Dragons' Roars Echo in 'How to Train Your Dragon' Box Office Debut of $83.7 Million USD
Universal Pictures' live-action adaptation of the beloved animated hit,How to Train Your Dragonhas flown to an impressive $83.7 million USD debut in North American theaters this past weekend, proving that some remakes still have the magic to captivate audiences on a grand scale. The film's strong performance easily claimed the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office, unseating Disney'sLilo & Stitch, which had enjoyed a three-weekend reign.
Directed by Dean DeBlois, who helmed the original animated trilogy, the newHow to Train Your Dragonbrings the heartwarming story of the unlikely friendship between young Viking Hiccup (Mason Thames) and his dragon, Toothless, to life in a fresh, live-action format. The film's opening weekend surpasses that ofHow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World(2019), which debuted with $55 million, signaling a significant expansion of the franchise's reach.
Globally, the film's performance is even more robust, adding over $114.1 million USD internationally for a worldwide total of $197.8 million USD. This impressive start is a testament to the beloved nature of the IP and the effective marketing campaign that promised a visually stunning and emotionally resonant cinematic experience. Early audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with an 'A' CinemaScore and a 98% Rotten Tomatoes audience score, indicating strong word-of-mouth potential for continued success throughout the summer.
The success ofHow to Train Your Dragonfurther solidifies the trend of live-action remakes delivering powerful box office results, particularly when handled with care and helmed by familiar creative forces. It's a clear win for Universal and DreamWorks, kicking off the summer blockbuster season with a resounding triumph and demonstrating that dragons, it seems, still have plenty of fire left.
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