The film Godzilla Minus Zero, a direct sequel to the 2023 film Godzilla Minus One, has achieved a significant milestone by debuting at number one in the box office rankings in both Japan and North America during its opening weekends. This marks the first time in Japanese cinema history that a film has ranked number one in opening weekend box office in both regions.

Godzilla Minus Zero premiered in Japan on November 3 and quickly rose to the top of the box office from Friday through Sunday. Over its first three-day weekend, the film grossed 1.13 billion yen (7.15 million USD) with 699,000 admissions. This performance surpassed its predecessor, Godzilla Minus One, by 108.5% and also exceeded Shin Godzilla (2016) by 133.6% in their respective opening weekends. By November 8, the film had exceeded 1.61 million admissions and 2.5 billion yen (15.8 million USD) in total box office gross over six days.

North American Success

The film's North American release on November 6 also saw it claim the number-one spot in its opening weekend. According to a press release from Toho, Godzilla Minus Zero earned 31.6 million USD (5 billion yen), setting a new record for the best performance ever for a foreign-language live-action film. This achievement also marks the first time a Japanese live-action film has taken the top spot in its opening weekend in North America.

Audience Reception

Beyond its box office performance, Godzilla Minus Zero also received high praise from audiences. It secured the first-place spot on Filmarks' first-day satisfaction ranking, achieving an average score of 4.01 out of 5.0 based on 19,474 reviews. This score was slightly higher than that of Godzilla Minus One, which had an average score of 4.00.

Key points

  • Godzilla Minus Zero debuted at number one in both Japan and North America.
  • It grossed 1.13 billion yen (7.15 million USD) in its first three-day weekend in Japan.
  • The film earned 31.6 million USD (5 billion yen) in its North American opening weekend.
  • This is the first time a Japanese live-action film topped the box office in North America.
  • It is also the first time a Japanese film ranked number one in opening weekend box office in both regions.

Source: Crunchyroll News · Nov 10, 2026