Godzilla Minus Zero Crushes Cat in the Hat With Record $31 Million Launch
The king of the monsters is the new king of the box office. Per Variety, "Godzilla Minus Zero" stomped to a $31.6 million opening from 3,254 North American theaters this weekend.
That debut is the biggest ever for a live-action film not in English, shattering a record that had stood for over two decades. The Hollywood Reporter confirms the figure also marks the best opening in distributor GKids' history.
The film's roar was amplified by premium screens. According to Variety, a massive 74% of its domestic ticket sales came from premium large format showings, including IMAX. GKids distribution VP Chance Huskey said they were "happy to see audiences embrace 'Godzilla Minus Zero' at an unprecedented scale for an international film."
Meanwhile, Warner Bros.' new animated "The Cat in the Hat" had a much quieter start. The film, featuring Bill Hader's voice as the famous feline, earned $20 million from 4,003 locations domestically, per both outlets. It added another $10 million from overseas markets for a worldwide total just over $30 million against a reported $92 million budget.
TheWrap notes the Godzilla sequel's launch is the second highest for a non-English live-action film in the U.S., while The Hollywood Reporter adds it nearly tripled the $11.4 million opening of its 2023 predecessor, "Godzilla Minus One."
