The live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon” from Universal and DreamWorks Animation is set to make a strong debut at the box office, with projections suggesting an opening weekend intake between $70 million and $80 million. This enthusiastic response from family audiences, combined with positive sentiment for the beloved original 2010 animated film, could lead to even higher ticket sales. The film is also expected to gather around $110 million globally as it launches in major international markets simultaneously.
Even at the lower end of projections, this debut would indicate a robust start for “How to Train Your Dragon,” which had a production budget of $150 million. The narrative follows Hiccup, a young Viking misfit, and his friendship with Toothless, an injured dragon, as they challenge the long-standing enmity between their two species. While reviews for the new version have been favorable, they acknowledge the difficulty of surpassing the original, with critics noting the final act as particularly impressive.
Director Dean DeBlois, who helmed the animated trilogy that earned over $1.6 billion globally and received four Oscar nominations, returns for this remake. Universal has solidified its investment in the franchise, announcing a sequel, “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” scheduled for 2027.
In a competitive landscape, “How to Train Your Dragon” is poised to unseat Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” which has already become a substantial success with $339 million domestically. Additionally, family audiences may be drawn in by both adaptations as they vie for attention at the box office.
Meanwhile, A24’s new film “Materialists,” a romantic drama directed by Celine Song, is projected to earn $8 million to $9 million in its opening weekend. The film stars Dakota Johnson as a matchmaker navigating a love triangle involving Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, and is anticipated to receive a boost from positive reviews and word-of-mouth.
With these exciting new releases, there is a palpable sense of optimism for family films and dramas at the box office, as audiences are eagerly returning to theaters for quality entertainment.