Universal and DreamWorks Animation's live-action reboot of How to Train Your Dragon has soared to the top of the global box office, claiming a spectacular debut this Father’s Day weekend. Released on June 13, 2025, the film pulled in an impressive $83.7 million domestically and $197.8 million worldwide, unseating Disney’s Lilo & Stitch from its three-week reign. Directed and co-written by Dean DeBlois, who also spearheaded the original animated trilogy, the live-action remake resonates with fans of the franchise, retaining the same creative vision that propelled its predecessors to box office success. With a production budget of approximately $150 million, the film’s phenomenal opening positions it to surpass its break-even mark swiftly.
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This weekend marked How to Train Your Dragon as the third-best opening in DreamWorks Animation history, trailing only behind Shrek 2 and the Third, and on par with Disney's live-action hits like Aladdin. The film played on 4,356 screens, averaging a healthy $19,215 per screen. Early Thursday previews contributed $11.1 million, signaling strong pre-opening momentum.
Audience reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. The film holds a 77% critic rating and an impressive 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, paired with an “A” CinemaScore—proof of its broad and enthusiastic appeal. Demographically, viewership skewed slightly female (58%), with significant representation among youth (34% under-12s), millennials (31% aged 18–34), and older adults (28% aged 35–55+). Globally, the pyramid of earnings remains strong. International ticket sales—totaling $114.1 million across 61,500 screens in 81 territories—demonstrate the film’s international appeal. Mexico led with $14 million, followed by the UK & Ireland ($11.4 million), China ($11.2 million), Brazil ($7.8 million), and South Korea ($7.4 million).
A Reddit thread highlights a significant milestone: this marks the first instance where two live-action remakes—Dragon and Lilo & Stitch—share the top two box office positions both domestically and globally. The film also crossed the $197 million global threshold, with projections aiming toward $200 million. Comparisons to the original trilogy reinforce this success: the 2010 animated Dragon debuted with $43.7 million, simulating an inflation-adjusted success; the 2014 sequel Dragon 2 launched with $49.5 million, and 2019's Hidden World opened at $55 million domestically. The live-action opening nearly doubles the original, signaling a fresh wave of enthusiasm and nostalgia. Analysts attribute the strong opening to several factors: the loyal fan base, multi-generational appeal, and strategic release on Father’s Day weekend—all of which capitalized on sentimental family-driven attendance. Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian emphasized the film’s “insatiable appetite for PG-rated family fare” and the nostalgic power of its title.
While Lilo & Stitch slipped to second place with $15.5 million for a domestic total of $366 million and a staggering global haul surpassing $858 million, other strong performers included A24’s Materialists ($12 million) and Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning ($10.3 million). Looking forward, Dragon faces new competition: Pixar’s Elio, horror sequel 28 Years Later, and comedy Bride Hard. Yet its robust start positions it favourably. Beyond raw numbers, this film confirms the live-action remake format as a potent franchise strategy, bridging nostalgia and fresh visuals to draw both loyal fans and new audiences. As How to Train Your Dragon glides into its second week, industry observers will watch closely to see if it sustains momentum and cements itself among the year’s box office highlights.
