“Godzilla Minus One” Storms the U.S.
“Godzilla Minus One,” the 33rd installment in the Japanese franchise Godzilla, has exceeded expectations in the U.S. box office since its release on December 1st. Despite an extremely small $15 million budget, the film has grossed over $15.7 million in ticket sales in the U.S. and earned a 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This brings the current Worldwide Box Office to over $42 million.
Directed, written, (as well as supervising VFX) by Takashi Yamazaki, the film explores post-World War II Japan and its reaction to Godzilla arrival. Yamazaki aimed to recapture the original spirit of Godzilla while focusing on the impact of war on individuals, specifically on the lead character, former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima.
“Godzilla Minus One” has generated interest in action movies, especially those with reused characters, reinforcing the view that franchise films can still be well received if the quality is high. The film’s success has created lots of buzz where audiences appreciate its freshness and creative approach.
Looking ahead, we will see if the upcoming release of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” can keep up. Clearly, quality and creativity still resonate with U.S. audiences, despite concerns about franchise fatigue.
You can find tickets here.