Box Office: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Soars to $84M U.S. Opening, Dominates Globally With $198M Weekend
The dragons are back — and this time, they’re bigger, bolder, and live-action. DreamWorks Animation’s beloved franchise How to Train Your Dragon just made an explosive return to the big screen, and audiences showed up in droves to witness the cinematic spectacle.
The live-action adaptation of the 2010 animated classic debuted to a massive $83.7 million at the domestic box office and an impressive $197.8 million globally, according to early Sunday estimates. It’s the biggest opening in the history of the Dragon franchise and a major win for Universal Pictures, which now owns DreamWorks Animation.
A Flying Start for a New Chapter
Directed once again by franchise visionary Dean DeBlois, the live-action remake brings back the magic of Berk with a grounded visual approach that still captures the fantasy of the original. Mason Thames stars as young Viking Hiccup, while Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick the Vast. The heart of the story — Hiccup’s unlikely friendship with the dragon Toothless — remains front and center, and clearly, it’s still hitting all the right notes with moviegoers.
Audiences gave the film an A CinemaScore, and critics raved about the adaptation, reflected in a jaw-dropping 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. These high marks helped drive buzz, especially among a nostalgic fanbase. According to studio data, nearly half of Friday’s ticket buyers were Gen Z moviegoers between the ages of 13 and 24 — many of whom grew up with the original trilogy.
Global Domination: Where Dragons Reign Supreme
Internationally, How to Train Your Dragon raked in $114.1 million from 81 territories, with standout performances in Mexico ($14 million), the U.K. ($11.4 million), and China ($11.2 million). In fact, the film dethroned Disney’s Lilo & Stitch live-action adaptation to claim the biggest opening day for a live-action adaptation in China in the past five years.
Globally, the film landed among the top 10 live-action reimaginings of all time, including the seventh-highest worldwide opening, eighth-biggest domestic debut, and sixth-best international start for its genre.
A Father’s Day Weekend Boost
In the U.S., the movie also enjoyed a powerful Father’s Day weekend debut, scoring the eighth-biggest opening ever for the holiday and currently standing as the fourth-largest domestic opening of 2025 so far. Some rival studios even predict the final number could inch closer to $86 million once all the receipts are counted Monday.
Notably, the new Dragon film topped Friday’s chart with $35.6 million, including $11.1 million from Thursday previews — almost matching the entire three-day opening of the original 2010 film, which debuted to $43.7 million (unadjusted).
A Production Worthy of Its Wings
This live-action reimagining reportedly cost $150 million to produce, not including marketing. While that’s a significant investment, it’s already halfway to profitability after just one weekend — a strong sign that this may become a full-fledged live-action trilogy. Universal has already locked in a 2027 release date for a sequel, signaling confidence in the franchise’s future.
Another factor working in the film’s favor: premium format screens. Between IMAX and other large-format offerings, 40% of its box office revenue came from higher-priced ticket sales, which bolstered its weekend total significantly.
‘Lilo & Stitch’ Slips to Second, But Still Strong
After dominating the domestic box office for three straight weekends, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch finally ceded the top spot, earning $15.5 million from 3,675 theaters. But the film still posted strong numbers overseas, where it added $31.1 million, bringing its global total to a stunning $858.4 million.
It has now surpassed the entire domestic runs of Disney’s The Jungle Book ($364 million) and Aladdin ($356 million), along with 2023’s The Little Mermaid ($298 million), placing it among the top-grossing live-action Disney adaptations of all time.
The film currently ranks as the second-highest-grossing movie of the year, trailing only behind A Minecraft Movie, which has reached $950 million globally.
‘Materialists’ Scores a Surprise Success
In third place this weekend was Celine Song’s indie romantic drama Materialists, which opened stronger than expected with $12 million from 2,844 theaters. The A24 film now holds the studio’s third-best wide release opening ever, following Civil War ($25.5 million) and Hereditary ($13.5 million).
Starring Dakota Johnson as a New York matchmaker caught between an ex (Chris Evans) and a high-powered executive (Pedro Pascal), the film has intrigued critics but split audiences. It received a B- CinemaScore and a 70% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though critics remain largely supportive of Song’s sophomore effort after 2023’s acclaimed Past Lives.
Despite the lukewarm viewer response, A24 is betting that strong critical word-of-mouth will give Materialists a long tail in theaters and potentially during awards season.
Other Top Performers
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning continues to hold steady in its fourth weekend. The Tom Cruise-led action epic pulled in $10.3 million domestically and added another $21 million internationally, pushing its global total past $500 million.
- Ballerina, the John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas, had a rough second weekend, dropping 62% to just $9.4 million. Despite favorable reviews and audience feedback, the film’s U.S. total stands at $41.8 million, with a global haul of $91.5 million. Given its $90 million production budget, the road to profitability could be a tough one.