Godzilla Minus Zero Leads Friday Box Office with $14.5 Million

"Godzilla Minus Zero," the sequel to 2023's "Godzilla Minus One," generated $14.5 million from 3,254 North American theaters on Friday, securing the top spot and targeting a $32 million total by Sunday. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film is set two years after its predecessor, featuring Godzilla's return to battle a new monster in postwar Japan. Variety noted that the movie "is destined to connect with a huge international audience" and suggested it will likely spawn further kaiju epics from Yamazaki.

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation's "The Cat in the Hat" placed second, earning $6 million from 4,003 theaters. The family comedy, voiced by Bill Hader and directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, is projected to reach $18.7 million by Sunday, slightly below early forecasts of $20-$25 million for its opening weekend.

Angel Studios' "Drummer Boy" held third place with $3.39 million from 2,850 theaters and is expected to total $7.9 million by Sunday. The patriotic musical, directed by Ben and Joel David Smallbone, follows a young drummer, an enslaved woman, and a divided family during America's fight for independence.

A24's "You Can See Everything" earned $2.55 million on its fourth Friday, maintaining fourth place, while Searchlight's "Wild Horse Nine" took fifth with $2.47 million, according to rival estimates.