‘Godzilla Minus One’ Makes History Again as #1 at the Same Time on Netflix and iTunes

For the first time ever, a film streaming on Netflix (free for subscribers) and available on VOD ($5.99 for 48 hours) is #1 on both charts.

Toho’s late-2023 sleeper success and eventual Oscar Visual Effects winner, “Godzilla Minus One” achieved that feat with a totally unexpected and previously unannounced release on Saturday.

The film, released in early December to an unexpected U.S./Canada gross of $56 million, normally would have hit PVOD for rental for $19.99 by late January, been reduced to $5.99 after a few weeks, then found a streaming home. But because of vaguely defined agreements with Legendary Entertainment, Toho’s partner in making Warner Bros.’ costlier Godzilla films, the March opening of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” led to the early-February termination of theatrical dates for “Minus One.” That came despite the Toho film still doing business (and ahead of the Oscars). Then, Warner’s “Godzilla x Kong” could play without “Minus One” as competition.

That led to the unusual, nearly six-month window before any home availability for “Godzilla Minus One” (“Oppenheimer” famously had four months in theaters before PVOD and seven before streaming on Peacock). So its release this past weekend came as a surprise. “Godzilla x Kong” is still in theaters, competing on VOD, and not yet streaming on Max.

Adding to surprise was the lack of any advance word, or even news that Netflix had acquired “Godzilla Minus One” for multiple territories including the U.S. The first alert came from foreign showings on the streamer late Friday U.S. time, then a tweet on X from Netflix’s official page that the film was now showing. A blast on Saturday sent to subscribers did tout new titles now showing with the start of the new month, but nada on “Minus One.” Beyond unusual.

Also unusual: “Godzilla Minus One” had no PVOD higher-priced rental prior to this weekend’s debut. Going directly to $5.99 on iTunes is logical since Netflix subscriptions are so common, and the film is free there. Despite that, it is getting major VOD renting.

That took “Godzilla Minus One” to #1 on iTunes by Saturday afternoon, and #1 today on Netflix. Fandango provides a Monday-Sunday top 10. Calculated by revenue and despite these factors, the site slots the Takashi Yamazaki-directed film at #4 for the full week. That’s a huge initial showing on a chart usually led by mostly higher-cost titles.

“Civil War” (A24), #1 last week on iTunes, leads Fandango (it was second last week, with its Friday release easing the path for Universal’s “The Fall Guy” to be #1). “Civil War” is now second on iTunes, with Ryan Gosling’s “Fall Guy” one position behind it on both charts. “Godzilla x Kong” is still #3 at Fandango (and $19.99 to rent) and fifth at iTunes.

With a price reduction to $5.99 parallel to its Max streaming premiere, “Dune: Part Two” (Warner Bros.) is in the top five on both lists. New titles include “Tarot” (Sony), unusually renting for an initial $9.99 on iTunes and Fandango at Home, and “The First Omen” (Disney, also on Hulu) on Fandango. “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” (Samuel Goldwyn Films) made iTunes’ chart.

Netflix’s Jennifer Lopez-starrer “Atlas,” which had an above-average first week of viewership worldwide and was #1 on the streamer until “Godzilla Minus One” replaced it, dropped to #3. At #2 is “Colors of Evil: Red,” a Polish murder mystery and also a Netflix original like “Atlas.” Four animated titles aimed at children, led by “The LEGO Movie” in fourth, also made the Netflix top 10.

Top 10s

iTunes ranks films daily by number of transactions, while Fandango at Home lists by revenue. The listings below are for Monday, June 3.

The distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.

iTunes

1. “Godzilla Minus One” (Toho) – $5.99

2. “Civil War” (A24) – $19.99

3. “The Fall Guy” (Universal) – $19.99

4. “Dune: Part Two” (WB) – $5.99

5. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (WB) – $19.99

6. “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” (Lionsgate) – $19.99

7. “Arthur the King” (Lionsgate) – $9.99

8. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (Sony) – $19.99

9. “Tarot” (Sony) – $9.99

10. “In the Land of Saints and Sinners” (Goldwyn) – $5.99

Fandango at Home

1. “Civil War” (A24) – $19.99

2. “The Fall Guy” (Universal) – $19.99

3. “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” (WB) – $19.99

4. “Godzilla Minus One” (Toho) – $19.99

5. “Dune: Part Two” (WB) – $5.99

6. “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” (Sony) – $19.99

7. “Tarot” (Sony) – $9.99

8. “Boy Kills World” (Lionsgate) – $19.99

9. “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” (Lionsgate) – $19.99

10. “The First Omen” (Disney) – $19.99

Netflix Movies

These are the most-viewed, current rankings on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on Monday, June 3. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed.

1. “Godzilla Minus One” (2023 theatrical release)

2. “Colors of Evil: Red” (Polish Netflix original)

3. “Atlas” (Netflix original)

4. “The LEGO Movie” (2014 theatrical release)

5. “A Million Ways to Die in the West” (2014 theatrical release)

6. “Pokemon: Detective Pikachu” (2019 theatrical release)

7. “Shrek” (2001 theatrical release)

8. “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It” (2021 theatrical release)

9. “Madame Web” (2024 theatrical release)

10. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (2023 theatrical release)