Godzilla Minus Zero Tops Box Office

The Japanese sequel Godzilla Minus Zero generated $31.6 million from 3,254 theaters over the weekend. This figure establishes a new record for the highest opening weekend for a live-action foreign-language film in the United States. The previous benchmark was set in 2002 by the martial arts film Hero, which earned $17.8 million.

The production is the first Japanese film shot for IMAX. That format contributed $12.7 million to the total, representing 40% of domestic ticket sales. Premium large formats, including Dolby, accounted for 74% of all revenue. By comparison, The Odyssey captured 53% of its opening weekend earnings from similar screens. Audiences gave the film an A grade in CinemaScore exit polls, while critics awarded it a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Chance Huskey, vice president of distribution for Gkids, noted that the release was a landmark event. He stated that the success resulted from a campaign emphasizing the intensity of the theatrical experience. The film follows two years after the events of 2023’s Godzilla Minus One. In that previous installment, the monster resurfaced in postwar Japan. It grossed $57 million domestically and $113 million globally before winning a visual effects Oscar.

The animated adaptation of The Cat in the Hat opened at $20 million from 4,003 locations. This marks a weak start for a film based on a Dr. Seuss classic. The movie earned an A grade from audiences but received a 45% score from critics. Bill Hader voices the titular character in the film. The project carries a $92 million budget. Warner Bros. has faced financial setbacks this year with other releases, including Digger, The Bride!, and Supergirl.

The Cat in the Hat collected $10 million from 60 international markets for a global total of $30.5 million. David A. Gross, who publishes the FranchiseRe newsletter, called the performance a soft opening. He observed that family animation often recovers costs through digital sales, streaming, and television licensing. The 2003 live-action version of the story opened with $38 million and finished with $134 million.

Total box office revenue for the weekend reached $114 million across all films. This represents an 86% increase compared to the same period last year. Year-to-date revenues stand at $8.6 billion, which is 20% higher than the same point in 2025. Rentrak reports that exhibitors expect this momentum to continue through the holiday season.

Upcoming releases include Paramount’s Ebenezer, starring Johnny Depp, and Lionsgate’s Sunrise on the Reaping. Universal will release Focker in Law, while Disney presents the animated film Hexed. Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends at Rentrak, described the current performance as an encouraging sign for the holiday movie season.