The umpteenth version of “Godzilla” shows there’s still teeth in the old Japanese Beast from 20,000 fathoms, as “Godzilla Minus Zero” stomps in with a $33 million+ opening weekend.
It’s in Japanese, of course. “Oh no, there goes Tokyo” and all. So that makes this the new holder of the best foreign language film opening weekend record, deadline.com notes.
As this is a sequel to “Godzilla Minus One,” we’re talking fresh (ish) “franchise” here, and not just a horror icon that dates back to the 1950s and brought back every few years, in Japanese or Hollywood form.
But taken another way, a character, situations and franchise that has been beaten to death (“Godzilla vs. Kong: A New Empire,” etc. etc. etc.) only is managing to sell around two-two-and-a-half million tickets in a nation of 350 million. Not exactly moving the cultural needle, is it?
That’s still better than the latest Bill Hader-voiced “Cat in the Hat.” That will clear maybe $20 million, but considering how “Godzilla” overwhelmed it Thursday night and Friday, it may close that gap some as families take the kids Sat. and Sunday. Then again, how many damned “Cats in the Hat” do the kids need?
With ORIGINAL movies like “Obsession” and “You Can See Everything” surprising and taking over the moviegoing conversation, who cares how “good” any of these worn-out remakes are?
“Godzilla the Latest” is earning decent reviews. “Cat in the Hat?” Not so much.
The new musical “Drummer Boy” is pulling in $9-11 million or so. Not terrible, considering it’s not a franchise or a proven brand, with the biggest names being Ioan Gruffudd, Melora Hardin and Iain Glenn. I was one of the few to get around to reviewing it, and it’s not great. But it is ambitious and original.
In fourth place is the docu-drama “You Can See Everything,” which has dominated the film corner of the pop culture conversation since early October. It’s smarter and not the same old recycled popcorn, and it’s on track to collect another $8 million or so.
A mythic thriller from India, “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” (aka “Ramayana: Part One”) is on track to clear $6 million and land in fifth place. Mixed reviews greeted that one on this side of the world.
Martin McDonaugh’s latest, “Wild Horse Nine,” which might be the last good shot John Malkovich has at an Oscar, is on enough screens to maybe crack the top five, if it clears $6, but $4-5 seems more likely. That’s one title I’m actually excited to see.
“Clayface,” “Wildwood,” “Wicker” and “Street Fighter” have a shot at filling out the top ten, with “Resident Evil” and “Other Mommy” also having a chance. But we know five titles will be exiting the top ten, and somebody’s got to lose.
Check back here as the weekend progresses and we’ll see how all this plays out.
