“Godzilla Minus Zero” roared with an impressive $6.7 million in previews on Friday. The sequel to 2023’s “Godzilla Minus One” is on track to open to $30 million this weekend, which would easily top the box office. It would also be a dramatic improvement on the first film’s $11.4 million debut.
Both movies were written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki. “Minus One” won the Oscar for its visual effects and went on to earn $57 million stateside, setting a new benchmark for Japanese movies in North America. Globally, it earned $113 million. Critics have been on board for kaiju’s comeback, with “Godzilla Minus Zero” enjoying a 90% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Like its predecessor, the monster follow-up is produced by Toho and is distributed in North America by GKids.
As for the rest of the newcomers, Warner Bros. Animation’s “The Cat in the Hat” earned $1 million in previews and is expected to debut to $20 million. The family film cost Warner Bros. $86 million to produce. The studio, which was recently acquired by Skydance, could use a hit. It’s had a punishing string of flops that includes “Digger,” “The Bride!,” and “Supergirl” that have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.
Elsewhere, Searchlight will release Oscar hopeful “Wild Horse Nine,” which has earned raves for Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich’s performances as well as Martin McDonagh’s pitch-black script. The film about two CIA agents planning a coup in Chile grossed $900,000 in previews and could earn between $5 million and $7 million in its opening weekend.
“Ramayana: Rise of a Legend,” which is being distributed by Sony in North America and is the most expensive Indian movie in history, earned $3.5 million from its Thursday and Wednesday previews. It is projected to open with $6 million, but the two-part story reportedly cost more than $400 million to bring to screens.
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