Universal’s live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon roared into theaters over the June 13–15 weekend, scorching the box office with a franchise-best $83.7 million in domestic ticket sales and a massive $197.8 million globally, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Directed by Dean DeBlois, who steered the original animated trilogy, the film opened in 81 markets, including a hefty $114.1 million internationally, making it the biggest debut in the How to Train Your Dragon series, surpassing 2019’s The Hidden World ($55 million domestically).
The reimagining of the 2010 animated classic, which follows young Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames) and his bond with the Night Fury dragon Toothless, struck gold with audiences. It earned an A CinemaScore and a near-perfect 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, drawing in families and Gen Z viewers who grew up with the animated films. Nearly half of Friday’s ticket buyers were aged 13–24, a nod to the franchise’s nostalgic pull. The film’s $150 million production budget (before marketing) looks like a smart bet for Universal, especially as it outperformed Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake, which fell to second place with $15.5 million domestically and a global total of $858.4 million.
In North America, How to Train Your Dragon played in 4,356 theaters, pulling in $35.6 million on Friday alone, including $11.1 million from previews. The film notched the eighth-best opening ever for Father’s Day weekend and the fourth-biggest domestic debut of 2025. Premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Cinema were a hit, boosting the weekend’s take. Some estimates suggest the domestic gross could climb closer to $86 million once final numbers are tallied.
Internationally, the film soared, with strong showings in markets like South Korea ($4 million, as reported earlier) and others not yet detailed in later reports. Major territories like China, where the film recently topped the box office with $11.1 million, contributed to the robust global haul. With more markets still to open, the film’s trajectory looks promising.
Despite stiff competition, How to Train Your Dragon dethroned Lilo & Stitch, which had ruled the domestic box office for three weeks. The Disney remake still added $31.1 million overseas, pushing it past The Jungle Book and Aladdin’s domestic runs (unadjusted). Meanwhile, A24’s romantic drama Materialists, directed by Celine Song, landed in third with a solid $12 million debut, a bright spot for post-COVID romantic comedies.
With a sequel already set for June 2027 and family films driving 2025’s box office (PG-rated titles have grossed $1.53 billion globally, per Comscore), How to Train Your Dragon is proving Universal’s live-action gamble is paying off. As Hiccup and Toothless continue to win hearts, the film’s record-breaking start signals a fiery future for the franchise.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter