Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon is poised to make a significant mark at the box office, with projections indicating a global debut exceeding $200 million. This figure is notably higher than initial pre-weekend estimates, showcasing the film's strong anticipation among audiences. As of yesterday, the live-action adaptation of the beloved animated franchise had already grossed $54.9 million from international markets, which includes an impressive $29.1 million from preview screenings.
With domestic estimates factored in, the film is on track to achieve a worldwide opening total of approximately $200.4 million by the end of Sunday. If these figures hold true, Hiccup and Toothless will secure the title of the 4th best worldwide opening of the year, trailing only behind A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, and China’s Ne Zha 2. Furthermore, this performance would mark it as the 7th largest opening for a live-action remake, following classics such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, HTTYD is making waves in 81 international markets and is projected to gross around $117.7 million during this session, including previews that began last weekend. This would position the film as the 4th biggest international box office opener of the year among Hollywood releases, only below Lilo & Stitch, A Minecraft Movie, and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Additionally, it could rank as the No. 6 offshore launch ever for a live-action remake.
In terms of individual markets, Mexico has shown strong support with $2.3 million on Friday, bringing its total to $4.4 million including previews. The film is currently the clear No. 1 title in the market, capturing a robust 68% market share. In the UK and Ireland, the film has amassed $4.8 million through Friday, which includes $3.3 million from weekday previews. Friday alone contributed $1.5 million across 2,000 screens, marking Universal's 4th No. 1 opening of the year in this region.
China, launching without any previews, debuted across 35,000 screens on Friday, grossing $2.3 million for the day. This achievement grants it a 44% market share and marks the largest opening day for a live-action adaptation in the past five years, aligning closely with films like Inside Out 2 and significantly surpassing Wonka and Sonic 3. The film has also received a stellar Maoyan score of 9.5.
In Brazil, Friday’s performance added $689,000 at No. 1, raising its total to $4.9 million, which includes five days of previews. The performance is consistent with other hits like Mufasa, and outperformed titles such as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. Meanwhile, Korea has accumulated $5.3 million through Friday, showcasing an exceptional 99% CVG Egg score and surpassing the lifetime earnings of both The Little Mermaid and Mufasa in the market.
The film is also dominating box office charts in France ($2.8 million through Friday), Germany ($2.4 million), Australia ($1.5 million), Spain ($2 million), Italy ($1.4 million), and Thailand ($1.1 million), which recorded the biggest opening Friday of 2025. As the weekend unfolds, we will provide a comprehensive update on the film's performance on Sunday.
