Takashi Yamazaki’s “Godzilla Minus Zero” is receiving overwhelming praise from critics following its press screening at the New York Film Festival. The highly anticipated sequel to the 2023 hit “Godzilla Minus One” has been hailed as a “jaw-dropping spectacle” and a “glorious continuation” of the original film, marking a significant high point for the long-running kaiju franchise.
Journalists attending the festival were particularly impressed by the film’s R-rated action sequences, which represent a first for the series. Reviewers described the movie as an “epic cinematic feat” that balances massive visual scale with grounded human emotion. Jonathan Sim called it a must-see blockbuster featuring unmatched VFX and rousing filmmaking, while Marissa Hill noted that the film’s visual quality rivals modern blockbusters despite being made on a fraction of their budgets.
Film critics Edward Douglas and Brandon Lewis also weighed in, with Douglas stating he was “completely blown away” and Lewis labeling it an “overwhelming achievement of kaiju filmmaking” that delivers both stunning spectacle and a powerful emotional impact. Several attendees took to social media to express their reactions, with one critic comparing the sequel to “The Godfather Part II” and urging that Toho Studios should target another Oscar nomination, specifically for Best Picture.
As the 38th entry in the Godzilla franchise and the 34th produced by Toho, “Godzilla Minus Zero” follows the massive success of its predecessor. The first film grossed $116 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla movie ever, and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. The sequel stars Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe and is notable for being the first Japanese feature film shot specifically for IMAX screens.
The story is set in 1949, two years after the events of “Godzilla Minus One,” and continues to follow the Shikishima family as they confront a new calamity. In this installment, Godzilla returns even larger, bringing the destruction to New York City for a global-scale conflict.
“Godzilla Minus Zero” is scheduled for release in Japan on November 3, followed by a theatrical debut in U.S. cinemas on November 6.
Godzilla in NYC sounds terrifying and awesome. November 6 can’t come soon enough!
Shot for IMAX on a fraction of the budget? Hollywood has no excuse for subpar VFX anymore.
Finally, a kaiju film that respects both the spectacle and the human story. Takashi Yamazaki is a genius.
Best Picture contender? For a Godzilla movie? I need to see this before I believe it.