Takashi Yamazaki's 'Godzilla Minus Zero,' the sequel to 2023's Oscar-winning 'Godzilla Minus One,' stomped to a chart-topping $31.6 million opening weekend in North America, according to the Associated Press.

Toho produced the film, GKids distributed it in North America, and the story is set in post-WWII Japan, bringing the 72-year-old franchise back to its Japanese roots. In Japan itself, the film grossed about $17 million over the same weekend.

The Associated Press reports that no live-action foreign-language film has had a bigger North American opening weekend — unless you count 2004's 'The Passion of the Christ,' which opened with $83.8 million despite its largely Aramaic dialogue.

'Godzilla Minus Zero' bested the live-action record previously held by 2004's 'Hero' and its $17.9 million launch, while the anime 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' debuted at $70.6 million last year. It easily thrashed Warner Bros.'

Bill Hader-voiced 'The Cat in the Hat,' which opened with $20.5 million.

Since premiering last month at the New York Film Festival, the film has scored 90% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and an 'A' CinemaScore with audiences, per the Associated Press.

Both 'Godzilla Minus Zero' and 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend' were filmed for IMAX, and Yamazaki's film received an early IMAX-only release on Tuesday. It generated $21.3 million globally, or 34% of its box-office take, from large-format screens.

With a budget under $20 million, it is sure to blow past its predecessor's record haul of $57.1 million, the AP says.

The same weekend saw the widest North American release ever for an Indian film, as Sony Pictures distributed the Hindi-language epic 'Ramayana: Rise of a Legend' — the most expensive Indian film ever made, as part one of two — to a $8.7 million domestic launch and $32 million in India, according to the Associated Press.

Both films debuted in their home countries simultaneously with their American releases. Toho Global president Koji Ueda called the Godzilla opening historic, saying in a statement that the studio's first near-simultaneous global release was built on audiences' connection to Yamazaki's vision.

The Associated Press notes the result will either whet audiences' appetites or pose an awkward comparison for Hollywood's next English-language Godzilla film, 'Godzilla x Kong: Supernova,' which Warner Bros. and Legendary will release in March.

Meanwhile, 'The Cat in the Hat,' made for $86 million with 44% fresh reviews, faces competition from Laika's 'Wildwood,' which dipped just 22% in its third weekend to $7 million.

Overall ticket sales were up 96.8% from the previous weekend, per Rentrak, as Oscar contender 'Wild Horse Nine' opened with $6 million — Martin McDonagh's personal best.