Deadline, an entertainment news website, disclosed on Friday that the preview screenings of the Godzilla vs. Kong sequel, titled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, amassed approximately US$8 million. These previews commenced at 3:00 p.m. local time on Thursday across roughly 3,400 venues in the United States.
This earnings milestone positions the film as the second-highest grossing “Monsterverse” movie in terms of previews, trailing behind the 2014 film Godzilla, which garnered US$9.3 million in its preview screenings. Earlier in the week, industry experts had projected the film to earn around US$50 million during its opening weekend.
The Godzilla x Kong film release in the United States has been accelerated to Friday, two weeks ahead of its initially scheduled date of April 12. The April 12 release itself was a delay from the original opening date of March 15. Opening in 3,850 theaters on Friday, the screenings will encompass IMAX and 4DX formats.
The film’s Japanese release is slated for April 26. Directed by Adam Wingard (known for Death Note, The Guest, You’re Next), the movie was produced by Mary Parent, Álex García, Eric McLeod, Thomas Tull, and Jon Jashni.
Godzilla vs. Kong, its predecessor, premiered internationally in March 2021 in regions without access to the HBO Max streaming service. Upon its United States theatrical release later that month, it ascended to the top spot at the box office. The film has amassed US$100,916,094 domestically and a cumulative global total of US$470,116,094 according to Box Office Mojo.
In Japan, Godzilla vs. Kong made its debut in July 2021, following a postponement from its original May 2021 release.
King Kong is a fictional giant ape creature that first appeared in the 1933 film “King Kong,” directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. The character has since become one of the most iconic figures in popular culture and has appeared in numerous films, television shows, books, comics, and other media.
In the original story, King Kong is a massive ape living on the mysterious Skull Island. He is captured and brought to New York City, where he escapes and wreaks havoc before meeting his tragic end atop the Empire State Building.
King Kong is often portrayed as a sympathetic creature, misunderstood by humans and driven by his primal instincts. Despite his immense size and strength, he is also depicted as having a vulnerable side, particularly in his interactions with human characters.
Godzilla is a fictional giant monster originating from Japan, and it has become one of the most iconic and enduring figures in popular culture. The character first appeared in the 1954 Japanese film “Godzilla,” directed by Ishirō Honda and produced by Toho Studios. Godzilla, also known as Gojira in Japanese, is often depicted as a prehistoric creature awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation.
The original 1954 film, “Godzilla,” was a metaphor for the fears and anxieties surrounding nuclear weapons and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. In the movie, Godzilla is depicted as a force of destruction, rampaging through Tokyo and leaving devastation in its wake.
Over the decades, Godzilla has appeared in numerous films, television series, comics, and other media, becoming a cultural phenomenon around the world. The character has been portrayed as both a destructive force of nature and a defender of humanity, depending on the storyline and the specific iteration.
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Source: ANN
