The summer movie season is well and truly underway, with total business this weekend estimated to have touched the $150 million mark thanks to two major new releases. DreamWorks’ first-ever live-action remake,How to Train Your Dragon,delivered the fourth-biggest opening weekend haul of the year, behind onlyA Minecraft Movie,Lilo & Stitch, andCaptain America: Brave New World. Elsewhere, the star-studded romantic comedyMaterialistsexceeded expectations with one of the best opening weekend hauls in indie powerhouse A24’s history.
Withan estimated $83 millionacross its first three days of release,How to Train Your Dragontopped the domestic box office charts. The movie comes on the heels ofLilo & Stitch, which reasserted the audience’s interest in live-action remakes following the disastrous performance ofSnow Whiteearlier this year. Produced on a reported budget of $150 million,How to Train Your Dragonholds an unspectacular 77% score onRotten Tomatoes, but it has been warmly embraced by audiences. Much likeLilo & Stitch, the movie is appealing to the millennials who grew up with the animated original. It holds a near-perfect 98% audience score on the aggregator website, setting up a massive theatrical run.
Lilo & Stitchslipped to the number two spot after three weekends at number one. The movie grossed just under $15 million, taking its runningdomestic total past the $365 million mark. A final total of over $400 million is still on the cards. Globally, the movie is still on track to hit the coveted $1 billion milestone, as it approaches the $900 million mark this weekend. At number three with around $12 million,MaterialistsdeliveredA24’s third-biggest opening, behindCivil WarandHereditary. Headlined byDakota Johnson,Chris Evans, andPedro Pascal, the romantic comedy is directed by Oscar nomineeCeline Song. It earned excellent reviews, but only a mediocre response from audiences, who awarded it a 69% score onRotten Tomatoes.
‘Ballerina’ Took a Massive Hit in Its Sophomore Frame
Paramount’sMission: Impossible - The Final Reckoningtouched the $165 million markat the domestic box office in its fourth weekend, after adding around $10 million to its haul. The eighth (and purportedly final) installment of the long-running action franchise is on the verge of passing its predecessor’s $172 million lifetime haul. Rounding out the top five list wasFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerina, which is cratering commercially following a mediocre debut last week. The action spin-off, starringAna de Armas, grossed under $9 million this weekend, taking its runningdomestic total past the $40 million mark. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
How to Train Your Dragon
