Godzilla Minus Zero has been review-bombed in one country amid an intense box office clash, according to a report published on November 10. The ScreenRant report, carried by syndication, says the film has received rave reviews from critics and audiences, and has already grossed $62 million at the box office worldwide against a budget reported at $13 million to $18 million.
The film’s global opening stood at $63 million, with a domestic opening of $31.6 million, the biggest ever for a live-action foreign-language film in North America. That success has put it in direct competition with Ramayana: Part One, which opened to $55.7 million worldwide, according to studio reports. The two films have now finished one-two in Australia, the UK and Ireland.
A clash of two blockbusters
The box office contest between the Japanese monster sequel and the Indian epic has dominated the global charts this month. Godzilla Minus Zero opened ahead of Ramayana worldwide, grossing $62 million against Ramayana’s $55.7 million, according to the report. In North America, Godzilla Minus Zero grossed an estimated $31.6 million, setting the record for a live-action foreign-language film.
The film’s release in India was postponed from November 6 to November 20, according to the report, to avoid losing IMAX screens to Ramayana. That decision underlines how directly the two films are competing for the same premium-format screens in the same markets.
Reviews remain strong overall
Despite the reported review-bombing, the film’s critical reception remains strong. It has received rave reviews from critics and audiences, according to the report, and its IMAX performance has been a major driver, with $21.3 million worldwide from IMAX screens, or about 34 percent of its global total.
The film, directed by Takashi Yamazaki and starring Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, runs 135 minutes and is a sequel to Godzilla Minus One, which grossed more than $110 million worldwide against a reported $10 million budget. Whether the review-bombing affects its audience scores in the longer term remains to be seen, but its opening-weekend numbers suggest audiences have not been put off.
Related reading: Godzilla Minus Zero Final Figures Cut Opening to $30.59M and IMAX Powers Godzilla Minus Zero With $21.3M Global Haul
