“How to Train Your Dragon,” the live-action remake of the hit 2010 computer-animated film, topped the North American box office with $83.7 million in weekend sales, industry estimates revealed Sunday.
Universal and DreamWorks Animation produced the family movie, which tells the story of a bond of friendship between a Viking warrior named Hiccup (Mason Thames) and a dragon named Toothless.
David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research said, “This remake is starting off strong and marks a particularly good performance for the fourth installment in this series.”
Additionally, Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” a live-action remake, continued its strong summer returns with $15.5 million, Exhibitor Relations reported.
Thus far, the movie regarding Hawaiian girl Lilo (Maia Kealoha) and her blue space alien companion Stitch (Chris Sanders) has earned close to $860 million globally.
Moreover, entering at number three is A24’s “Materialists,” a refined rom-com featuring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, at $12 million.
“It’s an adult story that’s timely as summer counter-programming,” Gross said.
“Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” is also the latest, and reportedly final, installment of the wildly popular Tom Cruise spy thriller franchise based on a 1960s television show — performed in fourth place at $10.3 million.
The Paramount Pictures film has now passed the $500 million mark globally.
Furthermore, fifth place went to Lionsgate’s “Ballerina,” a spin-off of “John Wick” featuring Ana de Armas as a ballet dancer turned hitwoman and co-starring Anjelica Huston. Keanu Reeves came on briefly as the hitman Wick. It grossed $9.4 million.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
“Karate Kid: Legends” ($5 million)
“Final Destination: Bloodlines” ($3.9 million)
“The Phoenician Scheme” ($3.1 million)
“The Life of Chuck” ($2.1 million)
“Sinners” ($1.5 million)
