Japanese filmmaker Takashi Yamazaki has expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of Godzilla Minus Zero receiving a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards following its world premiere at the New York Film Festival.
The sequel to the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One premiered at the festival on 26 September 2026, drawing attention from critics and audiences.
The film continues the franchise’s exploration of post-war Japan through the story of a family confronting a new monster threat.
Speaking to Variety at the premiere, Yamazaki said he was trying not to think too much about awards prospects, as he had done with the previous film.
However, he acknowledged that the possibility of an Oscar nomination was difficult to ignore.
The director said that even being nominated for Best Visual Effects had felt like a victory for Godzilla Minus One, which went on to win the category at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.
The win made it the first film in the long-running Godzilla franchise to receive an Oscar.
Yamazaki’s latest film is set in 1949, two years after the events of Godzilla Minus One. It follows the Shikishima family as they face another devastating threat in post-war Japan.
The sequel features Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, who return to their roles from the previous film.
The new film also raises expectations for the franchise’s visual effects, following the success of its predecessor.
Godzilla Minus One won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 2024, beating several major Hollywood productions.
Godzilla Minus Zero is scheduled to open in US cinemas on 6 November, 2026, with a UK release planned for the same day.
Its potential awards recognition remains uncertain, but Yamazaki’s comments suggest he is open to the possibility of the franchise reaching the Academy’s top category.
