In brief
The sequel to 2023's "Godzilla Minus One" earned $31.6 million in its first weekend, making it the biggest opening ever for a live‑action foreign‑language film in North America, a record previously held by Zhang Yimou’s "Hero" from 2004. The movie also received strong reviews and a 90% approval rating from critics.
On Sunday, the Japanese science‑fiction film Godzilla Minus Zero opened at the top of the North American box‑office, earning an estimated US$31.6 million, Xinhua reported.
The film is the direct sequel to the 2023 Oscar‑winning "Godzilla Minus One" and the 39th entry in the long‑running franchise. It set a new record for the largest opening ever for a live‑action foreign‑language movie in the United States, surpassing the 2004 Wǒmaín Mao’s “Hero,” which earned US$17.8 million.
Distributed in North America by GKIDS, the movie received highly favorable reviews. It holds a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 170 reviews and earned an ‘A’ grade on CinemaScore’s audience‑polling scale.
Behind it, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s fantasy film The Cat in the Hat earned US$20.5 million for second place, while Angel Studios’ historical musical drama Drummer Boy collected US$9.3 million for the third spot.
The strong debut highlights the growing appetite for foreign‑language action films in the U.S., showing that a monster movie can dominate mainstream screens and attract both dedicated fans and casual viewers.
