“Godzilla Minus Zero” opened at No. 1 at the North American box office with $31.6 million from 3,254 theaters during the weekend of Nov. 6-8, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter reported. Warner Bros.’ animated “The Cat in the Hat” finished second with about $20 million from 4,003 locations.
Related: Halloween Box Office: Elizabeth Holmes Documentary and ‘Clayface’ Locked in Tight Race for No. 1.
A foreign-language record
The opening is the largest for a live-action foreign-language film in North America, Variety reported. It passed the $17.8 million debut of “Hero,” which The Hollywood Reporter dated to 2004 and Variety to 2002. The Hollywood Reporter noted the animated “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” opened to $70.6 million last year.
The film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, was distributed in the United States by GKids and produced by Japan’s Toho, Variety reported. It is the largest opening in GKids history, passing the $13 million for “The Boy and the Heron,” The Hollywood Reporter said. The distributor had projected a domestic opening in the mid-$20 millions, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Godzilla Minus One,” the 2023 predecessor, opened to $11.4 million, both outlets reported. The new film added $31.4 million internationally, including $17 million in Japan, The Hollywood Reporter said.
Imax accounted for 40% of domestic ticket sales for the film, which is the first Japanese production shot for the format, both outlets reported. Variety put the Imax total at $12.7 million, and The Hollywood Reporter put it at $12 million. Audiences gave the film an A CinemaScore, and it held a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
“We’re so happy to see audiences embrace ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ at an unprecedented scale for an international film,” GKids distribution executive Chance Huskey said in a statement quoted by both outlets.
‘The Cat in the Hat’ starts below earlier Seuss films
Variety reported the Warner Bros. film opened to $20 million, and The Hollywood Reporter reported $20.5 million. The Hollywood Reporter said the total was in line with the studio’s projection. The film carries a $92 million budget, according to both outlets.
Two earlier animated Dr. Seuss adaptations opened far higher, with “The Grinch” at about $67 million in 2018 and “The Lorax” at about $70 million in 2012, the outlets reported. The new film earned an A CinemaScore and a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Variety said. It added $10 million from 60 international markets, for a global start of $30.5 million, according to Variety.
The rest of the weekend
“Drummer Boy,” a Christian musical from Angel Studios, placed third with $9.3 million from 2,850 theaters, Variety reported. A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary “You Can See Everything” earned $8.8 million in its fourth weekend, for a domestic total of $79.8 million, according to Variety. “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” opened in fifth place, the outlet said.
In limited release, A24’s “Club Kid” earned $390,583 from six screens, and Amazon MGM’s “I Play Rocky” took in $345,000 from seven theaters, Variety reported.
Where the year stands
The two trades reported different totals for the weekend. Variety put overall ticket sales at $114 million, up 86% from the same frame a year ago. The Hollywood Reporter put them at $121.7 million, up about 45% from the comparable 2025 weekend.
The domestic total for 2026 stands at about $8.6 billion, roughly 20% ahead of the same point in 2025, according to Rentrak data cited by both outlets. Coming November releases include “Ebenezer,” the “Hunger Games” prequel “Sunrise on the Reaping,” “Focker in Law” and Disney’s “Hexed,” Variety reported.
For earlier coverage, see the “Clayface” opening weekend report and the Entertainment section.
Sources
- Variety: Box Office: ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Roars With $31 Million Debut, ‘Cat in the Hat’ Fizzles With $20 Million
- The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Powers $31M in Historic Box Office Launch Against Subdued ‘Cat in the Hat’
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