Godzilla: King of the Monsters Set to Dominate Weekend Box Office

Kaiju are once again set to stomp through theaters in this week’s debut of Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The film is the third entry in Legendary Pictures’ MonsterVerse, which also includes 2014’s Godzilla and 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, and will feature the big green guy going toe-to-toe with the likes of Mothra, Rodan, and his archnemesis, the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah. With an estimated budget of around $170 million, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is forecast to be a major success for Legendary and Warner Bros., the studio that distributes the film. Initial estimates indicate that the film will rake in between $230 and $235 million in its opening weekend. This impressive haul is in stark contrast to other films in the MonsterVerse. Back in 2014, Godzilla only brought in $196 million for the studio, while Kong: Skull Island only premiered to a $146 million haul.

Analysts at Deadline Hollywood also report that most of Godzilla: King of the Monster’s take will probably come from international audiences. The website notes that the film’s lackluster reviews will likely discourage American viewers from attending shows this week, having predicted just a $55 million take from the domestic box office. The film is currently certified as “rotten” by the review website Rotten Tomatoes with only a 49 percent approval rating. Nevertheless, the film will still trounce its competition this weekend. The Elton John biography Rocket Man is only set to premiere to $45 million while the Octavia Spencer-led horror film Ma is forecast to earn only $20 million.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm for the film in the United States, longtime fans of Godzilla are thrilled to see their favorite monster back on the big screen. Most reviewers have stated that the film’s highlights are the intense monster battles. While the film’s marketing might emphasize the traditional kaiju characters, King of the Monsters also boasts an impressive human cast led by Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, and Kyle Chandler. In an interview with SYFY Wire, Chandler says that he was a fan of Godzilla as a kid and binge watched all of Toho’s original Godzilla movies upon earning a part in the film. Brown has also spoken highly of the film in interviews. The Stranger Things actress noted that prior to joining King of the Monsters, she was unaware of the legacy of Godzilla in the film industry. Brown feels that the new film will please new audiences and those who have loved Godzilla for decades.