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2025 has been one of the weaker years for the film industry as high-budget films like Captain America: Brave New World and Snow White have failed at both impressing the audience and at the box office. While there have been many disappointments this year, it does not mean that there have been no good movies released this year, and to prove that, we have compiled a list of the best movies that have come out in 2025 so far.

28 Years Later (In Theaters) Credit – Sony Pictures

28 Years Later is a post-apocalyptic coming-of-age horror film directed by Danny Boyle from a screenplay by Alex Garland. The 2025 threequel film is set 28 years after the rage virus outbreak, and it follows a young boy and his father as they leave the safety of their isolated island to venture out into the dangerous world.

How To Train Your Dragon Worldwide Box Office(Photo Credit –YouTube)

How to Train Your Dragon has done something impressive. The new live-action version, based on DreamWorks’ popular animated movie, has now earned $463 million around the world and that means it’s passed National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which made $459 million during its run. It also puts Dragon among the 300 biggest movies ever made in terms of global earnings.

Both How to Train Your Dragon and National Treasure 2 share similar storytelling and thematic elements, which include protagonists’ journeys on a quest filled with obstacles and growth as well as a focus on teamwork and friendship.

How To Train Your Dragon As National Treasure: Book of Secrets: Box Office Summary

As of now, How to Train Your Dragon has earned almost $208m in the US and $255m from the international market, per Box Office Mojo.

Domestic – $207.7m International – $255.8m Total – $463.5m...

Stoick (Gerard Butler) and Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon, written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo Credit: Helen Sloan / Universal Pictures Copyright © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Since 2010, the How to Train Your Dragon movies have been absolutely Huge, right? Three awesome animated films! But get this: now there’s a live-action version, and people are totally losing it. It’s already crushing it globally, and guess who’s back?! Yup, it’s Gerard Butler! He’s reprising his role as Stoick – and he’s the only original animated cast member jumping into this new live-action world. He’s got new company though: Mason Thames is taking on young Hiccup. And get this, Butler was seriously blown away by Thames’ talent, like, totally impressed with what the kid brought to the role. Butler actually spilled the beans on just how talented his new...

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This July, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the much-anticipated release of the final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty to John Cena and Idris Elba‘s fun-looking action comedy film Heads of State. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 14 best films that are coming to Prime Video in July 2025 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

A Fish Called Wanda (July 1) Rt Score: 96% Credit – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

A Fish Called Wanda is a heist comedy film directed by Charles Crichton, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Cleese. The 1988 film revolves around a group of diamond thieves who must backstab each other to get to the loot after their leader is jailed.

How to Train Your Dragon North America Box Office Day 15: Surpasses Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

How To Train Your Dragon continues to do well in the domestic market after completing two successful weeks in theatres. Currently running in its third week, the film displayed an impressive trend on its third Friday, thus indicating that it still has fuel in the tank. In the meantime, it has surpassed the lifetime collection of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning at the North American box office to become the 6th highest-grossing film of 2025. Keep reading for a detailed collection report of day 15!

Directed by Dean DeBlois, the Hollywood fantasy film was theatrically released on June 13. It opened to mostly positive reviews from critics. Even among the ticket-buying audience, it has been enjoying favorable word-of-mouth. This positivity has helped it sail smoothly despite several new releases and leftovers running in theatres alongside.

It's been a decade since director George Miller altered action cinema forever with his eye-gouging acid trip of a movie, Mad Max: Fury Road. It remains one of the best-reviewed action films ever made, and one of the most beloved cult classics in recent memory. The movie famously underperformed theatrically, concluding its global run with around $380 million. It has now been overtaken by Universal'sHow to Train Your Dragon live-action remake, which is all set to soar past the $400 million mark in its third weekend of release.

The well-liked film has virtually nothing in common with Fury Road, a grungy post-apocalyptic fever dream that continues to hold a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring Tom Hardyin the role made famous by Mel Gibsonin Miller's original trilogy, Fury Road's consensus on the aggregator website reads, "With exhilarating action and a surprising amount of narrative heft, Mad Max: Fury Road brings George Miller's post-apocalyptic...

How To Train Your Dragon North America Box Office Day 14 Update (Photo Credit –YouTube)

How to Train Your Dragon stays isolated at the domestic box office and has become the second highest-grossing film in the franchise, accumulating $380.3 million at the worldwide box office. The film has surpassed How to Train Your Dragon 2 at the North American box office to achieve this feat in its theatrical run. Keep scrolling for more.

The second installment of the animated trilogy was released in 2014. It was also directed by Dean DeBlois and featured the voices of Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, T.J. Miller, and Kristen Wiig from the previous movie. The new cast members included Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou, and Kit Harrington.

