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Godzilla Minus Zero Takes $13.5 Million on First US Day and Tracks Toward a Foreign-Language Opening Record

Godzilla Minus Zero took $13.5 million on its first day in the United States and Canada and is tracking for a $30 million to $33 million opening weekend, which would set the record for a live-action foreign-language film.

By admin Nov. 7, 2026 · 11:03 AM ET 1 min read

A giant monster silhouette towers over a city skyline at night under dark clouds, with searchlights sweeping the sky

Godzilla Minus Zero took $13.5 million on its opening Friday in the United States and Canada, including $6.7 million from Thursday previews, putting the Japanese-language sequel on course for the biggest domestic opening ever by a live-action foreign-language film.

Deadline reports the film is tracking for a $30 million to $33 million opening weekend across 3,254 theaters. If it lands in that range, it would pass the $17.8 million opening of Zhang Yimou’s Hero in 2004, and it would also be the largest debut for distributor GKIDS. Worldwide, trade estimates put the opening at about $60 million.

A crowded movie theater audience seen from behind, watching a large glowing screen

A CinemaScore and a record start in Japan

Opening-night audiences gave the film an A CinemaScore, the same grade its predecessor earned. Critics have it at 91 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, a shade below Minus One’s 99 percent.

The film opened in Japan on November 3, Godzilla Day, selling more than 590,000 tickets for ¥910 million, about $5.7 million, the biggest opening day for a live-action film in Japan, Japanese or foreign, according to Toho and GKIDS. Its three-day total in Japan reached ¥1.38 billion, about $8.7 million.

A low-budget sequel with a large opening

The sequel runs 135 minutes and is the first Japanese production filmed for IMAX. It carries an R rating, the first for the franchise, for some violent content and bloody images. Its predecessor, Godzilla Minus One, was made for $15 million and grossed more than $110 million worldwide on its way to an Academy Award for best visual effects.

Director Takashi Yamazaki has said he is “fifty-fifty” on a third film, and this weekend’s numbers will help decide it. The film arrives in India on November 20 through PVR INOX Pictures.

Reporting based on coverage by Deadline via Filmverse and Toho.

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