Godzilla Minus Zero is tracking toward a $32 million domestic box office debut, far exceeding the full theatrical run of its 2023 predecessor. The sequel, which centers on postwar Japan dealing with attacks from the three-headed Ghidorah and the possibility of Godzilla's return, is outpacing Godzilla Minus One, which opened in December 2023 with $11.4 million and finished its domestic run at $57.1 million.
The film holds a 90 percent critics approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Hollywood Reporter chief film critic David Rooney called it a thrilling jolt of marauding monster action. Godzilla Minus One became Japan's first feature to win the Academy Award for best visual effects, adding $56.9 million internationally to its domestic total.
Warner Bros.' The Cat in the Hat opened in second place with $6 million domestically on Friday, including Thursday previews, from 4,003 North American locations. The animated film is projected to reach around $18 million for its opening weekend. The studio had initially projected a $20 million opening for the $92 million production and is hoping word of mouth will sustain the film through the Thanksgiving holiday and into December.
The Cat in the Hat, directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni, earned an A CinemaScore from opening-weekend audiences. The film is an animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book.