One of the biggest surprises in recent years was the impact Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One made worldwide. I think it was tempting for non-Godzilla devotees to write it off as just another Godzilla movie (although the faithful would wonder what exactly is wrong with that), but it ended up being perhaps the greatest installment of the franchise to date. It earned critical raves (with even Steven Spielberg hailing it), and the box office was outstanding, grossing a huge $57 million in North America. It also won a well-deserved Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, beating out movies with budgets that eclipsed it by hundreds of millions. As such, the sequel, Godzilla Minus Zero, is a major event.
Befitting how anticipated the movie is, word leaked today that Toho and their North American subsidiary, GKIDS, are giving the film a global IMAX release. Godzilla Minus One came out on IMAX screens in Japan and eventually played a limited run in North America in that format, but it looks like it will be getting a more robust IMAX release right off the bat. It hits North American theaters on November 6th, which is only three days after its Japanese release.
Judging by the release schedule, it looks like it might have a two-week run, with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping set for a November 20th IMAX release. It may also have to share screens with WB’s The Cat in the Hat, which is listed for an IMAX release as well (it’s not unusual for films to share IMAX screens).
IMAX has become an increasingly sought-after format for distributors, far outpacing other premium options. There’s even shaping up to be a bit of an IMAX battle toward the end of 2026, with Avengers: Doomsday and the third Dune movie both having been shot with IMAX in mind. However, they both open on December 18th, and Dune is rumored to have an exclusive window.
Are you excited to see Godzilla roar on IMAX screens this November? Let us know in the comments!
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