Godzilla Minus Zero Gets IMAX Early Access Screenings on November 3

Fans who cannot wait a few more days will get their wish. Godzilla Minus Zero will play in IMAX theaters in North America on Tuesday, November 3, three days before it opens nationwide on November 6. GKIDS and Toho announced the “Godzilla Day IMAX Early Access” screenings on October 6, when tickets went on sale. November 3 is Godzilla Day, the anniversary of the original 1954 film’s release in Japan.

Built for the Biggest Screen

The film is the first Japanese production ever filmed for IMAX. It was shot entirely in Japan with IMAX-certified digital cameras. According to BroadwayWorld, it includes 75 minutes of IMAX’s expanded 1.90:1 aspect ratio, which fills the screen from floor to ceiling, and select IMAX with Laser theaters will show it in the even taller 1.43:1 ratio. It was also remastered with IMAX’s DMR technology. GKIDS also released a new IMAX poster.

For a franchise built on scale, the format is a natural fit. Godzilla stories depend on the contrast between a human-sized world and a creature that dwarfs it, and taller image formats give filmmakers more vertical space to show a monster rising above a city. Presenting the film in the largest format available is also a way for the distributor to reward audiences who prefer to see spectacle on the biggest screen possible.

A Release Calendar Unlike Past Godzilla Films

The early screenings are part of an unusually tight global schedule. The film opens in Japan on November 3, and it will arrive in North America three days later. Screen Daily notes that this is the first time a Godzilla film has opened so close together in Japan and North America. For the earlier film, Godzilla Minus One, the gap was nearly a month: it opened in Japan on November 3, 2023, and in the United States on December 1.

The film had its world premiere on September 26 as the Spotlight Gala selection of the 64th New York Film Festival, and it is also scheduled to play at the London Film Festival on October 14 and 16, according to SciFiNow, which also lists a November 3 opening in the United Kingdom. That makes the Japanese, British and early North American IMAX debuts land on the same day. Canada will see the release on November 6 through Cineplex Pictures, which is supporting GKIDS, and additional territories will be announced later.

The Return of the Shikishima Family

Takashi Yamazaki returns as writer, director and visual effects supervisor. Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe return from Godzilla Minus One, and the sequel is set in 1949, two years after the first film. Screen Rant reports that the film runs 135 minutes, is rated R, and has a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes from early reviews.

Official descriptions say the story continues to follow the Shikishima family as Japan attempts to rebuild after the war and begins to reclaim a fragile peace, only for a new threat to emerge. Coverage of the trailers has also pointed to Godzilla appearing near the Statue of Liberty in New York, a first look at an international setting for a story that began in the ruins of postwar Japan.

Showtimes and Souvenirs

Theaters including AMC and Marcus are listing the Godzilla Day screenings separately from the November 6 showtimes, iHorror reports. Moviegoers who want to attend the early screenings should check each theater’s listings, since they are separate events. The film opens in Japan on November 3. Theater merchandise includes a giant Godzilla popcorn bucket.

The decision to treat November 3 as an event day follows a pattern in which studios use anniversary dates and premium formats to create a sense of occasion. Fans who attend the early screenings will see the film before most of the audience and will be among the first to discuss it online, which can help build interest in the days before the full release.

What the First Film Accomplished

Godzilla Minus One earned about $116 million worldwide and won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. The sequel premiered at the New York Film Festival on September 26.

That result was remarkable for a Japanese-language film, and it established Yamazaki as one of the most important figures in the franchise. It also changed the way the series is distributed in North America. Toho acquired GKIDS in 2024, and GKIDS now stewards the North American releases of Toho’s Godzilla films, following last year’s 4K remaster and theatrical re-release of Shin Godzilla. Godzilla Minus Zero is the second Godzilla film the company has handled, and the arrangement explains the more coordinated release strategy.

Why November 3 Matters

The date carries real meaning for fans. The first Godzilla, directed by Ishirō Honda, opened in Japan on November 3, 1954, and the anniversary has become an informal holiday for the franchise. This year marks 72 years since the character’s debut. Opening the new film on that date in Japan, and offering a matching early screening in North America, ties the sequel to the history of the series in a way that fans are likely to appreciate.

What to Watch For

With early reviews strong and premium screens in demand, the November 3 shows are likely to sell well in the largest theaters. The real test will come on the weekend of November 6, when the film faces a full slate of competition for screens. If the early score holds and the IMAX showings draw crowds, the film could add to the recent momentum for Japanese live-action releases in North America.