‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ Ties the Franchise’s Best-Ever Audience Grade

Takashi Yamazaki’s ‘Godzilla Minus One’ set a high bar, both critically and with audiences, and ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ had to clear it. The first film was a smash, earning an A CinemaScore and an impressive $11 million in its opening weekend. It became a word-of-mouth phenomenon that turned a modest Japanese release into an Oscar winner.

The sequel was already setting box office records before audiences graded it. Deadline reports that ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ looks to be coming in at its opening range of $30 million-$33 million after a $13.5M Friday at 3,254 theaters that includes $6.7M in previews. That would be a record opening for a live-action foreign-language film at the domestic box office.

Now opening-night audiences have given it top marks. As box office analyst Luiz Fernando pointed out, the R-rated sequel earned an A CinemaScore, which is rare for a non-English-language film. That ties it for the best audience reception in the franchise’s history, alongside ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ and ‘Godzilla Minus One’.

The comparisons show how rare this grade is for the franchise. Deadline noted that the only other Godzilla to receive a solid A was Legendary’s ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ in 2021, while 2024’s ‘Godzilla x Kong’ earned an A-. According to Fernando’s breakdown, ‘Minus Zero’ also beats ‘King Kong’s ‘ A-.

The rest of the series trails behind. Per Fernando, 2014’s ‘Godzilla’, ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ and ‘Kong: Skull Island’ each earned a B+, the 1998 ‘Godzilla’ and 2000’s ‘Godzilla’ landed at B-, and ‘King Kong Lives’ sits at the bottom with a D+.

Audiences have spoken!!! #1 Oops… Director #TakashiYamazaki did it again, recapturing the magic with another #Godzilla classic, as R-rated #GodzillaMinusZero aka #ゴジラ-0 receives SPECTACULAR, rare for non-English language films, A #CinemaScore from mesmerised moviegoers, best reception ever in the #Godzilla franchise’s history on par with #GvK & #GodzillaMinusOne Compared to #Godzilla, #MonsterVerse & #KingKong movies: On par with: #GodzillavsKong & #GodzillaMinusOne A Over: #GodzillaXKongTheNewEmpire, #KingKong A- 2014 #Godzilla & #GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters, #KongSullIsland B+ 1998 #Godzilla & 2000 #Godzilla’s B- #KingKongLives D+ Excellent news for legs at the #BoxOffice!

— Luiz Fernando (@Luiz_Fernando_J) November 7, 2026

A CinemaScore like this usually points to a long theatrical run. CinemaScore remains one of the best metrics for predicting whether people will keep showing up for a movie beyond its opening weekend. Fernando called it excellent news for the film’s box office legs.

The first film showed how far good word of mouth can carry a Godzilla movie. ‘Godzilla Minus One’ went on to gross $57.1 million domestically and win the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Its sequel is starting from a much higher point.

Godzilla lives! Face the monsters in the historic, critically acclaimed epic #GodzillaMinusZero, in theatres & IMAX nationwide. #FilmedForIMAX Get tickets now. https://t.co/2Ktmma6fOa https://t.co/Ku73umnqX0

— GODZILLA.OFFICIAL (@Godzilla_Toho) November 5, 2026

The sequel took some real risks. ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ was rated R for “some violent content/bloody images,” a first for a series that began with the original ‘Godzilla’ in 1954. It is also the first Japanese production filmed for IMAX, with images and sound designed for the format.

Critics agree with audiences. ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ is 91% certified fresh, compared with 99% for ‘Godzilla Minus One’. Early reviews called it a devastating, heartbreaking kaiju epic, and Awards Radar called it a sequel that is bigger, and often better, in almost every way.

Expectations should stay modest compared with Hollywood’s biggest monster movies. The franchise’s all-time box office leader is still ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’, which earned $572 million worldwide in 2024.

‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ isn’t expected to match that, but a strong opening would still put it in a category of its own among Japanese productions. With strong reviews, a top audience grade, and a record-breaking start, Yamazaki has delivered again.

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