In brief
Japanese film "Godzilla Minus Zero" opened with $31.6 million in North America, surpassing the 2004 record holder "Hero" for the largest opening of a live‑action foreign‑language film. Distributed by GKIDS, the sequel earned 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and an A+ on CinemaScore. Warner Bros. Animation’s “The Cat in the Hat” and Angel Studios’ “Drummer Boy” finished second and third, bringing in $20.5 million and $9.3 million respectively.
Xinhua reported on Sunday that the Japanese science‑fiction film "Godzilla Minus Zero" opened at the top of the North American box office, earning an estimated US$31.6 million in its first weekend.
The new monster movie, a direct sequel to the 2023 Oscar‑winning "Godzilla Minus One" and the 39th instalment in the Godzilla franchise, broke the record for the biggest opening ever for a live‑action foreign‑language film in North America, surpassing Zhang Yimou’s "Hero," which earned US$17.8 million in 2004.
Distributed in North America by GKIDS, the film received largely positive reviews, holding a 90 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 170 reviews and earning an “A” grade on CinemaScore’s A+ to F scale.
Another newcomer, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s fantasy film "The Cat in the Hat," based on the 1957 children’s book of the same name, finished second, earning US$20.5 million, while Angel Studios’ historical musical drama "Drummer Boy" took the No. 3 spot with a $9.3 million opening weekend.
