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‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ First Reactions Declare the King of Monsters Is Back and Better Than Ever

ByHrvoje Milakovic Published on
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Godzilla has rarely commanded this level of critical excitement heading into a release, but ‘Godzilla Minus Zero‘ appears to be changing that conversation entirely. Following the massive success of 2023’s ‘Godzilla Minus One,’ expectations for Takashi Yamazaki’s follow-up were already sky-high, particularly given how rare it is for a kaiju film to earn genuine awards season buzz.

That pressure only intensified once the sequel secured its premiere at one of the year’s most prestigious film festivals, giving critics their first proper look at whether Yamazaki could match, let alone surpass, his predecessor’s acclaim. Few franchises have ever managed to turn a monster movie into legitimate Oscar conversation, and ‘Minus One’ had already broken that mold by winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Now the reactions are in, and they’re overwhelmingly positive. Following its press screening at the New York Film Festival, ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ is earning rave first reactions from critics, with several calling for outright Best Picture consideration. Reporter Jonathan Sim described the film as “a truly epic cinematic feat,” writing that “it takes the King of the Monsters to a whole new level while still grounding everything in human, emotional stakes. A must-see blockbuster that truly delivers. Unmatched VFX, action, and scale. Rousing, incredible filmmaking.”

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Beyond the visual scale, multiple critics highlighted how effectively the film balances massive action sequences with genuine emotional depth. Critic Brandon Lewis called the movie “an overwhelming achievement of kaiju filmmaking,” adding that “aside from the jaw-dropping spectacle, Takashi Yamazaki packs in an emotional wallop, as the characters grapple with lingering trauma and their duties to the future. Never thought I’d cry to Godzilla.”

Marissa Hill echoed similar sentiments, praising Yamazaki’s ability to expand on the original film’s themes without losing its emotional core. “Takashi Yamazaki’s made a worthy successor to ‘Minus One’ with a family-centric story that’s also filled with thrilling action sequences and jaw-dropping monster battles,” she wrote. Critic Edward Douglas said he was “completely blown away” by the film, reinforcing just how consistently glowing the early response has been across outlets.

That reaction extends beyond the film’s action set pieces, which reportedly include the franchise’s first R-rated sequences. According to reactions shared following the screening, the film also delivers what many are calling a “glorious continuation” of the emotional groundwork laid by ‘Minus One.’

‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ marks the 38th film in the overall Godzilla franchise and the 34th produced by Toho, the Japanese studio that created the character. The sequel follows 2023’s ‘Godzilla Minus One,’ which grossed 116 million dollars worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Japanese Godzilla film ever released and ultimately earning Yamazaki an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

That kind of crossover success, appealing to both mainstream audiences and awards voters, set an unusually high bar for any sequel to clear. Based on the strength of these early reactions, ‘Minus Zero’ appears positioned to at least match that critical reception, with some reviewers even suggesting it could surpass the original in terms of scale and emotional impact.

‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ stars Kamiki Ryunosuke and Hamabe Minami, reprising key roles from the first film as Yamazaki returns to the director’s chair following the international success of ‘Minus One.’ With reactions already framing the film as a genuine awards contender, expectations for its wider release are only likely to grow from here.

What are you most excited about after hearing the first reactions to ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’?

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