Godzilla Minus Zero Reviews: What Critics Are Saying

Godzilla Minus Zero has officially premiered, and the first reviews are in!

The highly anticipated sequel to 2023’s Godzilla Minus One made its world premiere at the 2026 New York Film Festival, and critics are already sharing their reactions to director Takashi Yamazaki’s latest monster movie.

The early response is very positive, with reviewers praising the movie’s scale, visual effects and emotional stakes.

What Are Critics Saying About Godzilla Minus Zero?

The film currently has a 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of Sunday afternoon (September 27).

Variety called the sequel an “even grander follow-up” to Godzilla Minus One, praising Takashi’s sense of spectacle and the movie’s monster action.

The Guardian also gave the movie a strong 4 out of 5 star review, calling it a “spectacular” continuation of the franchise and praising its effects and social commentary.

RogerEbert.com gave it 3 out of 4 stars, noting that it “doesn’t quite” reach the heights of Godzilla Minus One, but that it’s still got “plenty of bite.”

IndieWire similarly praised the film with a B+ review, calling it a worthy continuation and noting that it feels like the “middle chapter of a trilogy.”

Some critics have gone even further, with early reactions describing the movie as “epic,” “jaw-dropping” and even worthy of Best Picture consideration.

Not every review is quite as glowing. Slashfilm praised the movie’s ambition and scale in its 7.5 out of 10 review, but argued that the sequel sacrifices some of the intimacy that made Godzilla Minus One so effective.

Awards Radar similarly described the movie as bigger in nearly every way in its 3 1/2 out of 5 review, while noting that it does not always surpass the first film on an emotional level.

Is Godzilla Minus Zero Better Than Godzilla Minus One?

Several early reactions say the sequel is even bigger and more ambitious than Godzilla Minus One, with some critics arguing that it improves on the first movie’s action and spectacle.

Others have been more measured, saying the sequel delivers a massive theatrical experience but does not quite match the emotional impact of its predecessor.

Either way, the early consensus appears to be that fans of Godzilla Minus One have plenty to look forward to.

Why Is Godzilla Minus Zero Rated R?

Godzilla Minus Zero marks the first R-rated installment in the franchise, with director Takashi Yamazaki saying at NYFF that censoring the film’s action “was not an option.”

“There were certain scenes that, for me as a director, were so essential to the film,” he explained, adding that censoring or cutting them “was just not an option.”

When Does Godzilla Minus Zero Come Out?

Godzilla Minus Zero is scheduled to open in Japan on November 3, 2026, followed by a North American theatrical release on November 6.

The movie picks up more than two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One and continues the story of the Shikishima family.

Find out how Godzilla Minus Zero connects to Godzilla Minus One and whether you need to watch the first movie.

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