United States and Canada.
Some industry insiders argue that the record opening underscores a growing appetite for non‑English‐language action films in the North American market, while others note that special‑edition releases and targeted marketing played a major role in the success.
With the momentum from the opening weekend, Xinhua projects that "Godzilla Minus Zero" could maintain its lead in the upcoming weeks, provided that competing releases do not surpass the early revenue figures already achieved.
