Godzilla Minus Zero just made its global debut at the New York Film Festival, and to say the initial buzz is glowing would be an understatement.
Right now, social media is practically exploding with early reactions, and the consensus across the board is that the sequel is actually better than Minus One.
That’s no small feat considering the first movie didn't just win over hard-core kaiju fans; it went on to scoop up a historic Oscar for visual effects.
But if these first impressions are anything to go by, director Takashi Yamazaki hasn't just matched that bar, he’s somehow managed to do the unthinkable and blow right past it.
Minus Zero is being billed as the last film in a two-part film series but it's hard to imagine the story stopping here if the sequel proves to be as good as these early reactions.
@JoBlo writes, "Godzilla Minus Zero is the BEST followup G Film to date. Best comparison would be this is the Godfather Part 2 to Godzilla Minus One's Godfather. Toho should win another #Oscar for this film. Should be nominated for best picture. This Kaiju experience needs to be seen in IMAX!"
Next Best Picture podcaster Tom O'Brien echoed those sentiments: "As surprised as I was by the filmmaking audacity of “Minus One,” director Takashi Yamazaki may have outdone himself with GODZILLA MINUS ZERO and its richer emotional story. Even its Oscar-winning VFX are kicked up by a magnificent new kaiju in town."
@DiscussingFilm Managing Editor Andrew Salazar added, " What I will say now: it’s the kind of blockbuster that would never be allowed to exist in the West. The amount of times my jaw hit the floor. Definitely makes sense how it got that R rating. I legit cannot wait to see this with a packed crowd. It’s going to get LOUD haha"
Total Film's Molly Edwards reported: "Very pleased to say Godzilla Minus Zero is breath-taking. Bigger and broader than Minus One, with spectacular action that puts the human toll at the forefront and a seriously affecting exploration of post-war trauma. This is one of my new favourites of the year."
Esquire Associate Entertainment Editor Eric Francisco was equally wowed: "Awe-inspiring” isn’t just wonder but fearful respect. That is GODZILLA MINUS ZERO. Another masterpiece from Takashi Yamazaki who builds on his somber vision for kaiju cinema. A true escalation from MINUS ONE where we again confront our fragile existence. That R rating is legit."
Inverse's Hoai-Tran Bui adds: "We’re so back!!!!!!!! I cried, I gasped, and when Godzilla’s main theme came on I clapped like a baby seal."
The Washington Post's Gene Park reports that the King Ghidorah and Godzilla battle lives up to the hype: "I saw Godzilla Minus Zero. pretty harrowing af. still finalizing my thoughts and will write a review soon but the monster fights were sick."
Next Best Picture co-host Amy Kim adds: "GODZILLA: MINUS ZERO reduced me to a sobbing mess. It is a glorious continuation of the first film, taking its themes & character arcs to new heights. The spectacle is somehow topped in sheer WTF value, but it’s the beauty of the central found family that truly stands out."
The final trailer for the film confirmed that King Ghidorah will appear in the sequel, and it seems the carnage toll will be so high that the film has received an R-rating, a first in the franchise.
Godzilla Minus Zero drops in North American theaters on November 6. Comparatively, Legendary's Godzilla x Kong: Supernova is scheduled to release in theaters on March 26, 2027.
Godzilla Minus One was a sleeper hit in 2023, grossing $115 million from an extremely modest budget of only $15 million. The film also took home an Academy Award for best visual effects, a first in the franchise's storied history.
Minus One ended its North American theatrical run as the 3rd highest-grossing foreign-language film of all-time after Life is Beautiful and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
The sequel will be distributed by GKids, with its president David Jesteadt commenting via press release, "GKIDS is proud to bring Godzilla Minus Zero to North American audiences, following the incredible global reception of Godzilla Minus One. This next chapter is sure to become another defining moment for the most colossal monster ever to dominate the screen. It is only fitting that this bold, new Godzilla event be experienced in its fullest theatrical glory, and we’re honored that TOHO has entrusted us to carry this legacy forward."
War reduced Japan to zero, and Godzilla plunged it into minus. Two years have passed since then, and the country has faced agonizing struggles to achieve recovery and finally reclaim its daily life. Just as humanity managed to cling to a hard-won peace, a new threat strikes, crushing hope in an instant. There is no third time. Everything ends here.