Get ready for an epic showdown as 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' storms into theaters this weekend, promising a colossal clash of two iconic beasts. The highly anticipated monster mashup, a collaboration between Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment, is set to make a big splash at the box office.
In its North American debut, the film is aiming to rake in between $50 million to $55 million from a wide release across 3,850 theaters. While 'Godzilla' and 'Kong' movies traditionally perform exceptionally well overseas, 'The New Empire' is projected to bring in a staggering $80 million to $85 million internationally.
Compared to its predecessors in the MonsterVerse franchise, 'Godzilla x Kong' is expected to land in the middle of the pack in terms of domestic ticket sales. It is forecasted to surpass the opening weekend numbers of 2021's 'Godzilla vs. Kong,' which debuted at $31 million and went on to become a pandemic-era hit with $474 million in global box office earnings.
Directed by Adam Wingard and featuring a star-studded cast including Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, and Dan Stevens, 'The New Empire' takes a fresh approach by uniting Godzilla and Kong against a common enemy threatening the planet. Reviews for the film are currently under embargo, but past entries in the MonsterVerse have shown that critical reception may not significantly impact box office success.
As the sole new release this weekend, 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' is poised to dominate the box office charts, with holdovers like 'Dune: Part Two,' 'Kung Fu Panda 4,' and 'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' vying for audience attention. Despite a challenging year for the film industry, overall North American box office revenues have shown signs of recovery, with attendance down by only 9% compared to last year.