Shin Godzilla Returns to Tokyo Bay and U.S. Theaters

Shin Godzilla Rises Again in 4K

The 4K rerelease of Shin Godzilla, distributed by GKids, made a strong return to theaters with a weekend gross of $1.6 million across 1,290 screens. The film has now accumulated over $2.5 million since its release, marking a successful revival of the 2016 Japanese film directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi. This version of Godzilla was the highest-grossing Japanese-produced Godzilla film until the release of Godzilla Minus One in 2023.

The story follows the Prime Minister of Japan urging the public to stay calm as a massive creature emerges from Tokyo Bay, causing widespread destruction. In response, the government forms an unconventional task force to tackle the threat, while a U.S. State Department envoy delivers classified documents that reveal the origins of one of cinema's most iconic monsters. The film blends intense action with sharp political satire, offering a fresh take on the legendary kaiju.

The original Shin Godzilla had a strong domestic performance, earning $4.4 million, and a worldwide total of $80.5 million. Meanwhile, Godzilla Minus One outperformed it, grossing $57 million domestically and $114 million globally.

Indian Films Make Waves

In a surprising turn, two Indian films also saw notable success this week. Magnolia Pictures released the music documentary It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, which continued its run with an estimated $240,000 on 190 screens during its second week, bringing the cumulative total to $927,000. The film, directed by Amy Berg, explores the life of the late singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, who died in 1997 at just 30 years old. It features interviews with key figures from his life, including his mother, Mary Guibert, and former partners Rebecca Moore and Joan Wasser.

Berg’s documentary highlights how Buckley's legacy continues to thrive, especially through his iconic cover of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, which is streamed on Spotify an average of 115,000 times daily and has reached over 400 million streams.

Another standout was Coolie, a Tamil revenge thriller directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring Aamir Khan. The film debuted with $2.4 million at 800 theaters, accumulating a total of $6.3 million by Sunday. It was followed by War 2, the sequel to the 2019 film War, which earned $1.7 million on 943 screens, totaling $3.1 million.

Indie Films Find Their Audience

Several indie films also found their audience this week. Sony Pictures Classics released East of Wall, a docu-fiction film by Kate Beecroft, which opened with $372,000 on 626 screens. The film, certified Fresh with a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, follows Tabatha Zimiga, a young horse trainer dealing with grief and financial struggles while helping a group of troubled teens. She and her daughter Porshia star in the film, which is based on their real-life experiences.

Atlas Distribution released Witchboard, a supernatural horror film directed by Chuck Russell. It opened with $68,000 on 580 screens, accumulating $142,000. The film stars Madison Iseman and Aaron Dominguez, who discover an antique pendulum board that serves as a dangerous portal to the past.

Greenwich Entertainment launched Went Up the Hill, a ghost story directed by Samuel Van Grinsven, which earned $20,000 at 132 locations. The film stars Vicky Krieps and Dacre Montgomery.

Limited Releases Shine

Limited releases also made an impact this week. Usman Riaz’s animated film The Glassworker opened with $12,200 at the Angelika in New York City, receiving critical acclaim and sold-out Q&A sessions. The film is set to expand to Los Angeles next weekend, with a national rollout starting on September 5.

Abramorama released Checkpoint Zoo, a documentary by Joshua Zeman that follows a daring rescue operation during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It debuted with $5,300 at an exclusive run at the Quad in New York City.

Additional Highlights

Dacre Montgomery, known for his role in Stranger Things, took a break after the show to "reverse engineer" his acting career. Meanwhile, documentaries like My Undesirable Friends and Checkpoint Zoo explore themes of repression and war rage, coinciding with the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.