‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ eyes $60 million global box office opening, ‘Ramayana’ huge

Release of Toho’s by Gkids Godzilla minus zero – now who the hell saw that coming?

In what is expected to be a slower November, at least in the United States, with no Wicked, A Moana or a Zootopia on the market, here is Takashi Yamazaki’s sequel to the film in Japanese with English subtitles, winner of an Oscar in 2023, with a $25 million to $30 million national forecasts and another $30 million + overseas from 23 territories, according to industry forecasts. In total, this is a global debut estimated at around 60 million dollars.

But the lizard could be tripped by the global launch of the Indian epic Ramayana: The Rise of a Legendand projects are unleashed everywhere, since $30M to $75M+ for the most expensive film in the country (the two-part epic cost between $420 million and $500 million). Please note, we are conservative. Sony only owns certain overseas territories, including North America. Scroll down to learn more.

Even if Godzilla minus zero has a smaller-than-expected fire and records of around $20 million in North America, it’s still the biggest opening ever for frosh merchandise distributor Gkids, beating its previous high opening for Hayao Miyazaki. The boy and the heron ($13 million) in 2023.

In the Godzilla followed, the three-headed winged beast King Ghidorah wreaks havoc in post-WWII Japan as humans seek an ally in Godzilla.

Yesterday, Tuesday, November 3, was Godzilla Day, commemorating when Toho released the first film theatrically in 1954; this year marks the 72nd anniversary. Already, Godzilla minus zero published a huge $5.7 million first day in Japan (910 million yen), exceeding 590,000 participants. Toho considers this to be a record for the first day of a live-action title in Japan (on a local and overseas basis). We can’t exactly verify this statistic, but what we can tell you is that the number is lower than the first opening day of July 2025. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle (1.64 billion yen, or $11.1 million), marking a record opening day in Japan. We hear the opening day soundtrack from Imax for Godzilla minus zero also surpassed that of Infinite Castle.

Godzilla minus zeroFirst day catch in Japan exceeds first day of Godzilla minus one by 201%. The expectation is that Godzilla minus zero will open north of $11 million, which would be higher than the local Japanese hit from earlier this year Kingdom 5 ($9.75 million opening weekend, $42 million final cume) and Spider-Man: A Whole New Day ($9.9 million opening weekend, $36.6 million final cume). Japanese forecasts have Godzilla minus zero expected to last north of 10 billion yen, or $63.2 million.

The pic is raiding Australia, Brazil, Mexico, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Japan this weekend. Italy and South Korea will not participate in this opening sequel. Japanese films are not released in theaters in China.

In the United States and Canada, there were Imax fan shows on Tuesday as well as today that will be integrated into Thursday previews that begin after 10 a.m. The R-rated film was made for Imax, and Gkids has booked the title in 3,250 theaters, including all, yes, all Imax auditoriums and PLFs. We understand that the marketing budget for the national release, which was largely social, was less than $10 million. The film is certified 89% as new by critics.

By comparison, Godzilla minus one opened to $11.4 million in second place over the first weekend of December 2023 and finalized to a stunning 5x multiple of $57.1 million (there was also a black-and-white print) and $113.9 million worldwide (48.2 million of which came from Japan). The picture, made for $10 million, won Best Visual Effects at the 2024 Academy Awards and received a solid A CinemaScore.

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has its first theatrical release under division head Bill Damaschke in the animated version of the all-time Dr. Seuss classic. The cat in the hat, who looks around 20 million dollars give or take at the domestic box office in 4,000 theaters, including 3D, PLF, animated seats and Dolby Cinema. The last time we saw the Cat in the HatUniversal cast him in a live-action film with Mike Myers in the title role. The film opened to $38.3 million domestically and ended with $101 million in the US/Canada and $134 million worldwide, but was considered a dud with a production cost of $109 million and an 11% RT from critics and a B-CinemaScore (fairly low for a family film).

The film will benefit from a staggered offshore release, which is comparable to a family animated title during the holidays. Sixty territories are broadcast this weekend on 17,000 screens, including Mexico, Spain, Italy, Korea and China. The UK will take place on December 4, France on December 9, Germany on December 10, Japan on Christmas Day and Australia/New Zealand on December 31.

Angel Studios has the film in a colonial setting Drummer boy in 2,840 cinemas and is around 10%. We hear it has about $3 million in pre-sales. The film directed by Ben Smallbone and Joel David Smallbone follows a young drummer, an enslaved woman and a divided family in search of freedom. Through struggle and loss, the music carries hope in a deeply human story of faith and forgiveness. Previews begin Thursday after 11:30 a.m.

Searchlight bows to Martin McDonagh’s R-rated political comedy New wild horse to 1,100 theaters by Rentrak with a forecast of 4 to 6 million dollars. The picture starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell follows two CIA agents on a trust-testing mission to Easter Island, on the brink of the 1973 Chilean revolution. Malkovich won the Volpi Cup for best actor at the picture’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. McDonagh is up for screenplay and Malkovich for outstanding performance at the Gotham Awards. Previews begin Thursday after 2 p.m.

Searchlight held early access screenings on October 30 in top 50 markets in 400 theaters. The studio has partnered with the Alex Theater in Glendale, California for exclusive, limited 35mm screenings. The Rotten Tomatoes review score is excellent with 94% certified fresh.

Sony is entering the Indian-Hindi feature film business with the Diwali-timed theatrical release of Ramayana: The Rise of a Legendwhich opens its doors on Thursday. Based on the epic poem Ramayana by Valmiki, the pic follows the life and trials of Prince Rama. The first part of the film directed and co-written by Nitesh Tiwari looks at 6 million dollars over four days in the United States, consistent with comparable versions such as Kalki 2898 AD ($5.6 million), Devara Part 1 ($5.6 million) and Pushpa: The Rule – Part 2 ($5 million). Previews began today at 3 p.m. at 1,300 locations, making it the largest North American theatrical release for an Indian film. The photo will be broadcast in Imax and 3D. Sony owns select territories (they don’t handle India); the film should make another one 6 million dollars abroadwhere the Culver City studio released it. Ten reviews are 40% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes. This is a distribution deal for Sony.