Film & TVBackground

Godzilla Minus One opens in North America to a surprise hit

Toho's Godzilla Minus One reached North American cinemas on 1 December 2023 and became an unexpected success for a foreign-language film.

9 Nov 2026, 07:051 min read

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Godzilla Minus One, directed by Takashi Yamazaki, reached cinemas in North America on 1 December 2023. The film was produced by the Japanese studio Toho, which created the monster in 1954, and had already opened in Japan in early November.

Set in the years just after the Second World War, the story follows a former kamikaze pilot haunted by guilt as Godzilla attacks a devastated Japan. Its human drama and a budget far smaller than typical Hollywood monster films drew strong praise from critics and audiences, who also singled out its visual effects.

The release was notable because a Japanese-language film with subtitles performed so well in the American market. It opened in thousands of theaters, including premium large-format screens, and held up in the following weeks through word of mouth. It became one of the highest-grossing Japanese live-action films in the United States.

The success continued into awards season: in March 2024 the film won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, a first for a Godzilla film. That run set the stage for the franchise's next big-screen releases and for expectations around a sequel.