Godzilla Minus One: A New Era for the Godzilla Franchise
Toho Studios has just released its 33rd Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One, and it has turned out to be a massive success for the company and the greater franchise due to its incredible box office run. Godzilla Minus One is the 37th movie to be a part of the Godzilla franchise, which first premiered in 1954. Godzilla is a kaiju franchise, meaning that it is part of a Japanese subgenre that typically includes large monsters attacking cities or militaries. Though not all Godzilla movies have proven successful, Godzilla Minus One could be a turning point for the franchise.
The Box Office Triumph of Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One has currently earned $60.6 million worldwide. Although this may not sound like much in comparison to the everyday blockbuster, this amount is incredible for two reasons. First, Godzilla Minus One was made on a budget of approximately $15 million dollars. In this way, the movie quadrupled what it spent. Furthermore, Godzilla Minus One is a Japanese movie with English subtitles in the United States. International movies rarely do so good in the U.S, making Godzilla Minus One's earnings notable.
Shin Godzilla Nominated For Best Picture
Although Godzilla Minus One has impressive box office numbers, it is important to note that it has yet to beat Shin Godzilla. Shin Godzilla premiered in 2016 and was the first film in the franchise's Reiwa era. Since its release, Shin Godzilla has maintained its place as the highest-grossing Japanese-produced Godzilla film in the entire franchise. It made a worldwide total of $78 million at the box office, with a measly budget of $7 million. Furthermore, in Japan, it received significant critical acclaim. So, at this point, Godzilla Minus One is a strong contender, but has not beat Shin Godzilla's achievements.
Man with bandaged head surrounded by rubble screaming in Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One may not be the highest-grossing Japanese-produced Godzilla movie, but it did break another important record. Godzilla Minus One is now the highest-grossing Japanese movie at the U.S. box office. This is an incredible achievement, especially for a franchise that has seen so many ups and downs as Godzilla has. Godzilla Minus One has not only proven itself among its franchise and in Japan, but has also made a name for itself in the United States, where competition among movies is fierce. To break a record such as this is a sign of great things for the future of Japanese cinema in the United States.
Godzilla emerging from the water in Godzilla Minus One
Recognition and Achievements
Godzilla Minus One also broke the record for having the biggest debut for an international film in 2023. Because of this, it is no surprise that the film has been acknowledged for its achievements by being nominated for a number of awards. In particular, Godzilla Minus One received four nominations at the 48th Hochi Film Awards, with director Takashi Yamazaki winning Best Director, and the film is a finalist for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards. Overall, U.S. critics have given Godzilla Minus One particular praise for its visual effects, direction, story, characters, musical score, and social commentary.
Minami Hamabe as Noriko Looking at Godzilla Outside a Train Window in Ginza in Godzilla: Minus One
So, the question remains: why has Godzilla Minus One done so good at the box office? This is an especially pertinent question considering the varying success of past Godzilla movies. In all, there are many reasons why Godzilla Minus One stuck out to audiences and critics when others did not. First and foremost, Godzilla Minus One brings a new tone that the franchise has not yet explored. Not only that, but the story itself is strong, which makes the overall execution of the film a success. Furthermore, with early reviews being so favorable, it makes sense that audiences would be interested in checking out this next great Godzilla film.
Hidetaka Yoshioka as Kenji Noda Looking Grave with a Map Projected Over His Face in Godzilla Minus One
Implications for the Future of the Godzilla Franchise
Overall, Godzilla Minus One's box office success is a huge sign for the Godzilla franchise. The film has proven that Godzilla is still a popular franchise that audiences will want to invest in. Following Godzilla Minus One's success, it will be important for the Monsterverse to learn from Godzilla Minus One. Rather than animated films, the company should try to replicate the magic this film had, and move forward with more live-action films with strong storylines.
Ryunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima Standing in Rubble with a Bandaged Head in Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One's success is also an indicator of change for Toho's movie performance in the United States. Whatever film the company makes next, it will likely garner some sort of audience based on Godzilla Minus One's success. This will act as a sort of safety next for the filmmaker. Furthermore, the franchise may see some important changes coming its way, including English dubs. This would be a great sign that Toho's Godzilla films are especially popular in the United States, enough so to warrant a dub. All in all, Godzilla Minus One has broken ground, and hopefully, the changes will be lasting.
Godzilla roaring in Godzilla Minus One
