"Godzilla Minus Zero" stomped to the top of the North American box office on Friday, earning $14.5 million from 3,254 theaters and easily claiming the No. 1 spot. The follow-up to 2023's "Godzilla Minus One" is projected to collect $32 million by the end of Sunday.
Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film takes place two years after the previous installment, as Godzilla regenerates and resurfaces to fight a new monster tormenting postwar Japan. The sci-fi epic is produced by Japan's Toho and distributed in the United States by GKids.
The movie has benefited from strong reviews and word-of-mouth. Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote that the film is "destined to connect with a huge international audience," adding: "It's already clear that this won't be the last of Yamazaki's kaiju epics. That's because the movie proves that when you do it right, what seemed old can become timeless."
Warner Bros. Animation's "The Cat in the Hat" opened in second place, grossing $6 million from 4,003 theaters. The new release is expected to reach $18.7 million by Sunday, slightly under early projections of a $20 million to $25 million opening weekend.
Bill Hader voices the title character in the animated version, directed by Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja. The story centers on the shenanigans that unfold after a mischievous hat-wearing cat arrives to cheer up two siblings who have moved to a new town. It is the second adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic, following the 2003 live-action film led by Mike Myers, which opened to $38 million.
Angel Studios' "Drummer Boy" landed in third with $3.39 million from 2,850 theaters and is eyeing $7.9 million by its first Sunday in release. Directed by brothers Ben and Joel David Smallbone, the patriotic Christian musical stars Joel alongside a third Smallbone brother, Luke; the two comprise the Christian music act For King + Country. Per the film's official description, it follows a young drummer boy, an enslaved woman and a divided family as they search for freedom during America's fight for independence. Variety's review said the film "provides a confident, mostly pleasing throwback to original screen musicals of yore."
A24's "You Can See Everything" held firm in fourth place with $2.55 million on its fourth Friday from 2,473 theaters, finishing just ahead of Searchlight's dark buddy comedy "Wild Horse Nine." The buzzy Elizabeth Holmes documentary should add $8 million by Sunday, according to rival estimates, on top of the $73.49 million it has earned across North America since opening on Oct. 16.
"Wild Horse Nine" took fifth place with $2.47 million from 1,100 locations, per rival estimates, and is expected to bring in $5.5 million by Sunday. Directed by Martin McDonagh, the film stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as two CIA officers dispatched from Santiago to Easter Island shortly before a Chilean military coup.
Trailing behind was the Indian epic "Ramayana: Rise of a Legend," which made $2.4 million on Friday from 1,433 locations and looks to pull in $7.3 million by Sunday.
