Japanese Blockbuster Godzilla Minus Zero Breaks Foreign-Language Box Office Record

2026, November 8

Japan / United States / International

Japanese filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus Zero opened with an estimated $31.6 million in North America, setting a new record for the biggest opening weekend for a foreign-language live-action film in the region. The sequel to the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One comfortably topped the North American box office, outperforming Warner Bros.' animated release The Cat in the Hat, which collected $20.5 million domestically.

The film also generated approximately $17 million in Japan, bringing its worldwide opening to around $63 million. Produced by Japanese studio Toho for less than $20 million, the film demonstrates the growing international commercial potential of Japanese cinema. Its success also strengthens the global appeal of the long-running Godzilla franchise, which has attracted audiences for more than seven decades.