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He’s back, and he’s angrier than ever! Godzilla Minus Zero had a series of screenings this week for press and the first reactions have been flooding social media. The verdict? We have another kaiju-sized hit on our hands.
Despite having its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on Sept. 26, legendary Japanese studio Toho held more press screenings this week for Godzilla Minus Zero ahead of the film’s Centerpiece gala screening at the Tokyo International Film Festival on Nov. 1. The film is released in theaters in Japan on Nov. 3 and North America on Nov. 6.
Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus Zero is a direct sequel to the Japanese filmmaker’s 2023 epic Godzilla Minus One, that scored over $100 million at the global box office from a $15 million budget and won an Oscar for best visual effects in 2024.
A synopsis from Toho of Godzilla Minus Zero reads: “War reduced Japan to zero, and Godzilla plunged it into minus. Two years have passed since then, and the country has faced agonizing struggles to achieve recovery and finally reclaim its daily life. Just as humanity managed to cling to a hard-won peace, a new threat strikes, crushing hope in an instant. There is no third time. Everything ends here.”
Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Hidetaka Yoshioka and Kuranosuke Sasaki are among the cast returning for the sequel. Newcomers include Min Tanaka and Masami Nagasawa.
Shot entirely in Japan, notably, Godzilla Minus Zero is the first-ever Japanese production to be filmed for Imax.
The Hollywood Reporter‘s David Rooney reviewed Godzilla Minus Zero after seeing it NYFF, and described the film as a “radioactive blast.” In a rave review, Rooney praised Yamazaki for topping the spectacle of his first film. “The resulting clash of the legendary kaiju is a rip-roaring smackdown in a movie that keeps awing the audience with exhilarating action and then continually one-upping itself in the dustups that follow,” Rooney writes. “I’m fairly sure I stopped breathing during a tense scene in which Godzilla bears down on a seaplane attempting a hurried liftoff.”
Godzilla Minus Zero currently holds a score of 92 percent on Rotten Tomatoes from 50 reviews. On Metacritic it holds a score of 78 and on Letterboxd it is rated at 4 stars.
See a selection of social media reaction to Godzilla Minus Zero below.
GODZILLA MINUS ONE: truly the most epic movie I’ve seen all year and puts the awe in awesome. There are sequences that will drop your jaw on the floor.
#GodzillaMinusZero over-delivers! Once again, it’s got an emotionally-charged human story at its core, surrounded by the LARGEST and most satisfying ass-kicking you’ll see this year.
I got to see this on IMAX 1.90 and I don’t think I’m ready for the full 1.43 experience.… pic.twitter.com/cfCf3L0tFi
I loved #GodzillaMinusZero !
Writer-Director Takashi Yamazaki shows true love for the series.
It’s a fantastic sequel that again offers smart, emotional character moments along with tense, impressive bursts of action.
The score is awesome.
See it on the biggest screen ya can! pic.twitter.com/vLICJkN0Q9
saw #GodzillaMinusZero last night. where Minus One was the Oppenheimer of Godzilla movies, Minus Zero is THE DARK KNIGHT. it’s emotional. it’s intense. and it does NOT disappoint on the kaiju action. probably the best Ghidorah of all time. THEE imax experience of the year pic.twitter.com/453nQM4v1q
I went to the Japan premiere of “Godzilla Minus Zero” at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya. As a huge Godzilla fan and a fan of Minami Hamabe, this is a film I’ve been eagerly waiting three years to see. And I got to see it in IMAX!!! There were moments that played out just as I imagined,… pic.twitter.com/wVmY0uhV6S
Godzilla Minus Zero trades some of the emotion and melodrama of the first for sheer destruction. Make no mistake, this is an absolute spectacle though. From the score, to the effects, to the monsters, there’s so much to unpack. Absolutely rocked me. #GodzillaMinusZero pic.twitter.com/oSpQJZOn7r
#GodzillaMinusZero works as both sequel and companion piece to Godzilla Minus One, delivering on the promise of a post-WWII human story within a grand scale monster movie. The film delivers moments of giddy excitement as it builds to the thrilling sequences of kaiju action,… pic.twitter.com/4B9xFM3rLo
#GodzillaMinusZero had a hell of a lot to live up to following Minus One, but by god it does. A totally different beast, this sequel is full of fully realised human characters you actually care about, and some utterly breathtaking kaiju action brought to life with some of the… pic.twitter.com/sV6JJwCvcf
#GodzillaMinusZero is the BEST followup G Film to date. Best comparison would be this is the Godfather Part 2 to Godzilla Minus One's Godfather. Toho should win another #Oscar for this film. Should be nominated for best picture. This Kaiju experience needs to be seen in IMAX!
#GodzillaMinusZero continues and expands on the characters and themes of the previous movie, exploring the different ways people respond to post-war trauma, all while staging some incredible kaiju battles. An exhilarating experience in IMAX, too. pic.twitter.com/lYH6IF4Yk9
#GodzillaMinusZero is a miraculously satisfying sequel, not only doubling down on the dizzying visual scope, but widening its emotional sights as well as it explores the aftermath of war with the emotional aftershocks, displacement and trauma it tows along with it. The set pieces… pic.twitter.com/r1KeeIWToW
#GodzillaMinusZero is a loud, emotional, epic monster movie. Fans will love it. A couple of absolutely beautiful action set pieces that must be seen on the big screen. If you enjoyed Godzilla Minus One buy your tickets immediately for the sequel. pic.twitter.com/3tNKAYZqAi
King Ghidorah looks incredible in #GodzillaMinusZero !! especially on IMAX screening! And every Ghidorah scene is in day time, we can see him clearly every time from various angles. He gets decent amount of screen time and the fight with Godzilla is also awesome! It was… pic.twitter.com/dh6Cmu7QM1
Extracted and lightly reformatted for readability. · Source: pt