How to Train Your Dragon Soars to a Nearly $200 Million Global Box Office Debut

Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon Ignites the Summer Box Office

Universal Pictures is flying high this Monday after its live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon soared past expectations, delivering a massive opening weekend at the global box office. The fantasy epic earned an impressive $85.2 million in North America and another $112 million from international markets, for a stunning worldwide debut of $197.2 million.

The film, directed by Dean DeBlois, who also helmed the beloved animated trilogy, was a hit with critics and audiences alike, earning an "A" CinemaScore. This strong word-of-mouth is expected to give the film powerful legs throughout the summer movie season. The performance is a significant victory for the studio and a positive indicator that audiences are eager to return to theaters for big-budget, family-friendly adventures.

Holding strong in second place was Sony's Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which added $31.5 million in its third weekend, proving the action-comedy franchise still has major drawing power.

The weekend's other major new release, A24's horror film Heretic starring Hugh Grant, also had a solid start, landing in third place with a $14.1 million debut. The animated features The Garfield Movie and IF rounded out the top five, showcasing the continued demand for family entertainment.

But the weekend belonged to Hiccup and Toothless, whose successful live-action flight has set a high bar for the rest of the summer's blockbusters.