Legendary Entertainment and Warner Bros. have high hopes for the upcoming release of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” with projections currently sitting at over $45M. This figure could potentially even reach $50M in its opening weekend. If these estimates hold true, the film will help propel the Godzilla and Kong franchise past the $2 billion mark at the global box office. This would be a significant milestone for the franchise and a testament to its enduring popularity among audiences.
When comparing the opening weekend performances of previous films in the Monsterverse, “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is expected to rank as the fourth best domestic debut out of 5. The best performer in this category remains 2014’s “Godzilla,” which raked in an impressive $93.1M in its opening weekend. On the other end of the spectrum, 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong” posted a 3-day total of $31.6M with a 5-day total of $48.1M. Despite these numbers, the film managed to attract audiences back to theaters following the Covid-induced shutdowns in 2021.
It is worth noting that “Godzilla vs. Kong” holds the title of the highest grossing day-and-date streaming theatrical title ever with a worldwide gross of $470.1M. This success is a testament to the enduring popularity of the Godzilla and Kong franchise and the appetite of audiences for large-scale blockbuster films. The film’s performance at the box office demonstrates the staying power of these iconic characters and their ability to draw in audiences globally.
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is strategically positioned to take advantage of the robust Easter moviegoing weekend. Last year, the holiday saw the second best opening ever with Illumination/Universal’s “Super Mario Bros Movie” grossing $166.4M. Warner Bros/DC’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” still holds the record for the highest opening during Easter weekend with $181M. The Easter weekend provides a lucrative opportunity for studios to release blockbuster films and attract audiences looking for entertainment during the holiday.
“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is expected to appeal largely to male audiences, but there is also an expectation that the inclusion of baby Kong in the film will attract female viewers. The cute and endearing nature of baby Kong adds a new dimension to the film and could broaden its appeal beyond just traditional monster movie fans. This strategic move to appeal to a wider demographic shows the studio’s efforts to make the film accessible to a broader audience.
Overall, the box office projections for “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” are promising, and the film’s success could mark a significant milestone for the Godzilla and Kong franchise. With a strong marketing campaign, strategic release date, and potential to attract a diverse audience, the film has the potential to be a major box office success.