Takashi Yamazaki's “Godzilla Minus Zero” is off to a huge start. Previews are reportedly landing around $6M, counting the brief Godzilla Day fan screenings from earlier in the week and tonight's shows, which alone might account for $4.5M+.
It also easily beats “Godzilla Minus One.” That film made $2.1M from its Wednesday and Thursday showtimes and went on to an $11.4M opening. ‘Minus Zero’ has been tracking for a $30M+ domestic opening, but that number now feels conservative. We’re looking at a real shot at $40M.
Think about it. “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” a Hollywood version of the monster that opened in 2019, had $6.3M in Thursday previews, which led to a $47M opening. The fact that a Japanese-language Godzilla is running neck and neck with a major studio tentpole in previews is remarkable.
What’s driving all this audience demand? The main reason is that “Godzilla Minus One,” released in 2023, was rapturously received (it stands at 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and 81 on Metacritic, and earned an A CinemaScore) and has had a healthy post-theatrical shelf life. Its reputation has only grown since then, and it’s more or less been accepted as one of the best Godzilla movies ever made.
Now, ‘Minus Zero’ hasn't received reviews as strong as ‘Minus One,’ but they have still been stellar and strong enough to pique interest. The film currently sits at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 74 on Metacritic.
There’s been no reporting on the budget of ‘Minus Zero,’ but it almost certainly didn’t come at a tentpole cost. Deadline recently reported that GKids spent only $10M on marketing. The first film had a budget of $10M–$12M and famously won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
‘Minus Zero’ has been tracking for a $30M+ domestic opening, but that number now feels conservative. We’re looking at a real shot at $40M.