Deadline reports that Godzilla Minus Zero is now eyeing a $30 million to $33 million opening weekend in North America after a strong $13.5 million Friday (that includes $6.7 million from this week's preview screenings).
This is the biggest opening ever for a live-action foreign-language movie at the domestic box office, and there's a possibility that the movie could end up further exceeding expectations thanks to positive word of mouth.
Godzilla Minus Zero has received an A CinemaScore from audiences, which is rare for a non-English, R-rated movie. This puts the sequel on par with Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla Minus One and above movies like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (A-), 2014's Godzilla (B+), and 1998's Godzilla (B-).
On Rotten Tomatoes, Godzilla Minus Zero is "Certified Fresh" at 90% with 96% on the fan-generated Popcornmeter.
Second place this weekend will go to Warner Bros. Animation's The Cat in the Hat. That made $5 million on Friday for an expected $17 million to $20 million start. The movie has bombed with critics, earning a "Rotten" 45% score on the review aggregator. Audiences, however, have awarded it an A CinemaScore, so it may have legs throughout November.
Angel Studios' Drummer Boy will take third place with $9 million, while hit documentary You Can See Everything is set for a $8 million to $9 million fourth weekend. Next is Ramayana: Rise of the Legend ($6 million), with Wild Horse Nine rounding out the top five with $5 million to $6 million.
There's no mention of DC Studios' Clayface in this report, suggesting the R-rated body horror's box office run is winding down in just its third week. The movie has already grossed over $90 million worldwide, but with a reported $130 million break-even point, DC Studios likely won't turn a profit. That doesn't bode well for the chances of Clayface 2 and puts the pressure on Man of Tomorrow to deliver for Skydance.
War reduced Japan to zero, and Godzilla plunged it into minus. In Godzilla Minus Zero, 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.
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the movie stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Kuranosuke Sasaki, Jun Kunimura, Miou Tanaka, Sakura Ando, Masami Nagasawa, Min Tanaka, and Hidetaka Yoshioka.
Shot entirely in Japan as the first-ever Japanese production filmed for IMAX, Godzilla Minus Zero was shot with high-definition digital cameras certified by IMAX, and optimised in sound and imagery unique to IMAX screens. The globally beloved monster returns to movie theater screens, reaching greater and more terrifying heights, making Godzilla Minus Zero a true cinematic event not to be missed.
Godzilla Minus Zero is now playing in theaters.