Godzilla Minus Zero leads preview weekend with $6.7 million haul

Moviegoers in North America are preparing for a crowded opening weekend that pits a Japanese kaiju sequel against a major animated adaptation and a prestige drama. Godzilla Minus Zero is positioned to take the top spot at the domestic box office based on early ticket sales. The film generated $6.7 million in Thursday previews, a figure that includes Imax-exclusive advance screenings held on Tuesday to mark Godzilla Day. Distributors GKIDS and Toho are projecting an opening in the low to mid $20 millions for the film, which releases in 3,254 theaters on Friday.

The movie serves as a follow-up to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, a film that won the Oscar for best visual effects. Director Takashi Yamazaki’s new installment carries a reported budget in the mid-teens and stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, and Min Tanaka. The plot centers on postwar Japan dealing with attacks from the three-headed Ghidorah while considering the return of Godzilla. If the film opens at number one, it will become only the fourth non-English release to achieve that position in domestic history. Previous releases to hold the top spot include The Passion of the Christ and Hero in 2004, and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle last year.

Godzilla Minus Zero holds a 90 percent approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. David Rooney, chief film critic for The Hollywood Reporter, described the film as a thrilling jolt of marauding monster action. The predecessor, Godzilla Minus One, opened to $11.4 million in December 2023 and collected $57.1 million domestically during its run. It added another $56.9 million in international markets.

The main challenger to the Godzilla franchise is The Cat in the Hat, which grossed $1 million in Thursday previews. Warner Bros. is releasing the film in more than 4,000 North American locations on Friday. The studio projects an opening around $20 million for the movie, which has a $92 million budget. The film is an animated adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ 1957 children’s book, directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni. Bill Hader voices the titular character, who is given a final chance to prove his worth by helping a pair of siblings. This marks the first theatrical release for Warner Bros. Pictures Animation since Bill Damaschke was hired as president and chief creative officer in 2023. Critics have been mixed on the film, which holds a 49 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter called it more taxing than enjoyable.

Searchlight Pictures is releasing Wild Horse Nine in 1,100 North American theaters on Friday after collecting $900,000 in Thursday previews. The film stars John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, and Steve Buscemi. Writer-director Martin McDonagh’s awards hopeful follows two CIA operatives who travel from Santiago, Chile, to Easter Island in 1973. The movie holds a 95 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Rooney described the film as uniquely affecting.

Sony Pictures released Ramayana: Rise of a Legend in 1,433 North American locations on Thursday, prior to the start of Diwali. The film grossed $3.5 million for that day, including Wednesday previews. This launch represents the widest domestic release for an Indian film to date. Director Nitesh Tiwari’s religious epic focuses on the life of Prince Rama. The two-film project has a reported budget of $420 million and beyond. The studio projects a $6 million opening over the four-day weekend for the film, which holds a 75 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes.