The Live-Action "How to Train Your Dragon" Soars with Massive Opening Prospects

The much-anticipated live-action reworking of How to Train Your Dragon is poised to make a fiery entrance at the domestic box office, with projections ranging from $65 million to over $75 million across 4,000 North American screens. And given the built-in fanbase and fresh take, an even bigger debut isn’t off the table.

Unlike the infamous shot-for-shot Psycho remake, this isn’t a carbon copy of the original 2010 animated classic. Though director Dean DeBlois returns to helm this adaptation, he brings a fresh vision to the table. Despite Toothless retaining his iconic appearance, the film’s emotional depth and sweeping aerial visuals create a new experience. Leading the way are Mason Thames and Nico Parker, delivering charismatic portrayals of Hiccup and Astrid that stand on their own instead of mimicking their animated counterparts.

Critically, the film is sitting at a solid 81% on Rotten Tomatoes—not quite the near-unanimous acclaim of the 99% rated original, but still strong. The rollout is boosted by premium large formats like IMAX (on 413 screens), 4DX, and Screen X.

Internationally, early numbers suggest a $110 million launch by Sunday, bringing the worldwide kickoff to a projected $175M–$185M range. That includes international previews, which are currently estimated to have brought in $21.8 million by Monday. Official releases began last week in key global territories, with Japan’s theatrical debut slated for September 5.

Domestically, early showings begin Thursday at 2 p.m., though the fourth weekend of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake could pose slight competition. That film is still pulling in around $20 million weekly, though it's seeing a gradual decline. Despite both titles being based on animated fan favorites, there seems to be room for both in the marketplace.

So far, Lilo & Stitch has reached a cumulative total of $339.2 million after a $3.6 million Monday. Meanwhile, HTTYD is trending strong among women under 25 and ranks as the top pick for that demo, though its overall momentum is currently pacing just behind Stitch’s.

The marketing push has been huge. The Super Bowl trailer racked up more than 370 million global views, becoming the most talked-about trailer from the event. The full trailer drop on February 12 also sparked significant buzz, screening ahead of major tentpoles like Captain America: Brave New World, Minecraft: The Movie, and Thunderbolts. In total, trailers have surpassed 750 million views globally.

While the film doesn’t have any major global holidays to leverage in the near future, key markets in Europe, Latin America (especially Brazil and Mexico), Australia, and South Korea have a strong affection for the Dragon franchise. In China, the 2014 and 2019 films performed decently with a combined gross of $120 million at historical rates. Though China’s market remains unpredictable, presales are currently strong, and Universal Beijing Resort’s HTTYD-themed attractions are keeping brand awareness high.

As for comparisons to previous live-action adaptations, it's difficult to gauge. Most similar box office benchmarks are Disney-based, with their long-established IPs creating a different dynamic. This is more uncharted territory.

Still, early international previews are encouraging:

• South Korea began sneak peeks on June 6, already generating $4.3 million across four days on 1,644 screens (including 26 IMAX), and scoring a stellar 99% audience rating.

• The UK and Ireland launched previews on Monday, earning $1.2 million on 1,600 screens and dominating the day with 41% of market share.

• Germany also previewed on Monday, pulling in $1.1 million.

• France has brought in $1.4 million across two days.

• Latin America opened wide with 1,681 venues; Brazil debuted at $2.7 million, and Mexico saw $2.1 million during weekend previews across 812 screens.

Of the franchise’s impressive $1.7 billion lifetime haul, a substantial $1.1 billion has come from international audiences.

A24’s “Materialists” Enters the Game with Style and Sass

Also hitting theaters this weekend is A24’s Materialists, directed by Oscar-nominated Celine Song. With critics granting it an 89% fresh rating, the romantic dramedy is expected to pull in between $7M–$8M. The story follows Dakota Johnson as a high-end matchmaker caught between two suitors: the ridiculously rich Pedro Pascal and the charmingly broke Chris Evans. If you’ve been craving more smart rom-coms aimed at adult audiences, this one is right on cue.

Sony picked up international distribution rights, and buzz is especially strong among women over 25—Materialists ranks just behind Anyone But You in both awareness and anticipation. Featuring clever dialogue and a finale that’s sure to ignite post-movie discussions, the film has the makings of a sleeper hit. It’s rated R for some spicy scenes involving Pascal, and previews begin Thursday at 1 p.m.

Elsewhere at the Box Office

Lionsgate’s Ballerina, the spin-off from the John Wick universe, enters its second week with a projected $11 million (a 55% dip from its debut). Monday added another $2.05 million to its total, which now stands at $26.5 million