Godzilla Minus Zero Beats Ramayana With $63M Global Box Office Opening

Godzilla has once again demonstrated its box office appeal, taking on one of India's most ambitious film releases in the process.

Godzilla Minus Zero emerged ahead of Ramayana: Rise of a Legend in the global opening weekend rankings, despite having a considerably smaller reported production budget.

The comparison highlights two very different approaches to big-budget filmmaking, with the Japanese monster film reaching audiences across multiple international markets while the Indian epic drew much of its opening revenue from its home market.

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How Much Did Both Films Make?

According to Screen Daily’s global box office report, Godzilla Minus Zero earned $63 million across 101 territories during the weekend. Its North American opening contributed an estimated $31.6 million, while international markets added $31.4 million.

Ramayana recorded $52.2 million over the same three-day period, with its worldwide total reaching approximately $55.7 million after its Thursday opening. India contributed around $32 million, while 37 other international markets brought in $43.5 million, according to the report.

The difference in release dates matters when comparing the figures. Ramayana opened on 5 November, a day before the main weekend period, so its four-day total is higher than its three-day weekend earnings. Even with that additional day, it finished behind the Japanese film in the global opening rankings.

Why Did Godzilla Minus Zero Perform So Well?

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus Zero is the follow-up to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One. The story returns to post-war Japan, where the country faces another threat as Godzilla confronts King Ghidorah, the three-headed monster.

The film benefited from a much wider international launch than its predecessor. It also drew audiences to premium cinema formats, with IMAX screenings contributing $21.3 million to its worldwide opening.

Its performance in Japan was another sign of demand. Toho and GKIDS reported that the film earned approximately $5.75 million on its opening day, setting a record for a live-action film in the country.

What Helped Ramayana Compete?

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The first instalment of the planned two-part adaptation brings the Hindu epic to cinemas with a reported production budget of about $210 million.