Tokyo, Japan – Godzilla, the unstoppable force of nature, continues to terrorize both the military and the North American box office. In its sixth weekend, “Godzilla Minus One” is projected to rake in over a million dollars, boosting its North American earnings to $50.94 million. This staggering success is even more impressive considering the film’s initial budget of only $15 million, which director Takashi Yamazaki hinted may have been even less.
On a global scale, “Minus One” has amassed a staggering $94.75 million and counting. The film’s popularity has reached unprecedented heights, defying expectations for foreign language films.
This remarkable achievement prompted Yamazaki to host a special screening of the film at Lucasfilm, fueling speculation about whether he pitched any ideas for a future installment of the “Star Wars” franchise to Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni during the event.
Meanwhile, Japanese audiences can now enjoy a special black-and-white version of the film, which premiered in theaters on Friday. Fans in North America eagerly anticipate news of a potential release of this unique edition.
Directed and written by Yamazaki, “Godzilla Minus One” features an ensemble cast, including Ryunosuke Kamiki as Koichi Shikishima, Minami Hamabe as Noriko Oishi, Yuki Yamada as Shiro Mizushima, Munetaka Aoki as Sosaku Tachibana, and Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda.
Reflecting on the film’s status as the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film in North America, Yamazaki expressed his gratitude. He said, “I am pleased that Godzilla, out of all the characters, has broken a record that remained untouched for a long time. We all worked towards the same goal of creating something entertaining, and this tremendous result is a testament to our collective effort.”
The plot of the film revolves around a group of Japanese soldiers who encounter a dinosaur-like creature on a remote island during the waning days of World War II. Only two survivors make it out alive. Two years later, the creature reemerges, now significantly larger and armed with thermonuclear breath, wreaking havoc on ships along the Japanese coast and inching closer to the war-ravaged mainland.
“Godzilla Minus One” premiered in North America on December 1, following exclusive fan showings on November 29. Its unprecedented success has solidified Godzilla’s reign as the reigning king of monsters.