How to Train Your Dragon earns $83.7 million

Universal's live-action How to Train Your Dragon achieved a strong debut this weekend.

How to Train Your Dragon brings in $83.7 million at the box office

Universal's live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon opened to $83.7 million in North American theaters. This strong debut outperformed the previous film in the franchise, which opened with $55 million in 2019. The film also earned over $114.1 million internationally, bringing its global total to $197.8 million. Directed by Dean DeBlois, the story centers on the friendship of Hiccup and his dragon, Toothless. Other top films include Disney's Lilo & Stitch and the romantic dramedy Materialists, each earning $15 million and $12 million respectively. The overall box office is up 23% compared to this time last year.

The success of How to Train Your Dragon signifies a continued appetite for live-action adaptations of popular animated films. Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore notes that this trend not only demonstrates strong initial interest but also the potential for these remakes to sustain audience engagement over time. As studios look to capitalize on nostalgia, the focus on character-driven stories remains critical. With an exciting lineup of upcoming films, this weekend’s numbers suggest that theaters may see a consistent and growing audience in the coming weeks.

Highlights

The film's success may inspire further adaptations in the future.