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Godzilla Minus Zero has dominated the North American box office with a record-breaking $31.6 million opening weekend from 3,254 theaters. Meanwhile, The Cat in the Hat struggled in its debut, earning just $20 million from 4,003 locations — a disappointing result for an animated film based on one of the most beloved children’s books ever written.
Godzilla Minus Zero Sets Foreign Language Record
The opening marks the largest debut for a live-action foreign language film in North American history. It surpassed the previous record held by the Chinese martial arts film Hero, which earned $17.8 million in 2002. Produced by Japan’s Toho and distributed in the U.S. by Gkids, the R-rated sequel earned strong praise from critics and audiences alike, scoring 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” grade on CinemaScore.
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Premium large formats played a significant role in the film’s success. Godzilla Minus Zero is the first Japanese production ever filmed for IMAX, and IMAX screens alone contributed $12.7 million — roughly 40% of domestic earnings. Overall, premium large format screenings, including Dolby, accounted for a remarkable 74% of total ticket sales.
“We’re so happy to see audiences embrace Godzilla Minus Zero at an unprecedented scale for an international film,” said Chance Huskey, VP of distribution for Gkids. “This landmark release is the result of a thoughtful campaign by Gkids and Toho that emphasized the must-see intensity of the theatrical experience.”
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film follows the events of 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, which opened to $11.4 million and went on to earn $57 million domestically and $113 million globally, also winning an Academy Award for visual effects. The new installment picks up two years later, as Godzilla regenerates and faces a new monster threatening postwar Japan.
“Critics’ reviews and audience scores are once again outstanding,” said box office analyst David A. Gross of FranchiseRe. “This weekend’s opening takes the Japanese production to a new level.”
The Cat in the Hat Falls Short of Expectations
The Cat in the Hat earned an “A” on CinemaScore, suggesting audiences enjoyed it. However, critics were far less enthusiastic, giving it just 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. Bill Hader voices the mischievous cat in the animated film, which follows two siblings who receive an unexpected visit after moving to a new town.
Internationally, the film collected only $10 million from 60 markets, bringing its global total to $30.5 million. With a production budget of $92 million, the film faces an uphill battle for profitability. Warner Bros., which recently merged with Paramount Skydance, has endured a difficult year at the box office, with earlier releases including Digger, The Bride!, and Supergirl also underperforming significantly.
This is the second adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s classic, following the 2003 live-action version starring Mike Myers, which opened to $38 million but ultimately disappointed given its budget. More recent Seuss adaptations, such as The Grinch in 2018 and The Lorax in 2012, performed far better for Universal and Illumination.
“Family animation does extremely well in ancillary windows,” Gross noted. “That is where the film should recover its costs.”
Strong Weekend Overall for the Box Office
Total weekend earnings across all films reached $114 million, up 86% from the same period a year ago. Year-to-date revenues also climbed to $8.6 billion, running 20% ahead of the same point in 2025, according to Rentrak.
Among other newcomers, Searchlight’s dark comedy Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh and starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, opened at No. 8 with $6 million from 1,100 theaters. The Indian epic Ramayana: Rise of a Legend earned $8.6 million over the traditional weekend and $12.1 million across its first four days. Sony distributed the film across 1,300 theaters — the widest North American release ever for an Indian film. Globally, it debuted to $55.7 million.
A24’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything continued its remarkable run, earning $8.8 million in its fourth weekend and pushing its domestic total to $79.8 million. The film cost just $7 million to produce. Also performing well, Drummer Boy from Angel Studios landed at No. 3 with $9.3 million from 2,850 theaters.
“It’s another encouraging sign as we head toward the all-important holiday movie season,” said Rentrak’s Paul Dergarabedian.
