Live-Action Remakes Take Flight

A second live-action remake has landed in theaters, courtesy of Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon, and it’s soaring to great heights. According to Variety, the film has amassed an impressive $197.8 million worldwide, with $114 million of that total coming from the international market. Key contributors to this success include Mexico, the UK and Ireland, and China.

The movie has received solid reactions from both critics and audiences, which is likely due in part to the enduring popularity of the How to Train Your Dragon franchise. The series has continued to thrive over the years, with three animated films and numerous TV shows furthering the adventures of Hiccup and Toothless. The release of trailers in front of various films and the fact that this is the first Dreamworks movie to receive a remake have also contributed to its success. As a result, Universal has already greenlit a sequel for June 2027.

Lilo & Stitch Continues to Thrive

Meanwhile, another notable summer remake, Lilo & Stitch, remains a top earner. The Disney movie has added $46.6 million to its global total, bringing its new take to $858 million. Like Dragon, the majority of its earnings come from the international audience, with $31.3 million earned internationally and $15.5 million domestically. If this trend continues, Lilo could become the first movie of 2025 to reach the billion-dollar mark within the next couple of weeks.

Upcoming Releases

Dragon and Lilo will soon be joined by Pixar’s Elio as the major kid-friendly movies in theaters. The month will close out with the release of the older-skewing M3GAN 2.0 and F1 on June 27. July will bring Jurassic World Rebirth on July 2, followed by Superman on July 11 and Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25. The summer movie season is now in full swing.

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