Universal’s live-action remake dominates with $82.7M domestic debut, fueled by Gen Z and premium formats
- ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ lands a franchise-best $82.7M U.S. debut and $200.8M globally
- Nearly half the opening weekend audience were Gen Zers aged 13–24
- ‘Materialists’ opens in third with $11–12M, while ‘Lilo & Stitch’ nears $800M global
Flying High in First Place
Universal’s live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon is off to a thunderous start, claiming the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office with a $82.7 million opening and soaring to $200.8 million globally. Powered by a $117.7 million international haul across 53 markets, the film is the studio’s biggest-ever launch for a live-action reimagining of a DreamWorks animated title.
Gen Z Powers the Fire
With an A CinemaScore and a near-perfect 98% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the $150 million tentpole is finding major traction with families and Gen Z — the latter making up nearly half of Friday’s ticket buyers. Dean DeBlois, returning to helm the remake of his original 2010 film, captures both nostalgic appeal and visual spectacle, helping Universal tap into the same formula that turned Lilo & Stitch into a smash hit.
Weekend Highlights and Industry Stats
The film opened with $35.6 million on Friday alone, including $11.1 million in previews. That opening is the best of the How to Train Your Dragon series, surpassing the 2019 finale’s $55 million start. If projections hold, it will rank among the top 10 global launches for a live-action adaptation, the eighth-largest domestic opening for Father’s Day weekend, and the fourth-best overall for 2025 to date.
“This is the first time we’ve done a live-action version of a DreamWorks property,” said a Universal rep. “The response speaks for itself.” The studio has already dated a sequel.
Other Top Performers This Weekend
Lilo & Stitch, after a record-breaking three-week reign, is expected to drop to second place with $13–14 million, bringing its North American total to $365 million and crossing $800 million globally. Meanwhile, Celine Song’s Materialists — starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal — is landing in third with $11–12 million across 2,844 theaters. Despite strong critical praise, audiences gave it a B- CinemaScore and a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score, possibly dampening long-term prospects.
Paramount’s Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning remained resilient with a modest 37% drop in its fourth weekend, earning $9.3 million and approaching $500 million globally. Meanwhile, Ballerina, the John Wick spinoff led by Ana de Armas, fell sharply in its second week, grossing $8.7 million for a 10-day domestic total of $41.1 million.
The Story Behind the Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon was originally released in 2010 by DreamWorks Animation and quickly became one of the studio’s most beloved franchises. It follows Hiccup, a young Viking boy who defies tradition by befriending a feared dragon named Toothless. The original trilogy, culminating with 2019’s The Hidden World, earned widespread acclaim and over $1.6 billion globally.
Universal acquired DreamWorks Animation in 2016, and How to Train Your Dragon marks the studio’s first foray into turning an animated DWA property into a live-action feature. With strong early numbers and a sequel already greenlit, this relaunch strategy appears to be taking flight.
Conclusion
The success of How to Train Your Dragon signals a broader trend in Hollywood’s embrace of live-action reimaginings, especially when combined with nostalgic IP and smart audience targeting. As studios double down on Gen Z and millennial viewers, Universal’s strategy seems to be paying off — both critically and financially.
Meanwhile, the entertainment landscape continues to evolve. Fans can look forward to more major developments, from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds nearing its season finale, to Pixar teasing Toy Story 5 and debuting its new film Gatto. And if you’re in the mood for something outside the screen, check out these 20 fun facts about Colombia — they might surprise you.
