The box office has a new reigning champion, and it’s breathing atomic fire.
In a landmark weekend for international cinema, Toho’s Godzilla Minus Zero dominated domestic theaters, pulling in an estimated $31.6 million to secure the No. 1 spot. Distributed by GKIDS and directed by Takashi Yamazaki—the creative force behind 2023’s Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One—the new sequel didn’t just top the charts; it shattered records.
With an “A” CinemaScore from audiences and a glowing 90% critical approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Godzilla Minus Zero nearly tripled the domestic opening of its predecessor and cemented the biggest opening weekend for a live-action foreign-language film in North American box office history.
Here is how the rest of the top 5 shaped up during a powerhouse weekend at the movies.
The Top 5 Box Office Breakdown
| Rank | Movie | Weekend Gross |
| 1 | Godzilla Minus Zero | $31,610,000 |
| 2 | The Cat in the Hat | $20,500,000 |
| 3 | Drummer Boy | $9,312,551 |
| 4 | You Can See Everything | $8,862,847 |
| 5 | Ramayana: Rise of A Legend | $8,650,000 |
1. Godzilla Minus Zero ($31.6M)
The undisputed king of the weekend proved that subtitles are no barrier for a hungry audience. Set once again in post-World War II Japan, Yamazaki’s film balances intimate human drama with breathtaking monster spectacle. Earning $31.61 million across 3,254 screens, it easily outpaced expectations and outperformed major Hollywood studio tentpoles.
2. The Cat in the Hat ($20.5M)
Taking the runner-up spot, Warner Bros. Animation’s modern CGI take on the Dr. Seuss classic debuted with a solid $20.5 million. Anchored by Bill Hader’s voice work as the mischievous feline, the family-friendly feature played across 4,003 screens. While it couldn’t quite match the sheer cultural footprint of the lizard king next door, it established a sturdy family baseline heading into the holiday corridor.
3. Drummer Boy ($9.3M)
Angel Studios’ faith-based and inspirational drama Drummer Boy secured third place in its debut frame, pulling in $9.31 million across 2,850 screens. The film continues Angel’s streak of finding dedicated, reliable turnout from faith-and-family demographics looking for uplifting theatrical storytelling.
4. You Can See Everything ($8.9M)
After ruling the box office last weekend, A24’s You Can See Everything experienced a respectable hold, sliding to fourth place with $8.86 million. The indie breakout is proving to have serious legs, pushing its cumulative domestic gross just shy of the $80 million milestone at $79.7 million.
5. Ramayana: Rise of A Legend ($8.7M)
Rounding out the top five is the epic historical fantasy Ramayana: Rise of A Legend, which pulled in $8.65 million. Notably, it achieved this on a much tighter footprint than its competitors, playing in only 1,499 theaters and landing a robust per-screen average of $6,036—proving that international event cinema continues to command fierce loyalty from domestic ticket-buyers.
The Big Picture
Overall, the box office enjoyed a massive rebound this weekend, with the top 10 movies grossing a combined $103.74 million—more than double the previous weekend’s output. As studios look ahead to the heavy-hitting holiday slate, this weekend proved that audiences are more than willing to show up for bold original storytelling, diverse global perspectives, and, of course, a giant radioactive monster.
