Universal Pictures is experiencing a significant box office success with the live-action remake of DreamWorks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon. Early estimates indicate that the film is on track for a remarkable domestic opening of $82.7 million and a staggering global total of $200.8 million. This impressive figure includes an exceptional international haul of $117.7 million across 53 markets.
The live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm from viewers, earning an A CinemaScore and an extraordinary 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With a production budget of $150 million, this summer blockbuster has managed to captivate both families and younger adults who grew up loving the original animated franchise. The film's success mirrors that of Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch, which also found immense popularity.
Demographics reveal that nearly half of the audience on opening day were Gen Z viewers aged 13 to 24, highlighting the film's broad appeal across generations. This marks the first live-action rendition from DreamWorks Animation, which is now under Universal's umbrella, and a sequel is already in the works.
If Universal's early estimates hold true, How to Train Your Dragon will achieve one of the top-10 openings of all time for a live-action reimagining. It could secure the seventh position at the worldwide box office, the eighth domestically, and the sixth internationally. Additionally, it stands to be the eighth-best opening for Father's Day weekend and the fourth-largest opening of the year thus far.
Returning to direct this live-action adaptation is franchise veteran Dean DeBlois, who helmed the original 2010 film. The story follows a young Viking boy named Hiccup, portrayed by Mason Thames, who defies his father, played by Gerard Butler, to befriend a feared Night Fury dragon named Toothless. This compelling narrative, filled with adventure and heart, is a significant draw for audiences.
On its opening day, How to Train Your Dragon grossed a mighty $35.6 million from 4,356 theaters, including $11.1 million garnered from previews. While this figure is slightly below the three-day opening of the original film, which debuted with $43.7 million, it is still set to become the top opening in the franchise, surpassing the 2019 threequel, How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World, which opened with $55 million.
In terms of competition, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is projected to finish in second place domestically with earnings between $13 million to $14 million, bringing its North American total to $365 million and surpassing $800 million globally. Additionally, the romantic drama Materialists, directed by Celine Song, is expected to come in third with an estimated $11 million to $12 million from 2,844 theaters. This film features Dakota Johnson as a matchmaker caught in a love triangle, though it has received mixed reviews from audiences.
How to Train Your Dragon has a significant advantage, taking over Imax screens that were previously occupied by Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. The Tom Cruise film is projected to see a modest decline of just 37 percent in its fourth weekend, expected to earn around $9.3 million and bringing its domestic total to approximately $165 million.
Premium screens have played a vital role in the success of How to Train Your Dragon, contributing to 40 percent of its gross to date. Meanwhile, Lionsgate's Ballerina, a spinoff from the popular John Wick series, continues to face challenges at the box office despite positive audience feedback, with expectations of a 64 percent decline in its second weekend.
Overall, How to Train Your Dragon is poised to make a significant mark on the box office landscape, appealing to a diverse audience and setting the stage for future installments in the beloved franchise.
