Godzilla Minus Zero is charging toward a dominant North American debut, with the sequel projected to collect an estimated $32 million from 3,254 theaters over its opening weekend.

The GKids and Toho release earned $14.5 million on Friday, a figure that includes Thursday previews. That performance puts it well ahead of the distributor’s earlier projection in the mid-$20 million range and above the other new arrivals in a frame that also includes The Cat in the Hat, Ramayana, Wild Horse Nine and Club Kid.

If the $32 million estimate holds, the film’s launch is being touted as the biggest live-action foreign-language opening since Hero debuted with $17.8 million in 2004.

The category comes with notable distinctions. The animated Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle opened to $70.6 million the previous year, while The Passion of the Christ is not counted because it was an American-produced project. That film began its run with $83.8 million in 2004.

Audience response has also been strong for Godzilla Minus Zero, which received an A CinemaScore. Critics have given the movie a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Hollywood Reporter’s chief film critic David Rooney described it as a “thrilling jolt of marauding monster action.”

A Bigger Start Than Godzilla Minus One

Filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki’s new movie follows 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, and its projected opening represents a major step up from the previous installment.

Godzilla Minus One opened domestically with $11.4 million in December 2023. It went on to earn $57.1 million during its domestic run and added another $56.9 million internationally. Its success also led to Japan’s first best visual effects Oscar win for a feature.

The sequel stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe and Min Tanaka. Set in postwar Japan, the story follows the country as it confronts attacks by the three-headed Ghidorah and faces the possibility that Godzilla could return.

Godzilla Minus Zero carries a reported budget in the mid-teens, making the scale of its estimated opening particularly significant.

The Cat in the Hat Lands in Second Place

Warner Bros.’ animated The Cat in the Hat is heading toward an opening of approximately $18 million after grossing $6 million on Friday, including Thursday previews. The movie is playing in 4,003 North American locations.

That estimate falls slightly below the studio’s $20 million projection for the $92 million-budgeted release. Warner Bros. is hoping positive word of mouth will help the film continue playing through the Thanksgiving holiday and into December. Like Godzilla Minus Zero, it earned an A CinemaScore from audiences.

Directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni, the film adapts Dr. Seuss’ classic 1957 children’s book. Its story gives the title character one final opportunity to prove himself by helping two siblings.

Bill Hader leads the voice cast, which also includes Matt Berry, Quinta Brunson and Xochitl Gomez. The movie is Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s first title since Bill Damaschke became the division’s president and chief creative officer in 2023.

Critical reaction has been considerably cooler than the audience grade. The animated feature holds a 45 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, with critic Frank Scheck calling it “more taxing than enjoyable.”

Even so, that score is substantially higher than the reception for Universal’s 2003 live-action The Cat in the Hat, starring Mike Myers. That earlier film has an 11 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and opened with $38.3 million domestically. It ultimately reached $101 million in North America against a $109 million budget.

ShowBiz Take

Godzilla Minus Zero is not simply winning the weekend based on current estimates; it is significantly expanding on the theatrical start of Godzilla Minus One. Its projected $32 million launch is nearly three times the previous movie’s $11.4 million domestic debut and comfortably exceeds the distributor’s initial expectations.

The performance is also notable because of the film’s reported mid-teens budget, strong audience grade and 90 percent critics score. Together, those figures give the sequel a commanding opening-weekend position while The Cat in the Hat looks toward the holiday period for continued momentum.

What Happens Next?

The final weekend figures will determine whether Godzilla Minus Zero reaches its estimated $32 million and secures the foreign-language live-action opening benchmark being touted. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. will be watching to see whether The Cat in the Hat can use its A CinemaScore and the Thanksgiving-to-December corridor to build beyond its projected $18 million start.