'Godzilla Minus Zero' sparks Oscar buzz after strong reviews

Godzilla Minus Zero has opened to strong reviews, leading some to speculate that the movie could be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

However, there is some precedent.

In 2024, Godzilla Minus One, which is the direct sequel to the latest 2026 film, won an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

This made history because the movie became the first in the Godzilla franchise to win an Oscar.

What is noteworthy is that the movie's budget was small. For example, the film's VFX team had only 35 artists.

Godzilla Minus One's budget was only $15 million.

Still, it beat the heavily budgeted productions of the time: Napoleon, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One.

Coming back to Godzilla Minus Zero, its director, Takashi Yamazaki, was hopeful when Variety asked whether his movie could be nominated at the Academy.

“I mean, I try not to think about that. And this was true of ‘Godzilla Minus One’ as well," he shared.

"So I try not to think about it, but at the same time, if the possibility is not zero, it’s hard not to have a little bit of hope.”

Godzilla Minus Zero in the North American theatres on Nov. 6