Fans hoping to catch the kaiju event of a lifetime won’t have to wait much longer. Godzilla Minus Zero, the highly anticipated follow-up to Takashi Yamazaki’s masterpiece Godzilla Minus One, will have its World Premiere at the New York Film Festival next month as part of its 64th iteration. New York seems to be the centerpiece of Godzilla Minus Zero, with the film having a major sequence in which Godzilla rampages past the Statue of Liberty, so having the first ever screening in the Big Apple is a welcome surprise. The screening will be held on September 26th at Alice Tully Hall, with director Yamazaki-san as well as members of the Minus Zero cast and crew personally attending the premiere.
“It is truly an honor to introduce our film to a global audience for the first time in a place of such history and prestige,” said director Yamazaki. “I am filled with both awe and excitement to see how far the power of Japan’s Godzilla can terrify audiences around the world, and whether they will resonate with what lies beyond that fear.”
“More than 70 years after the first Godzilla movie, Takashi Yamazaki continues to prove that there’s life in the old franchise yet, returning to its postwar roots to locate a haunting, primal terror,” said Dennis Lim, NYFF Artistic Director. “Like its predecessor, GODZILLA MINUS ZERO is a throwback blockbuster, a showcase for human drama and innovative craft, and we are excited to have its world premiere as this year’s NYFF Spotlight Gala.”
Set two years after Minus One, the film picks up in 1949, and continues the story of the Shikishima family as they face an all-new calamity. As previously confirmed in the initial press release, Ryunosuke Kamiki returns as Koichi Shikishima, the hero who stood against Godzilla’s terror in Godzilla Minus One, and is joined by Minami Hamabe as Noriko Shikishima, who miraculously survived Godzilla’s first attack on Tokyo. This time around, we’re introduced to a brand new cast member: Legendary actor Min Tanaka, celebrated for his unforgettable performance in the 2025 blockbuster Japanese film Kokuho, will be joining the all-star lineup in the role of Kanji Murakami, a biologist carrying deep psychological scars from the war.
Godzilla fans can get pre-sale access to Godzilla Minus Zero by becoming an FLC Member by August 28 (pre-sale dates vary by membership level) or purchasing a Bronze or Gold Pass. NYFF64 single tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, September 15 at noon ET. NYFF64 Press and Industry accreditation is now open through August 14.
Stay tuned for further updates on Kaiju United.
