Godzilla Minus Zero opened atop the North American box office with an estimated $31.6 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates reported Sunday. The Japanese-language sequel played in 3,254 theaters, giving it the strongest opening for a foreign-language live-action film in the region, The Associated Press reported.

The result put the Toho-produced film ahead of Warner Bros.’ animated The Cat in the Hat, which took in an estimated $20.5 million in North America and another $10 million overseas. The figures are preliminary weekend estimates; final domestic totals were expected Monday.

A major opening for a Japanese-language release

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus Zero continues the Japanese franchise after the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One. The new film is set in postwar Japan and is distributed in North America by GKids. Variety also reported the $31.6 million opening from 3,254 theaters, describing it as a record launch for a foreign-language feature in the market.

The opening follows a strong weekend for moviegoing overall: AP reported that North American ticket sales were up 96.8% from the previous weekend, following a comparatively quiet Halloween frame. The competing Cat in the Hat release still drew a sizeable audience, but its opening was well behind the monster sequel.

Because the box-office figures are estimates, rankings and totals can shift when final numbers are released. The initial result nonetheless gives Godzilla Minus Zero a substantial first-weekend lead and marks another notable theatrical performance for Japanese genre cinema in North America.

Sources: The Associated Press · Variety