How much has the film earned so far at the box office in North America?

According to the movie database, the live-action remake How...

Disney had a rocky start to the year when it came to live-action remakes, as Snow White didn't go as well as expected. Luckily, Lilo & Stitch was there to turn things around.

The live-action remake of the 2002 animated film of the same name was a resounding success. With a different director, Dean Fleischer Camp, but bringing back Chris Sanders to voice Stitch, the new version maintained the heart of the original and stole the hearts of audiences, which translated into many ticket sales. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Walt Disney Pictures has officially greenlit a Lilo & Stitch sequel.

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Walt Disney Studios (@disneystudios)

Disney announced Lilo & Stitch 2 on Instagram with a funny clip of Stitch at the wheel of a pink Range Rover car toy with the license plate "2 Fast," driving through the Disney lot until he reached Stage 2. The announcement was filled...

Walt Disney Pictures is officially moving ahead on a sequel to the live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch.

The announcement was made via social media Thursday, timed to June 26, aka 6-26. That number ties to Stitch as the wild blue-haired alien is known as Experiment 626 in the movie. (See what the studio did there?)

That a sequel is in the works was never in doubt. The movie has grossed over $923 million worldwide on a budget of about $100 million. Most movies with that kind of box office usually have more than double Lilo’s budget.

The movie has humble origins that are in keeping with a Stitch-like, gleeful and chaotic vibe: It was initially headed to Disney+ as an original movie for the platform before execs reconsidered its release and upgraded it to theatrical.

Remaking the animated 2002 movie directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, the story centers on a young lonely girl,...

Nico Parker is perfect as Astrid Hofferson in the live-action version of “How to Train Your Dragon” from director Dean DeBlois. She inhabits the character’s drive and strength and creates indelible chemistry with co-star Mason Thames aka Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. I spent some time with Parker to talk about her interest in joining the

The post Nico Parker aka Astrid Talks About “How To Train Your Dragon” (2025) appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

No, it wasn't The Pope's Exorcist, although that would make sense, too. The movie that (sort of) earned star Russell Crowe an audience with the pontifex was Noah. Directed by Darren Aronofsky and released in 2014, the film proved to be controversial, mainly for its depiction of the Biblical tale of Noah's Ark. But it was a box office hit, grossing $352 million globally. This past weekend, Noah was overtaken by Universal's How to Train Your Dragon remake, which debuted theatrically a couple of weeks ago. Directed by Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon is the first live-action remake that DreamWorks Animation has produced for one of its movies.

With $160 million domestically and another $197 from overseas markets, the film's cumulative global haul stands at $358 million. It was produced on a reported budget of $150 million, and was embraced by audiences. They've awarded it a near-perfect 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes. In her...

Disney and Pixar’s newest animated film is breaking a long-standing record for the studio, and that’s not a good thing. Per Variety, Elio, which debuted in theaters on June 20, has earned just $35 million worldwide during its opening weekend. Of that figure, $14 million came from overseas markets.

The $21 million debut outing domestically is now Pixar’s worst-ever behind films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Finding Nemo. Elio took third place at the domestic box office. The 1995 Toy Story earned just over $29 million in its first weekend in theaters.

Disney’s 2023 film Elemental held the title of lowest-grossing international debut with $14.9 million from overseas markets until Elio. Elemental did go on to earn nearly half a billion dollars globally during its theatrical run due to word of mouth.

Critics & Audiences Praised the Film

Elio’s box office performance is surprising, as the film has had good reviews from critics and fans alike.

(from left) Night Fury dragon, Toothless, and Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon, written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures Copyright © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. What a weekend at the movies! Audiences could choose from a riveting live-action adventure, a spine-tingling revival of a horror favorite, or an animated jaunt into the cosmos that, while it didn’t leave any earthly bounds, could have used some gravitational help to stay aloft. Those are the key choices, aren’t they? And dear readers, you do know there are more like them in multiplexes every week. But there are a couple of titles here that have my attention for problematic rather than positive reasons. In many viewers’ minds, Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon remains firmly established, effortlessly holding the No. 1 spot in its second weekend with an estimated $37 million domestic haul.

The live-action How To Train Your Dragon remake is dominating the box office for a second straight weekend. Led by Mason Thames (Hiccup), Nico Parker (Astrid), and Toothless the dragon, the movie serves as a faithful adaptation of the 2010 animated blockbuster. Dean DeBlois, who directed the original trilogy, returned as the director and is already involved in the active development of a How To Train Your Dragon 2 remake. This adaptation had a $150 million budget, and it is already on its way to success.

