Godzilla Minus Zero Tops Weekend Box Office
Specialty distributors and alternative fare drove the North American box office to an estimated $121.7 million this weekend, according to Rentrak data. Independent distributor GKids claimed the top spot with Godzilla Minus Zero, which earned a $31.6+ million domestic debut.
The film’s performance marks the highest-grossing opening for a foreign-language live-action film in North American box office history. It also sets a new opening weekend record for GKids, surpassing the $13 million debut of The Boy and the Heron in 2023.
“This landmark release is the result of a thoughtful campaign by GKids and Toho that emphasized the ‘must see’ intensity of the theatrical experience and director Takashi Yamazaki’s vision,” said GKids distribution VP Chance Huskey. “We’re so happy to see audiences embrace Godzilla Minus Zero at an unprecedented scale for an international film.”
Box Office Performance of Alternative Fare
Alternative fare, including Indian cinema and faith-based releases, claimed major positions across the weekend top 10. Angel Studios’ Drummer Boy opened at number three with $9.3 million, while Sony Pictures and Prime Focus Studios released the Bollywood title Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend to a $12.2 million debut.
Ramayana marks the second-biggest opening and the widest release for an Indian movie in North America at 1,433 screens. It sits behind Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which debuted to $14.5M last March.
“It has been eight long years of failure and triumph to bring Drummer Boy to the screen,” said co-director and lead actor Joel Smallbone. “To us, this is a story of our own experiences portrayed—a story of ending up on the opposite side of life’s battle-lines, and of forgiveness and freedom and true love.”
Limited releases and live broadcasts drew notable audiences
Limited releases and live event broadcasts also drew notable audiences across theater networks. A24’s Club Kid posted $391k on six screens, representing one of the best limited openings of the year. Amazon MGM Studios’ I Play Rocky brought in $335k from seven screens.
Trafalgar Entertainment brought in $3.7 million on 917 North American screens for the Stray Kids World Tour ‘RUN IT’ Live Viewing, a special broadcast transmitted live from Tokyo Dome. Meanwhile, Regal Entertainment Distribution packaged the first two episodes of HBO Max hockey drama Heated Rivalry, securing the number 14 spot with $1.4 million across 945 locations.
| Title | Distributor | Weekend Gross | Theaters / Screens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Godzilla Minus Zero | GKids | $31.6M+ | — |
| Ramayana: Rise Of A Legend | Sony / Prime Focus | $12.2M | 1,433 screens |
| Drummer Boy | Angel Studios | $9.3M | — |
| Wild Horse Nine | Searchlight Pictures | $6 million | 1,100 screens |
| Stray Kids World Tour ‘RUN IT’ | Trafalgar Entertainment | $3.7M | 917 screens |
How much did Godzilla Minus Zero and other films gross?
How much did Godzilla Minus Zero gross in its domestic debut?
The film earned a domestic debut of more than $31.6 million.
What records did Ramayana: Rise of a Legend set?
Ramayana achieved the second-biggest opening and widest release for an Indian film in North America at $12.2 million across 1,433 screens, trailing behind Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
How much did the Jimmy Stewart biopic Jimmy gross in its opening weekend?
Fathom Entertainment and Burns & Co. opened Jimmy at number 12 with $2 million across 1,500 theaters.
What was the total estimated domestic marketplace gross for the weekend?
According to Rentrak, the domestic marketplace reached an estimated $121.7 million, marking a 99% increase week-over-week.