How to Train Your Dragon Shocks Hollywood With Record-Breaking $83.7M Opening!
At the box office this weekend, “How to Train Your Dragon” proved that some remakes still have teeth.
Based on Comscore projections Sunday, the Universal live-action adaptation of the cherished cartoon series soared to a solid $83.7 million launch in North American theatres.
Filmed by seasoned franchise director Dean DeBlois, the film centres on the unusual friendship between dragon Toothless and teenage Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames).
Opening with $55 million, the remake readily exceeded 2019’s “How to Train Your Dragon:
The Hidden World.” With more than $ 114.1 million collected abroad, the latest movie brought the worldwide total to $197.8 million.
“This is yet another example of a live-action remake really delivering on the promise of the marketing,” said senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore.
“I think the longevity and playability of some of these films particularly in the summer have been nothing less than miraculous.”
“How to Train” also claimed the top spot ahead of Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” which dropped to second place following three weekends of top chart performance and their details.
Adding another $15 million, the hybrid live-action remake raised its domestic total above $386.3 million.
With a $12 million premiere, “Materialists,” a modern-day New York love story starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, rounded out the top three films of the week.
Johnson plays a shrewd matchmaker stuck between two suitors in the romantic dramedy: a broke, struggling actor who happens to be her ex and a wealthy “unicorn” who looks too good to be true.
Sliding to fourth position, “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” avoided dipping into single-digit territory and attracted $10.3 million.
With $9.4 million, the John Wick spinoff “Ballerina” dropped to fifth place despite positive reviews from both audiences and reviewers.
Len Wiseman directed the action film, which stars Ana de Armas and has Keanu Reeves returning in a supporting part.
Dergarabedian remarked, “Ballerina,” could have a surge later on akin to 2014’s “John Wick.”
“That franchise didn’t really take off right away,” he remarked.
“You saw a tremendous outpouring of interest for the first “John Wick” when it hit home video or streaming, I should say, and I think the same will happen here.”
Ranked sixth, “Karate Kid: Legends” brought in $5 million; followed by “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” which brought in $3.9 million. With his latest “The Phoenician Scheme,” Wes Anderson landed in eighth place with $3 million.
Based on a Stephen King story, “The Life of Chuck,” ranked ninth with $2.1 million.
Arranging the top 10 was “Sinners.” Given that the Ryan Coogler picture starring Michael B. Jordan is available for viewing at home via internet and digital platforms following two months of release, $1.4 million is very remarkable.
From this moment in 2024, the box office is risen 23% overall.
Dergarabedian mentioned he is excited about films in the next weeks that might get a good reception at the box office, including “Eilo, F1, Superman, and 28 Days Later.”
Top 10 movies by domestic box office
With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
- 1. “How to Train Your Dragon,” $83.7 million
- 2. “Lilo and Stitch,” $15.5 million.
- 3. “Materialists,” $12 million.
- 4. “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” $10.3 million.
- 5. “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,” $9.4 million.
- 6. “Karate Kid: Legends,” $5 million.
- 7. “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” $3.9 million.
- 8. “The Phoenician Scheme,” $3 million.
- 9. “The Life of Chuck,” $2.1 million.
- 10. “Sinners,” $1.4 million.