After ruling the box office for two weeks, the remake has officially achieved a new milestone, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It has reportedly earned an astounding $160.5 million domestically and $197.7 million overseas for a combined total of $358.2 million. Having already crossed the $350 million milestone, it has already passed Final Destination: Bloodlines to become the eighth-highest-grossing movie of the year. Sinners and Thunderbolts* stand just ahead at $362.9 million and $381 million respectively,...

After delivering a franchise-best debut last weekend, Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon remake retained its box office crown in its sophomore frame. The movie had to fend off direct competition not only from the holdover hit Lilo & Stitch, but also from this week’s new release, Pixar’s Elio. How to Train Your Dragonpassed a major global box office milestone this weekend, as it completed 10 days of release in theaters worldwide. In fact, it has now overtaken a past DreamWorks’ movie that has developed something of a cult following in the years since its release.

With $160 million domestically and another $197 million from overseas markets, How to Train Your Dragon has generated a grand total of $358 million at the worldwide box office. The movie was produced on a reported budget of $150 million, which is on the lower end of the spectrum for a tent pole of its size. Most...

On June 21, 2002, Disney unveiled Lilo & Stitch in theaters, where it would go on to gross $275 million worldwide, create a hit character for merchandise sales and spark a live-action remake two decades later. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review of the animated feature is below:

With traditional, hand-drawn animation, Lilo & Stitch might not pack the higher-profile oomph of some of the Walt Disney Co.’s more cutting-edge efforts, but what it lacks in big-budget technology it more than compensates for with the kind of inspired humor and jet powered energy usually associated with Warner Bros.’ classic Looney Tunes than with traditional Uncle Walt output.

Add in a dazzling, luminous color scheme, an irresistible Hawaiian backdrop that doesn’t stint on local flavors, a refreshingly “real” sibling relationship and an emotional undercurrent that plucks ever so gently on the heart strings, and the result is something quite fresh and delightful.

Neatly covering...

The world loves a trilogy. Whether it's The Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, The Dark Knight Trilogy, or many others, a perfect three-piece film experience is often the most satisfying of cinematic achievements. When it comes to those across the pond in the UK, many look no further than the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogyfor their favorite trio of movies, featuring Shaun of the Dead (2004), Hot Fuzz(2007), and The World's End (2013).

Created by Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, and Edgar Wright, the trilogy has millions of fans worldwide, with many likely to be very happy with the franchise's latest big update. Officially, as of July 1, two of the three Cornetto movies are heading to streaming site Starz, although they will only be available on the Starz app. The two movies are widely regarded as the best of the three: Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, with the former...

Disney has been producing live-action remakes of some of their most beloved animated films for quite some time, but this practice has particularly dominated the studio's ambitions since 2010, when "Alice in Wonderland" grossed over $1 billion. Since then, we have had films of varying quality hit theaters, with a few highlights including "Cinderella" and "The Jungle Book," both showcasing their share of cinematic merits. But for the most part, films like "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin," and "The Lion King" may have been $1 billion hits, but failed to add anything worthwhile to these beloved stories. Not to mention, returns are diminishing with recent releases such as Rob Marshall's "The Little Mermaid" and Marc Webb's "Snow White" failing to make waves financially, although the runaway box office smash that is "Lilo and Stitch" may breathe some life back into the practice, for better or worse.

Universal is the latest studio...

Stoick (Gerard Butler) in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon, written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures Copyright © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. For over a decade, writer and director Dean DeBlois has been the singular creative visionary behind the adored How to Train Your Dragon series. He co-wrote and co-directed the innovative first movie, then masterfully wrote and directed two critically praised sequels, bringing the epic animated series to a powerful close. DeBlois has now embarked on a daring new phase: a live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. With its amazing execution, this isn’t just a basic remake, but a reinterpretation that has already received great acclaim from viewers and critics alike. In bringing this fantastical world to life, DeBlois carefully preserved the heart of the original while making some inspired choices — including bringing back the formidable Gerard Butler. Originally the...

Fresh off the success of Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitchremake, another film from the franchise is making headway on the streaming charts. Per FlixPatrol, 2003’s Stitch! The Movie is climbing the Disney+ Top 10 streaming movies.

As of June 20, Stitch! The Movie is sitting at No. 6, up one spot from the previous rankings. The 2003 movie was a direct-to-video venture directed by Tony Craig and Bobs Gannaway from a script by Jess Winfield and Gannaway, based on the characters created by Dean DeBlois.

