Dragon Franchise Set to Smash Records: How To Train Your Dragon Remake Could Double Debut Sales!

The live-action adaptation of How To Train Your Dragon, produced by Universal and DreamWorks, is generating significant buzz at the box office and is set to break a franchise record. Following Disney’s successful formula of transforming animated classics into live-action films, Universal decided to recreate How To Train Your Dragon, shortly after the original animated series wrapped up. The reimagined version brings back director Dean DeBlois and Gerard Butler as Stoick, with Mason Thames starring as Hiccup alongside the beloved night fury, Toothless. The live-action film carries high expectations due to the success of its animated predecessors.

At the box office, the live-action How To Train Your Dragon is already showing promising signs. Early estimates from BoxOffice Pro suggest that the film could open to a whopping $80 million to $100 million domestically on its release weekend. These figures are preliminary, and more detailed projections will likely emerge as the June 13, 2025 release date approaches. If the film reaches the higher end of these estimates, it would nearly double the $55 million opening weekend record currently held by How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Implications of How To Train Your Dragon’s Initial Box Office Estimates

The Film is Poised for Success

The early box office numbers for the live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake are very encouraging. It’s projected to surpass the opening weekend figures of all previous films in the series. The first film in the animated trilogy opened at $43 million, its sequel at $49 million, and the third installment at $55 million. Even if the live-action version hits the lower end of its current projections, it will still easily outperform all previous records. The question isn’t whether the film will set a new opening record, but rather by how much it will surpass the existing ones.

It’s also interesting to note that How To Train Your Dragon‘s early box office tracking is outperforming many of Disney’s live-action remakes. Only a handful of those films have opened above $80 million, and fewer still have exceeded $100 million on their opening weekends. With Lilo & Stitch expected to break records this Memorial Day weekend, How To Train Your Dragon could provide Universal with a significant competitive edge if it performs comparably to Disney’s most successful live-action adaptations.

Our Perspective on How To Train Your Dragon’s Box Office Forecasts

The box office predictions for How To Train Your Dragon‘s live-action remake reaching these heights is not surprising. The original animated series is well-loved and familiar to modern audiences. Despite the story being a retelling in live-action format, fans are eager for more adventures with Hiccup and Toothless. The positive early reactions to the film have only bolstered Universal’s confidence, underscored by their announcement of a sequel planned for 2027.

The big question now is just how monumental How To Train Your Dragon‘s opening will be. Achieving a $100 million domestic opening could set the stage for a global total surpassing $1 billion, depending on international performance. It’s poised to exceed How To Train Your Dragon 2‘s $621 million global haul and become the top-grossing film in the franchise. While I initially predicted a $760 million performance earlier this year, current indications suggest it might climb even higher.