The How to Train Your Dragon remake is slated to release in the coming week, setting up Hiccup and Toothless’ first foray into live-action. Written by Cressida Cowell, the children’s books of the same name were adapted into a beloved trilogy of animated movies before the live-action remake.
As a result, the movie veers into the same territory as Disney’s recent Lilo & Stitch remake, which emerged as a box office success but was criticized by fans. However, How to Train Your Dragon has a major advantage on its side, and here is why the live-action remake could outshine Lilo & Stitch.
How to Train Your Dragon remake’s box office projections look promising
The How to Train Your Dragon animated trilogy was launched in 2010 and received mostly positive reviews. It has grossed $1.6 million at the worldwide box office (via The Numbers), making it a strong IP for a live-action remake.
The remake, directed by Dean DeBlois, features Mason Thames as Hiccup with Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast from the animated movies. It is slated to release next week, and early box office estimates suggest that it will make a promising start.
According to a report from Box Office Theory, the remake is estimated to make between $67 million and $77 million in its first domestic weekend. As a result, the movie is expected to end up with a domestic total of somewhere between $201 million and $254 million.
Both the first domestic weekend projections and total domestic collection projections put the live-action remake above any of the previous animated installments. As a result, the upcoming remake is on track to become the franchise’s highest-grossing movie, at least domestically, with the potential to emerge as one of this year’s biggest blockbusters.
How to Train Your Dragon can beat the Lilo & Stitch remake for one key reason
Given its release timing, the How to Train Your Dragon remake is in direct competition with Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake, which is currently in theaters, having collected $637.8 million (via Box Office Mojo) so far globally.
Despite its commercial success, the movie was heavily criticized by critics and fans of the 2002 animated classic directed by Chris Sanders. Many fans noted the remake had altered several key details and characters from the original, which made it less desirable.
However, How to Train Your Dragon holds the advantage in that regard, as marketing material has strongly suggested it is a shot-for-shot remake of the 2010 animated movie co-directed by Sanders and DeBlois. Therefore, the movie could thrive on nostalgia instead of drawing fan ire for unnecessary changes.
Ultimately, staying true to the beloved animated movie, the How to Train Your Dragon remake’s box office numbers could easily be bolstered with positive word of mouth. Hence, the movie could easily outshine Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake at the box office without breaking a wing.
How to Train Your Dragon is slated to release in the USA on June 13, 2025.
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