Summary
It has only been fifteen years since the originalHow to Train Your Dragonfilm was released in theaters, but fans were clearly ready for a remake. At least, that’s how it feels when you look at the new film’s record box office from this weekend.
Based on the 2003 novel of the same name, 2010’sHow to Train Your Dragonproved thatDreamWorks Animationcould do more than the out-and-out comedy franchises they were known for up to that point. While it is hard to argue with the success of theShrek,Madagascar, andKung Fu Pandaseries, films likeShark TaleandBee Moviehad animation diehards wondering if the production house would ever take the next step into creating films that were a bit lighter on the comedic side and a bit heavier on poignancy. With its astonishing critical reception, multiple Academy Award nominations, and $494 million gross at the worldwide box office,How to Train Your Dragonproved that DreamWorks was ready to take the likes of Disney and Pixar head-on. To be frank,How to Train Your Dragonfelt more in line with somethingStudio Ghibliwould produce than something coming out of the Mouse House. Now, it’s clear audiences wanted more of that dragon-based movie magic as the live-action remake ofHow to Train Your Dragontotally mopped up the competition this weekend at the box office.
As Disney’sLilo & Stitchremakeproved earlier this summer, audiences are game for more live-action remakes.How to Train Your Dragon’s massive haul of around $197.8 million worldwide this weekend just backs up that fact. It is the highest-grossing opening weekend in the history of the storied franchise. If that weren’t enough to delight DreamWorks executives, the remake is also scoring quite well on both CinemaScore and Rotten Tomatoes.This will undoubtedly delight the studio as they havea sequel to the film already in productionfor release in 2027. Other offerings also did well, boosting the box office to a Father’s Day Weekend total that hasn’t been since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
How to Train Your DragonIs Cleaning Up The Box Office And Performing Well With Audiences
TheHow to Train Your Dragonlive-action remake has the unique quality of being directed bythe same person responsible for the original movie. Dean DeBlois co-directed the originalHow to Train Your Dragonfilm in addition to directing 2014’sHow to Train Your Dragon 2and 2019’sHow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Funnily enough, he and Chris Sanders (his co-director on the originalHow to Train Your Dragon) also co-directedLilo & Stitchfor Disney back in 2002. What a wild coincidence that remakes of bothLilo & StitchandHow to Train Your Dragonwould dominate the box office during the same summer.
Of course, 2025’sHow to Train Your Dragonis more than just a shot-for-shot remake, even though the great Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick the Vast from the original series of films. While many scenes do feature nearly identical shots and cuts, the nowHow to Train Your Dragonis more than 25 minutes longer than the 2010 animated film. As writer/director of both films, Dean DeBlois knew wherehe wanted to add to the storyand where he wanted things to stay the same. Audiences seem to be responding to his choices as word-of-mouth surroundingHow to Train Your Dragonis outrageously positive, thus far. People really like dragons, huh?
