Godzilla Minus Zero Leads Weekend Box Office Race With $6.7M Previews

The domestic box office is set for a crowded weekend as four major titles compete for attention. Godzilla Minus Zero has taken an early lead with strong preview numbers, positioning it to potentially claim the top spot.

GKIDS and Toho released the film in 3,254 North American theaters on Friday. The distributor included Imax screens in this initial rollout. On Thursday, the movie grossed $6.7 million in previews. This total does not include revenue from Imax-exclusive advance screenings held on Tuesday for Godzilla Day.

The studio projects an opening weekend total in the low-to-mid $20 million range. If it achieves this target, the film would become only the fourth non-English release to open at No. 1 in the United States. The previous titles to reach this milestone were The Passion of the Christ in 2004, Hero in 2004, and Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle last year.

Takashi Yamazaki directed this sequel to the 2023 Oscar winner Godzilla Minus One. The cast includes Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, and Min Tanaka. The reported budget for the production sits in the mid-teens. The plot follows postwar Japan as it faces attacks from the three-headed monster Ghidorah while contemplating the return of Godzilla.

Critics have responded positively to the new entry. It holds a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. David Rooney, the chief film critic for The Hollywood Reporter, described the film as a thrilling jolt of marauding monster action. The predecessor, Godzilla Minus One, opened to $11.4 million in December 2023 and earned $57.1 million domestically. It also collected $56.9 million internationally and won the best visual effects Oscar.

Warner Bros. released The Cat in the Hat in more than 4,000 North American locations on Friday. The animated film grossed $1 million in Thursday previews. The studio expects an opening around $20 million for this $92 million-budgeted production. It will also open in roughly 60 international markets, with a global rollout continuing over the next eight weeks.

Directors Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni adapted Dr. Seuss' 1957 children's book for this theatrical release. It is the first film from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation since Bill Damaschke was hired as president and chief creative officer in 2023. Bill Hader voices the cat, who gets one last chance to prove his value by helping two siblings. The film holds a 49 percent critics score, with Frank Scheck noting it is more taxing than enjoyable.

Searchlight Pictures released Wild Horse Nine in 1,100 North American theaters on Friday. The film earned $900,000 in Thursday previews. Martin McDonagh wrote and directed this awards contender, which stars John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, and Steve Buscemi. The story follows two CIA agents traveling from Santiago, Chile, to Easter Island in 1973. It holds a 95 percent critics score, and Rooney called it uniquely affecting.

Sony Pictures released Ramayana: Rise of a Legend in 1,433 North American locations on Thursday. The film grossed $3.5 million for the day, a figure that includes Wednesday previews. This marks the widest domestic launch for an Indian film. Director Nitesh Tiwari's religious epic focuses on the life of Prince Rama. The two-film project has a reported budget of $420 million or more. The studio projects a $6 million opening for the four-day weekend.

Ramayana: Rise of a Legend holds a 75 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The timing of its release aligns with the start of the Diwali holiday.