Godzilla Minus Zero roars at New York Film Festival as Oscar talk starts
Godzilla is back in the Oscar conversation.
Godzilla Minus Zero, a sequel to Godzilla Minus One, held its world premiere on September 26 at Alice Tully Hall as the Spotlight Gala, a centrepiece slot, of the 64th New York Film Festival, according to Film at Lincoln Center. The screening drew rave reviews, with some fans calling for a Best Picture nomination, the Academy's top prize, according to Variety. The festival, produced by Film at Lincoln Center, the organisation behind the event, runs from September 25 through October 12, 2026.
The premiere was attended by director Takashi Yamazaki with members of the cast and crew, according to Film at Lincoln Center. The film is the latest Japanese instalment in Toho's long-running monster franchise, according to USA Today, and a sequel to Godzilla Minus One, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Yamazaki is credited as director, screenplay writer and visual effects lead, according to Toho.
Asked about the Best Picture talk on the premiere carpet, Yamazaki told Variety he tries not to think about it but keeps hope alive if the chance is not zero, according to Variety. Short answer: he is not campaigning. He is not ruling it out either.
The awards chatter follows a famous low-budget win. Godzilla Minus One won Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024, the first Oscar win for any Godzilla film, according to Variety. It was made for $15 million and used 610 effects shots from a team of 35 artists. It beat Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One and Napoleon. Yamazaki became the first feature director recognised in the effects category since Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey.
For this season, Variety chief awards editor Clayton Davis predicts Godzilla Minus Zero will be nominated for Best Visual Effects alongside Dune: Part Three, Project Hail Mary, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Wildwood, according to Variety. That is a prediction, not a shortlist. The Academy has announced nothing yet.
What makes this stand out for general moviegoers is access. Variety has reported that Godzilla Minus Zero is the franchise's first R rating, which in the United States means under-17s need an accompanying adult, according to Variety. Toho's official site lists a November 3 release date, according to Toho. The TOHO Group has said the film directed by Yamazaki is its highest priority, according to Toho.
