🦖 November 3, 2026 was Godzilla Day in Japan, the date the original Godzilla opened in 1954. Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla Minus Zero opened on the same date and took in 910 million yen on its first day alone. On November 6, 2026, it reaches 3,250 theaters in North America.

No spoilers here beyond what has been officially announced, such as King Ghidorah's appearance.

What exactly did that 910 million yen beat?

According to Toho, the first day brought in 910 million yen (about $5.7 million at 158.4 yen to the dollar) from more than 590,000 admissions. Per box office tracker Kogyo Tsushinsha, that is the biggest single opening day for any live-action film released in Japan, domestic or foreign.

Animation is a different matter. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle made 1.64 billion yen (about $10.4 million) on its first day in July 2025. Deadline said it could not verify Toho's live-action claim independently.

Still, the film did more than 201% of Godzilla Minus One's first day. And it did it on a Tuesday, the national holiday that falls on Godzilla Day, across 448 theaters (383 standard plus 65 IMAX).

Minus One finished its Japanese run at 7.65 billion yen (about $48 million). Toho says the sequel's start puts 10 billion yen (about $63 million) within reach, a level no Godzilla film has hit at home. That is the distributor talking, and one day can't predict a final total.

Did the spring guesses come true?

When the first teaser dropped on April 15, 2026, Japanese fans went through it frame by frame. A shot of debris floating upward in a blue glow set off theories that King Ghidorah's gravity beams were behind it. We covered that at the time: Japan reacts to the Godzilla Minus Zero teaser.

The answer came on September 26. The film had its world premiere in the Spotlight Gala section of the 64th New York Film Festival, the first time a Godzilla movie had been selected there, and the post-screening Q&A confirmed that King Ghidorah is in it. Yamazaki said it took about 55 years, but he finally got to bring in the King Ghidorah he had pictured since childhood.

The near-simultaneous Japan and US release announced in spring (our teaser announcement story) also held, with the wide North American release starting three days after Japan's.

Stunning to look at, mixed on the human story

As of November 6, 2026, the film averages 4.0 out of 5 on the Japanese review site Filmarks across more than 12,000 reviews, and more than 90% scored it above 3. Eiga.com has it at 3.8. In the US, Rotten Tomatoes had it at 89% with critics as of November 5.

The praise goes to picture and sound, especially in IMAX. Many reviewers say Godzilla's roar and footsteps physically shook them, and the monster-versus-monster sequences draw almost no complaints.

The complaints go to the human drama. On Filmarks, viewers say the tearful family scenes run longer than last time. One viewer on the blogging platform note wrote that the over-explaining dialogue criticized in Minus One is mostly still there.

Rated G in Japan, rated R in the US

In Japan the film is rated G, meaning anyone can see it regardless of age. In the US, the MPA rated it R for some violent content and bloody images, so anyone under 17 needs a parent or guardian. It is the first R rating in the franchise's history; Minus One was PG-13 there. Germany landed in between, with an FSK 12 rating.

Yamazaki told Variety at the New York premiere that some scenes were essential: "Censoring it or cutting it was just not an option for me." At the Japan premiere on October 19, he said Toho let him go quite far in what he showed, and told the audience he hoped they would leave having taken the full hit.

Same film, same blood: Japan lets children see it, and the US won't let anyone under 17 in alone. The two boards draw the line that far apart.

Next stop: 3,250 theaters in North America

GKIDS opens the film in North America on November 6, 2026, in 3,250 theaters, including every IMAX screen. Deadline reports an opening forecast of $25 million to $30 million domestically, and about $60 million worldwide once the 23 territories opening this weekend are added.

Minus One opened to $11.4 million in North America, went on to earn $57.1 million there and $113.9 million worldwide, and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Oscars. Deadline adds that even an opening in the mid-$20 million range would be the biggest ever for GKIDS, beating the $13 million debut of The Boy and the Heron.

This weekend the film also opens in the UK, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and Germany, among others. South Korea and Italy are not in the first wave. As of November 6, 2026, the plan is to reach 100 countries and territories.

A record set on Godzilla Day in Japan is now crossing the Pacific with an R attached. Has your country set a release date yet? And does Godzilla belong in R-rated territory?

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