Universal Pictures’ live-action remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” has flown straight to the top of the weekend box office, delivering a franchise-best opening weekend. The film, written and directed by Dean DeBlois, who helmed the original animated trilogy, debuted to an impressive $83.7 million domestically, significantly surpassing expectations.
This strong performance dethroned Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” which had held the coveted No. 1 spot for the previous three weekends. “How to Train Your Dragon” didn’t just top the charts; its opening weekend take marks the highest domestic debut for any film in the popular fantasy adventure franchise, animated or live-action.
Globally, the dragon riders soared even higher, earning an additional $114.1 million from international markets for a worldwide opening weekend total of $197.8 million. This places it as the fourth-biggest global opening of 2025 so far and the seventh-largest opening for a live-action adaptation of an animated feature. Key international markets saw record-breaking debuts for the franchise, including Mexico, the UK and Ireland, Brazil, South Korea, Spain, and Australia.
Why the Dragon Flew So High
Analysts point to several factors contributing to the film’s massive success. There’s a clear and “insatiable appetite for PG-rated family fare,” according to Paul Dergarabedian, a senior analyst at Comscore. The “nostalgia factor” for the beloved original animated trilogy is also a powerful driver, tapping into a fanbase that has grown up with the franchise.
Opening the film on Father’s Day weekend proved to be a particularly shrewd move. As Shawn Robbins, director of analytics at Fandango, noted, the remake of a “modern, beloved animated film” also features a “strong father-son storyline,” resonating perfectly with the holiday audience.
Comparing the live-action debut to the animated films reveals substantial growth. The original “How to Train Your Dragon” opened to $43.7 million in 2010 (roughly $64.5 million adjusted), “How to Train Your Dragon 2” opened to $49.45 million in 2014, and “The Hidden World” opened to $55 million in 2019 ($81 million adjusted). The live-action version’s $83.7 million debut demonstrates a significant expansion of the property’s box office potential and audience reach.
A Hit with Audiences and Critics
Beyond the strong opening numbers, the film received enthusiastic reactions from moviegoers. It earned a coveted “A” CinemaScore and boasts a stellar 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating excellent word-of-mouth potential for future weekends. While critics were slightly less effusive, the film still earned a respectable 77% “Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes. Demographically, the audience was predominantly female (58%) and showed a healthy split across age groups, including a significant segment of under-12s (34%) and older viewers (35-55+ at 28%).
The film is described as a “hybrid film,” successfully blending live-action human characters like Hiccup (played by Mason Thames) with stunning CGI animation for Toothless and the other dragons, similar to the approach taken by the popular “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies.
Other Weekend Winners
While “How to Train Your Dragon” dominated, the weekend offered a diverse slate and saw other films perform well. A24 Films’ R-rated romantic dramedy “Materialists,” starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, provided successful counter-programming for adult audiences, opening at No. 3 with a strong $12 million debut. This marks A24’s biggest opening of the year and demonstrates demand for non-family fare in the summer corridor.
Despite slipping to No. 2, Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” continued its impressive global run, adding another $15.5 million domestically and pushing its total North American gross past $386 million. Its worldwide haul now stands at a massive $858.4 million, solidifying its position as the second highest-grossing film of 2025 globally so far.
Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” landed at No. 4 domestically with $10.3 million, while its global total crossed the $500 million mark, reaching $506.8 million. The “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina” fell to fifth place with $9.4 million, seeing a notable drop from its opening weekend, but its lower production cost gives it an easier path to profitability compared to high-budget blockbusters.
A Promising Summer Ahead
The strength of films across multiple genres contributed to a healthy weekend total for the industry. PG-rated films, spearheaded by “How to Train Your Dragon” and the continued success of “Lilo & Stitch,” now account for a significant 41% of the year’s earnings. The overall domestic box office for 2025 currently stands at $3.72 billion, a robust 23% increase compared to the same point last year.
With upcoming releases like Pixar’s “Elio” on the horizon, the summer movie season is just getting started, and the record-breaking debut of “How to Train Your Dragon” signals a potentially spectacular few months for moviegoers, theaters, and studios alike.
