“Godzilla Minus Zero” led the North American box office with an estimated $31.6 million opening weekend, comfortably ahead of the animated “The Cat in the Hat,” according to Associated Press reporting published by CityNews.

The figures, released Sunday as studio estimates, put “The Cat in the Hat” at $20.5 million in U.S. and Canadian theatres, with another $10 million overseas. Final domestic totals were expected Monday.

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, “Godzilla Minus Zero” follows his 2023 Oscar-winning “Godzilla Minus One.” Produced by Toho and distributed in North America by GKids, the sequel is set in post-Second World War Japan. It also earned about $17 million in Japan over the weekend as part of a near-simultaneous international rollout.

Its North American debut surpassed the $17.9 million opening of “Hero,” a benchmark for live-action foreign-language releases. Comparisons require qualifications: AP noted that “The Passion of the Christ,” largely spoken in Aramaic, opened to $83.8 million in 2004, while the animated “Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle” debuted with $70.6 million last year.

Large-format screenings helped drive the new Godzilla film’s earnings. An early IMAX-only release began Tuesday, and IMAX accounted for $21.3 million worldwide, or 34 per cent of its global box-office take, AP reported.

The sequel carries a production budget below $20 million, according to the report. Its predecessor, which won the Academy Award for visual effects, finished with $57.1 million in North America.

Sources