Toho and GKids’ Godzilla: Minus Zero dominated the domestic box office this weekend with a $31.6 million opening, the highest ever for a live-action, non-Hollywood, foreign-language title. Almost like a middle finger to Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Passion of the Christ, this embodies the definition of a breakout sequel (yes, even when it skyrocketed past its predecessor’s $11.4 million debut).
With excellent reviews and an A from CinemaScore, it should make the mark overseas and will probably close the gap on $150 million worldwide. If it legs out, it could reach $180 million. It’s already at $63 million worldwide, thanks to an impressive $21.3 million in IMAX alone. It should easily swipe the boards with Godzilla: Minus One ($57 million in North America and $105 million worldwide), and the real question is how it will fare against its predecessors in North America, a la Godzilla Vs. Kong ($100 million in 2021), Godzilla: King of the Monsters ($110 million in 2019), and Godzilla ($137 million in 1998). In a fascinating sense, this is the fourth time since COVID that the King of the Monsters has saved the box office. Godzilla vs. Kong was a blessing for the theaters right after the world shut down, and Godzilla x Kong gave theaters another kaiju-sized boost amid a barren pre-summer release thread three years later. Godzilla Minus One was somewhat of a fascination at the latter end of 2023 amid writers’ strikes and some big blockbusters sitting in a shallow ditch while their respective IPs went, “What the hell happened?” Anyway, the King made his stamp once again, so let’s enjoy the ride and also see how SuperNova does next year.
Meanwhile, the animated Dr. Seuss adaptation got off to a decent start with $20.5 million at the box office, positive reviews, and an A from CinemaScore. Let’s hope the family-friendly film gets the holiday courtesy pat on the back to help it leg out.
Drummer Boy opened with $9.31 million, which is a good turnout for Ben Smallbone and Joel David Smallbone’s original musical melodrama. You Can See Everything earned $8.86 million, for a $79.7 million 24-day total, which means Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s documentary passed (sans inflation) Everything Everywhere All at Once ($77 million in 2022) is A24’s second-biggest domestic earner. $100 million still seems very likely, and once it passes $96 million, it will be A24’s highest domestic earner ever.
Ramayana Part 1 earned $8.65 million in its domestic debut. It has already earned over $20 million from its first weekend in India. Wildwood should be passing $40 million domestically sometime by tomorrow morning. Clayface has passed $109 million worldwide. Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine finally arrived after months, with a $6 million debut. And Street Fighter will tiptoe past $100 million worldwide tomorrow/Tuesday.
Next weekend sees the release of Ebenezer, How to Rob a Bank, Paper Tiger, and Quarter.
