Dragons Soar High at the Box Office

The movie "How to Train Your Dragon" made a huge splash at the box office, raking in $83 million in its first weekend. This live-action remake of the beloved animated film exceeded expectations, which were set between $70 million and $80 million. The movie's success can be attributed to the excitement of family audiences and the nostalgia factor from the original 2010 release. Internationally, the film brought in an additional $114 million, making its worldwide debut a massive $197. 8 million. The film's budget was substantial, with $150 million spent on production and another $100 million on marketing. Despite the high costs, "How to Train Your Dragon" is part of a trend of successful PG-rated movies this year. So far in 2025, PG films have generated $1. 53 billion at the box office, accounting for about 41% of the year's total revenue. This rating seems to be the sweet spot, appealing to both kids and adults. Dean DeBlois, who directed the original animated trilogy, helmed the live-action remake. The story follows Hiccup, a scrawny teen who befriends an injured dragon named Toothless. While reviews have been mixed, audience reactions have been positive, with the film earning an "A" grade on CinemaScore. Universal is already planning a sequel, "How to Train Your Dragon 2, " set for release in 2027. The film's success comes at the expense of "Lilo & Stitch, " which had a three-weekend reign at the top. "Lilo & Stitch" is still a blockbuster, with $366 million domestically and $858 million globally. It's on track to be the year's first billion-dollar release. Another notable release is "Materialists, " which opened at No. 3 with $12 million from 2, 844 venues. Despite a mixed audience reception, the film exceeded projections of $8 million to $10 million. Directed by Celine Song, "Materialists" follows a New York City matchmaker caught in a love triangle. The weekend also saw the release of "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, " which earned $10. 3 million in its fourth week. The film has grossed $166. 3 million in North America and $506 million worldwide, but it's unlikely to recoup its $400 million budget. "Ballerina, " a "John Wick" spinoff, rounded out the top five with $9. 4 million in its second weekend. The film has generated $41. 8 million in North America and $91. 5 million globally, but its performance is considered middling. Overall, box office revenues are up 23% from last year but still lag 26% behind 2019. Upcoming releases like "F1, " "Jurassic World, " "Superman, " and "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" aim to keep theaters busy over the summer. The success of "How to Train Your Dragon" shows that there's still a strong appetite for family-friendly films, even in a crowded market.