Godzilla Minus Zero tops box office with $31.6 million debut

"Godzilla Minus Zero" topped the North American box office with a $31.6 million debut from 3,254 theaters, marking the largest opening ever for a foreign language live-action film in the region. "The Cat in the Hat" finished second with a weak $20 million from 4,003 locations. The R-rated Japanese monster movie benefited from strong reviews, a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score, and an "A" CinemaScore, with premium large formats contributing $12.7 million, or 40% of domestic grosses. It is the first Japanese production filmed for Imax. "The Cat in the Hat" earned an "A" CinemaScore but only 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, collecting $10 million overseas for a $30.5 million global start against a $92 million budget. "Godzilla Minus Zero" builds on 2023's "Godzilla Minus One," which grossed $113 million globally and won a visual effects Oscar. The weekend's total box office reached $114 million, up 86% from the same frame last year. Other openers included "Wild Horse Nine" with $6 million and Indian epic "Ramayana: Rise of a Legend" with $9 million.