Godzilla Minus Zero did not just win Friday; it set the terms for the weekend. The Toho sequel, distributed by GKids in North America, grossed $14.5 million from 3,254 locations on its opening day and is projected to finish around $32 million by Sunday.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s The Cat in the Hat, with Bill Hader voicing the title role, took second with $6 million from 4,003 locations. That puts it on course for an $18.7 million opening weekend, below early projections of $20 million to $25 million.
Friday is a first signal, not the final word
For entertainment marketers, the top two openings are a clean split in audience behavior. Godzilla Minus Zero is a sequel to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One, carrying strong reviews and word-of-mouth; its Friday is more fan-driven, with early turnout. The Cat in the Hat is a family title, where Saturday matinees and walk-ups can change the weekend trajectory.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman called the new Godzilla “destined to connect with a huge international audience” and argued that the film proves “when you do it right, what seemed old can become timeless.” That critical support gives media buyers a reason to expect the title to hold beyond the opening fan rush.
The rest of the board
- Drummer Boy: $3.39M Friday from 2,850 locations; projected $7.9M weekend.
- You Can See Everything: $2.55M fourth Friday; $73.49M cumulative since Oct. 16; projected $8M weekend.
- Wild Horse Nine: $2.47M Friday from 1,100 locations; projected $5.5M weekend.
- Ramayana: Rise of a Legend: $2.4M Friday from 1,433 locations; projected $7.3M three-day and $10.8M four-day.
For Indian film watchers, the Ramayana number is the one to keep on the dashboard. It is not in the same league as the top two, but a $10.8M four-day projection from 1,433 locations shows a specialty Indian epic can hold a place in a crowded North American frame.
What to watch next
Saturday is the real test. If Godzilla holds near its Friday figure, the $32 million Sunday projection looks safe. If Cat in the Hat gets the expected family lift, it could close the gap from a soft Friday. That difference is what media planners should track before locking in weekend spend.
Source: Variety
