Godzilla is on the rampage at Japan’s box office. Godzilla Minus Zero has grossed 910 million yen (US$5.75 million) and drawn 590,000 admissions on its opening day, setting a record for the highest opening-day gross for a live-action film in Japan.
The film’s opening-day performance reached 201 per cent of the figure recorded by its predecessor, Godzilla Minus One, giving the franchise a grand start.
Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film opened in Japan on 3 November. According to Kogyo Tsushinsha, it now holds the opening-day gross record for a live-action film in the country, beating both Japanese and international releases.
The overall record, however, belongs to anime. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle collected 1.64 billion yen on its opening day on 18 July 2025.
The latest Godzilla outing is already setting its sights higher. The film’s official X account said its strong start puts it in contention to become the first entry in the franchise to cross the 10 billion yen mark at the Japanese box office.
That would push it past Shin Godzilla, which earned 8.25 billion yen during its domestic run after releasing in Japan on 29 July 2016.
Set in 1949, two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One, the sequel follows the Shikishima family as Japan struggles to rebuild before another calamity strikes.
Following Imax early-access screenings on 3 November, Godzilla Minus Zero is scheduled to begin its US release on 6 November. It is also set for a near-simultaneous rollout across Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Gkids is handling distribution in the US and North America.
With a record-breaking opening behind it, Godzilla has its next target in sight. The real monster now may be the box office number.
