Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Opens Strong with $82.7M Domestic, $200M Globally

Universal’s live-action adaptation of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, directed by Dean DeBlois, has debuted to strong box office numbers, earning $82.7 million in its domestic opening weekend and totaling $200.3 million globally. This makes it the best domestic opening in the franchise’s history and the fourth-best global opening of 2025 so far. The film received an ‘A’ CinemaScore, marking the fourth consecutive time the franchise has achieved that rating. Contributing significantly to its success were premium formats like IMAX and 3D, which accounted for 56% of ticket sales. The audience skewed young and diverse, with 68% under the age of 35 and a strong female turnout, especially among mothers. Meanwhile, A24’s romcom ‘The Materialists’, starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, opened with $12 million, ranking third-best for the indie studio. It received a B- CinemaScore, with a majority of its audience made up of women under 35. The overall box office this weekend is estimated at $150M, down from the same period last year but still 33% higher than the previous weekend. ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ has outperformed expectations, signaling strong interest in family-oriented IPs and positive reception for live-action adaptations.