Godzilla Minus Zero Sets Record Opening for Non-English Live-Action Film in U.S.

Takashi Yamazaki's latest Godzilla installment, Godzilla Minus Zero, generated an estimated $14.5 million in ticket sales on its opening Friday, according to box-office tracking. The figure would represent the largest single-day gross ever recorded for a non-English-language live-action film in the United States. The movie opened in 3,254 theaters, achieving a per-screen average of $4,456, which exceeds the daily earnings of other new releases and suggests a weekend total that could surpass $30 million.

Industry analysts had previously projected the film to earn between $12 million and $15 million over its opening weekend. The strong opening follows the success of Godzilla Minus One, which earned roughly $56 million domestically in 2023 and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Toho distributed Minus Zero through its U.S. arm with a wide, day-and-date release, differing from the limited rollout used for its predecessor.

Early reviews have been positive, and audiences have responded favorably to the film’s emotional depth and monster-action elements. The record comes as the franchise celebrates its 70th anniversary, recalling the original 1954 Gojira that first introduced Japanese cinema to American screens.

The performance may influence future distribution strategies for foreign-language films, as studios often prioritize box-office results over awards recognition when assessing market viability.