(Image Source: Universal Pictures, Lionsgate)
The live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" premiered globally last week to massive success, topping the North American box office with an impressive $83 million. This marks the highest opening weekend for any film in the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise, surpassing its animated predecessors: the first film's $43.73 million, the second's $49.45 million, and the third's $55.02 million. Including international markets, the film's global opening weekend haul reached a formidable $197 million.
(Image Source: Lionsgate)
Among other new releases, the live-action "Lilo & Stitch" secured the second spot in North America last week with $15.5 million, pushing its global total past $850 million. Rounding out the top three was A24's romantic drama "Materialists," which debuted to a solid $12 million, marking the third-highest opening weekend for an A24 film in North America to date.
Less optimistic news comes from "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina," which dropped to fifth place. Its second-week box office plummeted by a steep 65%, earning only $9 million. This follows a disappointing opening weekend of just $24.5 million. For a spin-off from a major IP with a production budget of $90 million (excluding marketing), this performance is a clear warning sign. While it may struggle to cross the $100 million mark domestically, its global total has already reached $91 million, suggesting it will easily surpass $100 million worldwide. However, hitting the threshold required to greenlight a sequel appears challenging.