Emotions run high ahead of Godzilla -0.0
Anticipation for Japan’s upcoming Godzilla -0.0 reached a new level at a special event in Tokyo, where actor Mio Tanaka revealed that he broke down in tears after attending the film’s first cast-and-crew screening. The event, titled “-1.0 to -0.0 Night,” was held at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya alongside a revival screening of the internationally acclaimed Godzilla -1.0.
Director Takashi Yamazaki and Tanaka, who played former destroyer captain Tatsuo Hotta in Godzilla -1.0, appeared on stage to reflect on the previous film’s extraordinary impact and discuss the highly anticipated new production. The event was also broadcast live to five major cities across Japan, underscoring the strong domestic interest surrounding the next chapter.
A Japanese film success story with global reach
Released in 2023, Godzilla -1.0 became a major cultural and commercial phenomenon. The film earned more than 7.65 billion yen in Japan and surpassed the record for the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film in North America. Its worldwide box office exceeded 16 billion yen, while its international profile grew further after it won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the 96th Academy Awards.
For Yamazaki, the success opened new opportunities both in Japan and abroad. “Godzilla opened many doors,” the director said at the event, expressing gratitude for the franchise and describing Godzilla -1.0 as a film that changed the lives of everyone involved. Tanaka added that the movie’s influence had followed him into other professional settings, recalling occasions when clients welcomed him while wearing Godzilla -1.0 T-shirts.
From famous catchphrase to nationwide appearances
Tanaka also looked back on the popularity of his line, “Prepare for impact!” Following the film’s release, he became a frequent guest at “ouen screenings,” a Japanese tradition in which audiences are encouraged to cheer, react and sometimes participate vocally during a movie. His appearances became so popular that he was even invited to support screenings of films in which he had not appeared.
Tanaka said he had watched Godzilla -1.0 more than 50 times. One of the scenes that continues to affect him features the young Akiko, played by Sara Nagatani, beginning to cry as she senses an impending farewell. Tanaka described the moment as a “miracle” created by a carefully planned production and an unrepeatable performance.
A remarkable change in the young cast
Yamazaki explained that the crew had learned to recognize when Nagatani was about to cry during the filming of the earlier movie. Everyone would quietly shift into what he jokingly called “Saki-chan mode,” preparing the camera and waiting for the right moment.
In Godzilla -0.0, Nagatani returns in a more demanding role. She was two years old during the previous production and four when the new film was shot. Yamazaki admitted that he had initially worried the role might require the production to find another child actor if the necessary performance proved too difficult. Those concerns quickly disappeared, he said, praising Nagatani as a rare young performer capable of delivering natural acting rather than an artificial “child actor” performance.
Tanaka and Kamiki reportedly overwhelmed
Tanaka offered an emotional account of his first viewing of Godzilla -0.0. He said he was crying so heavily after the screening that he descended the stairs in a weakened state and could barely see. Actor Hidetaka Yoshioka reportedly asked him why he was crying, prompting Tanaka to explain that tears had obscured his vision.
The reaction was not limited to Tanaka. According to Yamazaki, members of the cast stayed behind after the screening to discuss the film. Ryunosuke Kamiki, the star of Godzilla -1.0, later called Yamazaki and said he was still unable to calm down and wanted to talk. Their conversation lasted approximately one hour. Yamazaki joked that the call was gratifying, even if it was rather long.
Japan’s first “Filmed for IMAX” production
Godzilla -0.0 will also make technical history as the first Japanese film to receive the “Filmed for IMAX” designation. Midnight screenings are scheduled at 31 IMAX theaters across Japan on November 3, the film’s release date. Yamazaki said that watching the monster on the largest IMAX screens can create the sensation of being confronted directly by the creature, offering an experience few other formats can reproduce.
A final trailer was shown after the Godzilla -1.0 IMAX revival screening, with a public release scheduled for 9 p.m. on October 11. With the cast reportedly left stunned and emotional after their first encounter with the finished film, Godzilla -0.0 is positioned as one of Japan’s most closely watched cinematic events.
