“Godzilla: Minus Zero” got off to a powerful start at the box office — Takashi Yamazaki’s new film is aiming for a historic record

The sequel earned 90% positive reviews from critics and a 96% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Godzilla: Minus Zero” grossed $14.5 million on its opening day in the US and Canada. For comparison, Takashi Yamazaki’s previous film, “Godzilla Minus One”, earned $11.4 million across its entire debut weekend.

According to Deadline’s forecast, the sequel will gross $32 million over its opening weekend. If the forecast holds true, “Minus Zero” will deliver the best launch in North American box office history among foreign non-English live-action films. For now, this achievement belongs to Zhang Yimou’s Chinese film “Hero” starring Jet Li, which grossed $17.8 million at its launch in August 2004.

“Minus Zero” is set in 1949, two years after the events of the first film. The story once again centers on the Shikishima family, who must live through a new disaster. Audiences polled by CinemaScore at initial screenings gave the sequel an A grade — the same rating received by the previous installment. On Rotten Tomatoes, the picture earned 90% positive reviews from critics and a 96% approval rating from viewers.

It is not yet known when “Godzilla: Minus Zero” will reach Russia. In Kazakhstan and Belarus, the premiere is scheduled for November 20, so it is possible that the film will hit Russian cinemas shortly after that date.