“How to Train Your Dragon” flew to the top of box office charts, earning a stronger-than-expected $83 million in its first weekend of release.
Enthusiasm from family audiences and nostalgia toward the original 2010 animated adventure helped to propel inaugural ticket sales above expectations of $70 million to $80 million. Universal’s live-action remake brought in another $114 million at the international box office for a mighty worldwide start of $197.8 million.
“How to Train Your Dragon” cost $150 million to produce and roughly $100 million to market. It’s the latest PG-rated movie to score at the box office, joining the company of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Lilo & Stitch.”
Dean DeBlois wrote and direct the remake, having previously steered the $1.6 billion grossing animated trilogy, which includes 2014’s “How to Train Your Dragon 2” and 2019’s “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.” Set on the mythical viking village of Berk, the story follows the adventures of a scrawny misfit teen named Hiccup, who befriends an injured dragon he calls Toothless. Reviews aren’t glowing (77% on Rotten Tomatoes) compared to the original film. But more important, at least in terms of staying power, audience reactions have been enthusiastic (the film earned an “A” grade on CinemaScore exit polls). In a sign of confidence, Universal has already announced a live-action sequel, “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” for 2027.
“How to Train Your Dragon” toppled the three weekend reign of fellow kid friendly hit, “Lilo & Stitch.” In a distant second place, Disney’s live-action remake has collected $15 million in its fourth weekend of release. It’s already a blockbuster with $365 million domestically and more than $815 million globally. It’s on pace to be the year’s first billion dollar release.
The weekend’s other major wide release, A24’s “Materialists,” opened at No. 3 with $12 million from 2,844 venues. Despite a mixed audience reception (a “B-” grade on CinemaScore), the film launched above projections of $8 million to $10 million. Directed by Celine Song in her follow-up to the Oscar nominated “Past Lives,” the movie follows a New York City matchmaker (Dakota Johnson) who finds herself in a love triangle with a wealthy suitor (Pedro Pascal) and imperfect ex (Chris Evans). A24 spent $20 million on the film, not including marketing fees.
“It’s a grown-up story that’s well-timed as summer counter-programming,” says David A. Gross, who runs the FranchiseRe movie consulting firm. “Celine Song is a huge talent.”
Fourth place went to Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” with $10.3 million from 2,942 locations in its fourth frame, declining 31% from the prior weekend. The eighth entry in Tom Cruise’s 29-year-old action franchise has amassed $166.3 million in North America and more than $450 million worldwide to date. Against its massive $400 million budget, though, “The Final Reckoning” doesn’t the strength to climb out of the red in its theatrical run.
“Ballerina,” a “John Wick” spinoff starring Ana de Armas as a dancer-turned-assassin, rounded out the top five. The film earned $9.4 million from 3,409 theaters in its second weekend of release, a 62% decline from its debut. So far, “Ballerina” has generated $41.8 million in North America, a sorta middling result for the $90 million budgeted film. Lionsgate hopes to expand the “John Wick” franchise with many spinoffs and sequels, but the turnout for “Ballerina” isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement that audiences care about the series without Keanu Reeves as the main draw.
More to come…
variety.com
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