Box Office Update: “How to Train Your Dragon” Holds Strong
NEW YORK – “How to Train Your Dragon” has managed to retain its No. 1 position at the North American box office over the weekend, outpacing new releases like Pixar’s “Elio” and the live-action “28 Years After.” Despite the competition, “How to Train Your Dragon” raked in an impressive $37 million in ticket sales during its second weekend, pushing its global total to $358.2 million.
After a six-year hiatus, director Dean Deblois brings “How to Train Your Dragon” back to the spotlight, showing the franchise’s enduring appeal. A sequel is already in progress, planned with a substantial budget of $150 million, reimagining the original 2010 animated tale of a Viking boy and his dragon.
Pixar’s “Elio,” on the other hand, had a rocky opening weekend, earning only $21 million. This is particularly disappointing considering Pixar has typically launched some of its most successful films in June, such as “Cars,” “Wall-E,” and “Toy Story 4.” “This is pretty weak for a Pixar movie,” noted film consultant David A. Gross. “While those numbers are solid for a different original animation, they don’t measure up to Pixar’s standards.”
“Elio” faced some challenges before its release. Originally set for an early 2024 launch, the film went through a change in co-directors mid-production, and an announced character simply didn’t make it into the final cut. Disney and Pixar invested at least $150 million in “Elio,” which, unfortunately, hasn’t performed significantly better overseas.
Interestingly, Pixar had begun to find its footing post-pandemic with films like “Elemental,” which grossed $496.4 million worldwide, and the highly anticipated “Inside Out 2,” projected for $1.7 billion. The film “Elemental” had its own struggles initially, opening with $29.6 million but eventually performing decently at the box office.
Summer family audiences were also competing for their attention—another live-action remake, “Lilo & Stitch,” has continued to attract viewers, netting $9.7 million in its fifth weekend and bringing its total to about $910 million globally.
Meanwhile, “28 Years After,” another franchise return, debuted to $30 million. Director Danny Boyle teamed up with writer Alex Garland to bring this sequel to life, set a quarter-century after “28 Days Later” and 18 years post-“28 Weeks Later.” The film has received better reviews than audience scores, but it’s reigniting interest in the zombie genre, with plans for further sequels already in motion.
“28 Years Later” also added $30 million from international markets, demonstrating its appeal beyond the U.S.
After a relatively solid debut of $12 million last weekend, A24’s “Materialist” held at $5.8 million in its second weekend. The drama, featuring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, has garnered around $24 million so far.
Looking ahead, next weekend sees the release of both Apple and Warner Bros.’s “F1,” alongside Universal’s “Megan 2.0,” which promises to bring further competition to the box office.
Top 10 Domestic Box Office Revenue
Based on estimated ticket sales from Friday to Sunday in U.S. and Canadian theaters, as of Monday:
- “How to Train Your Dragon” – $37 million
- “28 Years After” – $30 million
- “Elio” – $21 million
- “Lilo & Stitch” – $9.7 million
- “Mission: Impossible – Final Calculation” – $6.6 million
- “Materialist” – $5.8 million
- “Ballerina” – $4.5 million
- “Karate Kid: Legend” – $2.4 million
- “Final Destination: Pedigree” – $1.9 million
- “Kuberaa” – $1.7 million
