How to Train Your Dragon is just $4M short of becoming the highest-grossing movie of the franchise

It is a good day to be at Dreamworks Animation as their How to Train Your Dragon remake is about to cross a major milestone at the box office.

The live-action reimagining, backed by Universal Pictures, soared high on its opening weekend, earning $84 million domestically and $198M worldwide. It has been the second 2025 project to resurrect a decade-old animated IP back to life, apart from Disney's Lilo & Stitch, which has also been a major success. Soon, the Dreamworks film will mark a major record in the franchise.

According to Box Office Mojo, the dragon adventure has earned over $618 million globally, with $260 million in the North American theaters and $357 million overseas. With those figures, it is well on track to become the highest-grossing movie from this franchise, which has been successful since its inception in 2010.

How does the live-action remake compare with other How to Train Your Dragon movies?

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Over a decade ago, Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois decided to turn Cressida Cowell's beloved children's books into an animated film. Released in 2010, the film was a major draw among critics, leading to a 99% Rotten Tomatoes rating. The casual moviegoers seemingly agreed with their verdict, leading to a $494 million global haul against its reported $165 million budget.

Four years later, Dreamworks produced a sequel, helmed by DeBlois, which earned over $621 million worldwide against a $145 million budget. Then, the third film, released in 2019, earned about $540 million, marking another successful chapter in the film series.

Based on these figures, the 2014 film currently tops the list as the highest-grossing project in the franchise. However, it might change sooner rather than later.

As revealed earlier, the latest How to Train Your Dragon project has crossed the $618 million mark. So, it needs to earn only $4 million to take over the crown from the 2014 film. It looks like a positive sign for the live-action remake strategy that Dreamworks has worked with for the first time.

How is the live-action film performing overall?

Since its theatrical release on June 13, How to Train Your Dragon has charmed its way into audiences' hearts across the globe. It is currently the fifth-highest-grossing movie of the year, behind Jurassic World: Rebirth, A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, and Ne Zha II, according to Box Office Mojo.

At home, the Dreamworks movie sits at the sixth project behind a non-IP project like Sinners and two franchise fare like Superman and Jurassic World: Rebirth. Sitting at the second position is a fellow live-action reimagining, Lilo & Stitch, which has earned over $421 million. The first stop is still held by the Jack Black and Jason Momoa-starrer A Minecraft Movie.

Universal's live-action affair features a stellar cast of Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Julian Dennison, Nick Frost, Harry Trevaldwyn, Gabriel Howell, Peter Serafinowicz, and Bronwyn James, among others. Scottish actor Gerard Butler, who earlier voiced Stoick the Vast, reprised his role in the new release. A sequel is also on its way, expected to be released in June 2027.

How to Train Your Dragon is in cinemas now.