Projected $32 Million Debut: Godzilla Minus Zero Smashes Historic 22-Year Box Office Record if Estimate Holds

A record-setting opening projection

Deadline reported that, as of Saturday morning, Godzilla Minus Zero was projected to reach a three-day domestic total of $32 million by the end of its opening weekend. That would top the live-action foreign-language opening record held by Hero.

The Mandarin-language film earned $17.8 million when it debuted in the United States in 2004. Adjusted for inflation, its opening weekend is about $31.6 million, so the new film could also take the inflation-adjusted record if the projection holds.

The sequel and its franchise

The film opened in domestic theaters on November 6, following its premiere at the New York Film Festival on September 26. It is the 34th Japanese-language entry in the long-running franchise and a direct sequel to 2023's Godzilla Minus One.

Comparisons with earlier films

Godzilla Minus Zero has the strongest domestic opening for a Japanese-language film in the franchise. Its projected total is far above Godzilla Minus One's $11.4 million three-day debut.

The projection is also within $0.2 million of the opening for 2021's Godzilla vs. Kong. The article notes that the new film's debut does not match most English-language franchise installments.

Reviews and possible reach

If the sequel follows a trajectory similar to Godzilla Minus One, it could surpass $275 million worldwide, with roughly $150 million from domestic theaters. A domestic total above $150 million would make it the first live-action foreign-language film to reach that milestone.

Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon earned $128.1 million domestically, the highest total cited for a live-action foreign-language film. Godzilla Minus Zero has a 90% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, a 96% Verified Hot audience score and a CinemaScore of A; Minus One scored 99%, 98% and A, respectively.