WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 -- Japan's Godzilla Minus Zero roared to first place in the North American box office over the weekend, industry estimates showed yesterday, gobbling up US$31.6 million (RM128.1 million) in sales on its opening weekend.

Set in 1949 as postwar Japan looks to rebuild, the film sees a new threat emerge: a giant three-headed dragon-like monster called King Ghidorah.

Enter Godzilla - believed defeated in the 2023 Godzilla Minus One, but radioactively regenerated - who takes on the three-headed beast with at least some human assistance.

"This weekend's opening takes the Japanese production to a new level - it's nearly three times the previous opening in December 2023," veteran industry analyst David A. Gross wrote.

Godzil...