This weekend’s box office battle was captivating, as both DreamWorks’ live-action remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” and Danny Boyle’s zombie thriller “28 Years Later” found themselves in the spotlight.
“How to Train Your Dragon” showcased an impressive start, earning approximately $83.7 million in its North American debut and pushing its global total to around $197.8 million. Its performance in its second week was equally strong, bringing in $37 million domestically and $90.5 million worldwide, marking a modest 44% drop domestically and 45% globally. The film, which has garnered a total of $160.4 million in the domestic market and $358.1 million globally, is performing better than 2023’s “The Little Mermaid” and other franchises like “How to Train Your Dragon 3” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” at the same point in their release timelines.
On the other hand, “28 Years Later,” which is the third installment in a notable horror series, kicked off with $30 million domestically and $60 million globally. While it’s the most lucrative opening of Boyle’s career, it still trails behind the year’s top horror offering, “Sinners,” which achieved $45.6 million earlier in the season.
In a more challenging position is Pixar’s “Elio,” which debuted with $21 million domestically and $35 million globally, marking its weakest opening. Its performance stands in stark contrast to “How to Train Your Dragon,” with a per-theater average of just $5,600 compared to the latter’s robust $8,461 in its second week.
Meanwhile, “Lilo & Stitch” continued to solidify its standing in fourth place, recording $9.7 million domestic and $29.4 million globally, bringing its cumulative grosses to a remarkable $386.7 million domestically and $910.3 million worldwide, trending toward a potential billion-dollar milestone.
This weekend also saw “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” holding steady in fifth with $6.5 million gross domestically, while its global ranking was impacted by the rising performance of the Hong Kong film “She’s Got No Name,” which captured the fifth spot internationally with a $26.5 million take from China.
The box office figures highlight a positive trend for the film industry, suggesting a revival of audience interest in theatrical experiences. With major titles like “How to Train Your Dragon” capturing significant attention, the path forward appears promising for cinematic releases, particularly in the family-friendly realm where well-told stories resonate deeply across generations.
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