Box Office: 'Godzilla Minus Zero' Tops Friday with $14.5 Million

The sequel to the 2023 hit "Godzilla Minus One" claimed the top spot at the North American box office on Friday. The film earned $14.5 million from 3,254 theaters. This performance sets a pace for a projected $32 million through Sunday.

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the story takes place two years after the events of the first film. Godzilla regenerates and resurfaces to fight a new monster in postwar Japan. Toho produced the film, while GKids handles distribution in the United States.

Critics have responded positively to the new entry. Owen Gleiberman of Variety called the film "destined to connect with a huge international audience." He noted that the movie proves that "when you do it right, what seemed old can become timeless."

Warner Bros. Animation's "The Cat in the Hat" finished second with $6 million from 4,003 theaters. The animated feature is expected to reach $18.7 million by Sunday. This figure falls slightly below early projections of $20 million to $25 million for the opening weekend.

Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja directed the cartoon. Bill Hader voices the title character. The plot centers on the mischievous cat who arrives to cheer up two siblings in a new town. This is the second major adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book, following the 2003 live-action film starring Mike Myers.

Angel Studios' "Drummer Boy" held the third position with $3.39 million from 2,850 theaters. The Christian musical is projected to earn $7.9 million by its first Sunday. Ben and Joel David Smallbone directed the film. The brothers and their third brother, Luke, who are members of For King + Country, star in the production.

The film follows a young drummer boy, an enslaved woman, and a divided family during the American fight for independence. Variety described the movie as "a confident, mostly pleasing throwback to original screen musicals of yore." It trails the top two entries but maintains a steady audience in its opening days.

A24's "You Can See Everything" ranked fourth on its fourth Friday. It collected $2.55 million from 2,473 theaters and is projected to reach $8 million by Sunday. The documentary about Elizabeth Holmes has accumulated $73.49 million in North America since its October 16 release. Searchlight's "Wild Horse Nine" took fifth with $2.47 million from 1,100 locations, aiming for a $5.5 million weekend. The film stars John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA officers in Chile. The Indian epic "Ramayana: Rise of a Legend" followed with $2.4 million from 1,433 locations.