Godzilla Minus Zero crushes box-office rivals with record US$31.6 million debut

Godzilla Minus Zero, a Japanese-language sequel, shattered box-office records, debuting with an astonishing US$31.6 million (S$40.53 million) opening weekend in North America. This marks the highest ever for a live-action foreign-language film at the North American box office. Takashi Yamazaki's film was a significant hit compared to Warner Bros.' animated movie, The Cat in the Hat, which opened with US$20.5 million.

Yamazaki, the filmmaker behind Godzilla Minus One, which won the Oscar for best visual effects, has revived a long-running franchise rooted in Japan's cinematic history. The film, produced by Toho and distributed by GKids, is set in post-WWII Japan. No live-action foreign language film has opened with a larger weekend haul, except for the 2004 Passion of the Christ, with a US$83.8 million opening - but it was in Aramaic.

Godzilla Minus Zero outdid the previous record of US$17.9 million set by 2004's Hero. The film's success also highlights the growing appeal of international non-English productions to American audiences. Godzilla Minus Zero also enjoyed a wide release across various countries, debuting simultaneously in its home country and in the United States.

In Japan, it grossed around US$17 million over the weekend. Toho Global's president, Koji Ueda, expressed the historic significance of Godzilla Minus Zero's opening, crediting the near-simultaneous global release. The film has garnered positive reviews from critics and audiences, with a 90% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an "A" CinemaScore.

Godzilla Minus Zero, with a budget under US$20 million, is poised to surpass its predecessor's record earnings of US$57.1 million. As Godzilla celebrates his 72nd birthday, Godzilla Minus Zero has ignited a fresh wave of interest in the franchise.