Universal’s Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Soars at the Box Office
Universal Pictures is reaping major rewards at the box office, borrowing a successful strategy from Disney. The live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation’s beloved film, How to Train Your Dragon, is projected to achieve a record-breaking domestic opening of $82.7 million and a staggering $200.8 million globally, based on early estimates. This impressive total includes a remarkable $117.7 million from 53 international markets.
The film has been met with enthusiastic responses from audiences, earning an A CinemaScore and an outstanding 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With a production budget of $150 million, this summer blockbuster is captivating families and young adults alike—particularly Gen Z viewers who grew up with the animated series. This trend mirrors the success of Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, which also garnered significant interest from younger audiences.
Interestingly, nearly 50% of those flocking to theaters on opening day were Gen Z individuals aged 13 to 24. This live-action adaptation marks the first of its kind for DreamWorks Animation, now part of Universal, with a sequel already in the works. If these early estimates hold true, How to Train Your Dragon will rank among the top 10 live-action reimaginings of all time, securing the seventh-largest worldwide opening, the eighth-largest domestically, and the sixth-largest internationally. Additionally, it stands as the eighth-best opening ever for Father’s Day weekend and the fourth-largest opening of the year so far.
Dean DeBlois, who directed the original 2010 film, returns to helm this live-action version. The story follows young Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames), who defies his father’s wishes (Gerard Butler) and befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. The film debuted strongly, earning $35.6 million on Friday across 4,356 theaters, including $11.1 million from previews. While this is slightly below the original film’s opening weekend of $43.7 million (not adjusted for inflation), it is poised to surpass the previous installment, How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World, which opened with $55 million in 2019.
In other box office news, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is anticipated to finish in second place domestically, raking in between $13 million and $14 million from 3,675 locations, bringing its North American total to $365 million. The film recently crossed the $800 million mark globally.
Filmmaker Celine Song’s new romantic drama, Materialists, is expected to take third place with an estimated $11 million to $12 million from 2,844 cinemas. This marks A24’s third-largest wide opening, unadjusted. Starring Dakota Johnson as a New York matchmaker, the film explores her entanglement in a love triangle with a former flame (Chris Evans) and a powerful executive (Pedro Pascal). While critics have praised Materialists, it garnered a less favorable B- CinemaScore from audiences and a modest 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
How to Train Your Dragon benefits from occupying Imax screens that previously showcased Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is expected to see a modest 37% drop in its fourth weekend, earning around $9.3 million for a domestic total of approximately $165 million as it approaches the $500 million global threshold. The new release is also making a significant impact in various large-format theaters this weekend, with premium screens accounting for 40% of its total gross to date.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate’s Ballerina, a spinoff from the John Wick franchise, is facing challenges in its second weekend despite positive audience reactions and strong reviews. It is projected to drop 64%, earning an estimated $8.7 million for a 10-day domestic total of $41.1 million.
Stay tuned for further updates on these box office performances!
