This weekend, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is set to dominate the box office as it aims to gross between $50 million and $55 million in North America. The film, a collaboration between Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment, is also expected to bring in $80 million to $85 million internationally from its 3,850 theaters. While previous “Godzilla” and “Kong” films have performed well overseas, the MonsterVerse installment is anticipated to perform similarly.
In terms of domestic ticket sales, “Godzilla x Kong” is projected to fall in between the debut numbers of previous MonsterVerse movies. It is expected to surpass the opening weekend totals of 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” but may not reach the heights of 2014’s “Godzilla” or 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island.” Despite facing challenges due to the pandemic, the 2021 release of “Godzilla vs. Kong” managed to become a hit with $474 million worldwide, surpassing its predecessor while also being released on HBO Max.
With a production budget of $135 million, “The New Empire” will need to perform strongly at the box office to recoup its costs and generate profits. The film, directed by Adam Wingard and starring Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Dan Stevens, has a unique storyline where Godzilla and Kong team up to combat a common enemy threatening the planet. Reviews for the film are currently under embargo, but historical data suggests that critical reception may not heavily impact its box office performance.
Despite facing tough competition from holdovers like “Dune: Part Two,” “Kung Fu Panda 4,” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,” “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is poised to lead the box office charts this weekend. Prior to the release of “Dune: Part Two,” overall North American box office revenues were lagging 20% behind the previous year. However, with an improvement in attendance, the box office deficit has reduced to 9%, according to Comscore’s data.
As the only major release this weekend, all eyes are on “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” as it looks to draw in audiences with its epic monster battles and high-powered visual effects. With a strong international appeal and a dedicated fan base, the film is expected to perform well at the box office and set a positive tone for the resurgence of moviegoing as theaters continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
