Godzilla Minus One has blown out of the gates in the American market, over-performing with an impressive $11 million opening for the weekend. In only a few days it has become the highest grossing Toho Godzilla film in North America, beating Godzilla 2000's $10.03 Million. It came in 3rd place overall, becoming the #1 biggest Japanese opening in the United States of all time and the highest foreign language opening of 2023. As a result it is now the second highest foreign language opening of all time in the U.S.
The addition of 3.82 Billion Yen (~$25.9 Million) in Japan brings the movie to a rough estimate of $37-38 Million worldwide. Word of how well the film is doing in the U.S. reached Japan on Monday, boosting its numbers for its 5th week. In the U.S., it had an impressive Monday hold and became the #1 movie in the country with a total of $12.6 Million and climbing.
Godzilla Minus One has been praised as one of the all-time greatest films in the franchise, winning critics and audiences all over the world. At 97% it is currently the highest rated, "Certified Fresh" Godzilla movie on Rotten Tomatoes behind Ishiro Honda's 1954 original (93%) and Shin Godzilla (86%). Director Takashi Yamazaki has already won a Best Director Award for the film at the 48th Hochi Film Awards.
Current records now held by Godzilla Minus One at the U.S. box office:
- #1 All-Time Highest Grossing Toho Godzilla Movie
- #1 2023 Highest Opening for a Foreign Language Film
- #1 All-Time Highest Opening for a Japanese Film
- #2 All-Time Highest Opening for a Foreign Language Film
Takashi Yamazaki has hinted the film's budget is higher than 1 Billion Yen (~$7 Million), but lower than 3 Billion Yen (~$20 Million). Most sources have estimated the budget is $15 Million, but there has yet to be an official word on that number. Regardless, as the film approaches $40 Million worldwide, Godzilla Minus One is already a glowing succes. You can continue to follow Godzilla Minus One's box office progress here.
Set in a post-war Japan, Godzilla Minus One will once again show us a Godzilla that is a terrifying and overwhelming force. Japan, which had already been devastated by the war, faces a new threat with Godzilla, bringing the country from nothing (zero) into the ‘minus.’
Godzilla Minus One is directed by Takashi Yamazaki. An award winning filmmaker and avid Godzilla fan, his work on Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005) earned him two Japanese Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Screenwriter. He was honored with another Best Director and Best Screenplay nomination for the sequel, Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (2007). In 2016, he won the Best Director category again for The Eternal Zero. Yamazaki also helmed highly acclaimed actioners, Returner, Space Battleship Yamato and many others.
He gave Godzilla a cameo during an opening dream sequence in Always: Sunset on Third Street 2. In 2021 he returned to Godzilla and directed footage for Seibuen Amusement Park's Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monster Battle Summit.
Godzilla Minus One is now playing in both Japan and North America.
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Source(s):
BoxOffice Pro
Crunchyroll
Screenrant
Rotten Tomatoes
Godzilla Minus One Official Twitter
Collider
The next Hollywood Godzilla movie is officially called Godzilla x Kong: Supernova and will hit theaters on March 26th, 2027! Visit the GxK: Supernova page for more information, production updates and everything we know so far!
From Toho, Takashi Yamazaki is directing a sequel to Godzilla Minus One and is currently in development! The next film will act as a direct follow-up and will even include more Monsters! The Godzilla Minus One sequel page is tracking all information on Toho's next Godzilla movie as it becomes available, don't miss an update!
There is also the next season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters on the way, as well as other spin-off Godzilla series in the works at Apple TV!
Furthermore, while not Godzilla related, Legendary have also teamed up with Amazon to produce a live-action Pacific Rim TV series, which is also currently in the works! So many Kaiju-sized projects in the works - check back often for new information on them all!
