A Japanese monster has managed to outmuscle one of India's most ambitious cinematic projects at the box office. Godzilla Minus Zero opened with 63 million dollars, around Rs 567 crore, worldwide over the weekend, taking the global top spot ahead of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana.
A striking gap in North America
The gap was even more striking in North America, where the Japanese film earned 260 per cent more than the Indian epic between Friday and Sunday, despite being made on a fraction of its budget. According to industry estimates and reports by Box Office Mojo, Godzilla Minus Zero collected 31.6 million dollars in North America over the weekend, comfortably securing the top spot. It finished ahead of Hollywood release Cat in the Hat, which took second place.
Ramayana settles for fifth place
Ramayana, released internationally as Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, had to settle for fifth place. Despite securing the widest US release ever for an Indian film, it earned 8.7 million dollars, around Rs 78.3 crore, between Friday and Sunday, taking its extended opening-weekend collection in the market to 12.2 million dollars, around Rs 109.8 crore. The Japanese film's North American success is particularly notable because it has not yet released in South Asia. Its arrival in the region was pushed back as Ramayana continued to dominate IMAX screens.
A fraction of the budget
Made at a reported cost of 19 million dollars, around Rs 171 crore, Godzilla Minus Zero has already delivered a strong opening for its makers. In comparison, Ramayana reportedly cost around 210 million dollars, around Rs 1,890 crore, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever made. The worldwide numbers tell a similar story, although Ramayana put up a strong fight on its home turf. Godzilla Minus Zero collected 63 million dollars globally during its opening weekend, compared with approximately 55 million dollars, or around Rs 500 crore, for Ramayana over its four-day opening weekend.
What the film is about
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus Zero is set in 1949, as Japan struggles to rebuild in the aftermath of World War II. The story brings back Godzilla, who was believed to have been defeated in the 2023 film Godzilla Minus One. This time, the monster returns after being regenerated by radiation and faces King Ghidorah, a giant, three-headed dragon-like creature. Humans also lend a hand as the two monsters go head-to-head. The film is produced by Japanese studio Toho and distributed in North America by GKIDS. Its opening has taken the franchise to a new box-office high, with the 63-million-dollar worldwide debut nearly three times the opening of Godzilla Minus One in December 2023.
