Godzilla Minus Zero has debuted at No. 1 at the US box office with $31.6 million during its opening weekend, setting a new record for the biggest three-day debut by a non-English live-action film in the country. The R-rated sequel also delivered the largest opening ever for a Japanese live-action movie in the US, while its worldwide earnings have already reached an estimated $63 million.
The film surpassed the previous record of $17.8 million held by Hero, which was released in 2002. Its $31.6 million opening also nearly tripled the $11.4 million debut of Godzilla Minus One, marking a significant increase over the previous installment.
Godzilla Minus Zero is now only the fourth international live-action film to open at No. 1 at the US box office. It also recorded the fourth-largest domestic opening for any movie featuring Godzilla.
The sequel has performed strongly in Japan as well, setting a new opening record for the franchise. According to estimates, the film earned $15.7 million (¥2.5 billion) during its first six days, including $7.1 million over the three-day weekend.
Sunday’s Japanese box office reached $2.7 million (¥423 million), representing a decline of just 11% compared to Saturday. Combined with its performance in other markets, the film’s estimated worldwide total stood at $63 million through Sunday.
The Godzilla Minus Zero box office debut placed it ahead of several other releases competing for the US weekend’s top spots.
The Cat in the Hat finished second with $20.5 million, followed by Drummer Boy in third place with $9.3 million. You Can See Everything earned $8.9 million in fourth, while Ramayana rounded out the top five with $8.7 million.
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus Zero premiered in early November 2026. The film serves as a direct sequel to Godzilla Minus One and takes place in 1949, two years after the events of the previous movie. Its story follows the Shikishima family as they confront another kaiju threat.
The original Godzilla Minus One, released in 2023, earned more than $116 million worldwide against an estimated production budget of $15 million. Its theatrical run included $57.1 million in North America and nearly $57 million from international markets, making it one of the most commercially successful Japanese live-action films worldwide.
