The highly anticipated film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is poised to make a big splash at the box office this Easter. With a projected debut of around $135M and a release in 63 foreign markets and 3,850 theaters in the US, it’s clear that this movie is set to conquer the world.
Warner Bros, who had great success with last year’s Godzilla vs. Kong, decided to stick to the Easter release window for this installment as well. The previous film earned $48M in its first five days in the US, along with a simultaneous release on HBO Max. If the projections hold up for The New Empire, it will mark the third highest domestic opening in the Monsterverse franchise, following 2014’s Godzilla ($93.1M) and 2017’s Kong: Skull Island ($61M).
The film comes with a substantial budget of $135M, with 75% of the funding provided by Legendary and the remaining 25% covered by Warner Bros.
Directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will start its international rollout on Wednesday, with major releases in Spain and Korea. Italy, Australia, and all of Latin America will join in on Thursday, followed by the UK and China on Friday.
While the international launch is expected to gross around $80M-$85M, the domestic market is projected at approximately $50M based on current presales. It’s worth noting that the previous film, Godzilla vs. Kong, debuted to $105M in overseas markets (including $63M from China) at today’s exchange rates. However, the current landscape in China has become more cautious, and it remains to be seen if The New Empire will achieve a similar opening. The film’s advance ticket sales are leading in China, but a start around $40M seems more likely.
Despite potential challenges in China, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is still expected to perform well in Asia, particularly in countries like Korea and Latin America. The European market may have a mixed response to the franchise.
Compared to the previous release, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire faces different circumstances. In 2021, when Godzilla vs. Kong debuted, capacity restrictions were in place in several European markets, resulting in the closure of major theaters. This time around, the film will benefit from historically strong release dates and will face more competition than before.
It’s crucial to note that certain markets, including France, Germany, the Middle East (during the Ramadan period), and Japan (which will release on April 26), are not part of the initial international release.
In addition to the blockbuster clash between Godzilla and Kong, another film making waves