It starred Daveigh Chase as the voice of Lilo and Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch, with Tia Carrere as Nani, David Ogden Stiers as Jumba, and Ving Rhames as Cobra Bubbles, all of whom voiced the same characters in the original 2002 animated film. In Stitch! The Movie, the audience finds the titular Stitch trying to make himself at home with Lilo in Hawaii, but he’s having...

The June 20 box office weekend looks like another blockbuster double-header with the releases of Disney/Pixar’s animated family film “Elio” and Sony’s R-rated post-apocalyptic sequel “28 Years Later.” Danny Boyle’s follow-up to his groundbreaking 2002 zombie classic “28 Days Later” has some of the best 2025 reviews for a franchise movie. (IndieWire’s review is here.)

Even if, as “Screen Talk” co-hosts Ryan Lattanzio and Anne Thompson discuss on this week’s IndieWire podcast episode, Ryan found it ultimately cloying and sentimental despite the imaginative filmmaking. Boyle (working from original “28 Days Later” scribe Alex Garland’s script) shot the film entirely on the iPhone 15 Pro Max using rig technology, with the film introducing a “poor man’s bullet time” (as Boyle described to IndieWire) for some of the grisliest kills of those infected by the “Rage” virus.

“28 Years Later” introduces new characters played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer,...

The first live action remake from the powerhouse animation studio proves to stand out among others and be an enjoyable time at the theater Despite the original ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ animated feature releasing a little over a decade ago, and its final sequel coming out in 2019, there was nothing more logical for Dreamworks to do than to create a live action remake of the first entry in the series. A $150 million one. The budget really doesn’t matter when you have a dedicated fan base of Millennials and GenZers, an original trilogy that grossed over $1.6 billion, and general audiences that seem to fall in line and go to the theater when a beloved animated film is remade into live action, no matter the quality. The ‘Lilo and Stitch’ remake has already grossed over $800 million, so what’s stopping studios from just remaking original, heartfelt animation into standardized live...

How to Train Your Dragon has passed a huge milestone at the global box office. The new movie is the first live-action remake from DreamWorks, adapting their 2010 animated hit of the same name. Helmed by returning director Dean DeBlois, the movie stars Mason Thames as the wannabe Viking warrior Hiccup, who forges a bond with a wounded dragon named Toothless in spite of his village's commitment to destroying all dragons. The How to Train Your Dragon cast also includes Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, and Gerard Butler.

Per The Numbers, shortly before the end of its first full week, How to Train Your Dragon has reached a worldwide gross of $252.9 million, comprising $113.7 million from domestic theaters and $139.2 million from international markets. In addition to making it only the ninth movie of 2025 to pass the $250 million global milestone, this total makes the movie the 96th highest-grossing release from Universal ever,...

It would have been a ludicrous scene if it hadn’t been so dangerous. John Powell, the composer behind Universal’s new live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon and Wicked, was wearing an ill-fitting gas mask awkwardly over his glasses, not keeping the smoke out at all, and fumbling around his property, trying to do anything he could to save it from the incoming inferno.

And yet, the most present thing in his mind was modulating a certain musical cue for the Dragon score that he had been working on a few of hours earlier.

This was early January, and the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles had just struck. Powell, one of the biggest composers working, was in the middle of Dragon and initially paid no mind to the warnings. After all, he had lived in the Palisades for over 20 years, had seen fires start and be put out,...

Having completed nearly a month of release in theaters worldwide, Disney's Lilo & Stitch remake has emerged as the second-biggest Hollywood hit of the year so far. It's now also among the 100 highest-grossing films ever made, and, during the course of its run, has overtaken a host of memorable hits. Most recently, Lilo & Stitch passed a $200 million DC superhero blockbuster, and an even more expensive sequel belonging to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Lilo & Stitch is poised to become Disney's first billion-dollar hit since Moana 2 last year.

The film's running domestic haul stands at $371 million so far, while its global total stands at $864 million. Lilo & Stitch has now passed the $369 million lifetime domestic haul of Matt Reeves' 2022 hit The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson in the titular role. It has also overtaken the $859 million lifetime global haul of Ryan Coogler's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, his sequel to the landmark 2018 hit,...

In under a week of release in theaters worldwide, DreamWorks' first-ever live-action remake, How to Train Your Dragon, has made more than $200 million at the worldwide box office. The movie has now surpassed the lifetime global haul of another hit film produced by the legendary animation house, as it hurtles towards the $300 million milestone this weekend. Directed by Dean DeBlois, How to Train Your Dragon is a remake of the original 2010 animated hit; the movie is set to get a sequel, which will be based on 2014's How to Train Your Dragon 2.

With $218 million at the worldwide box office so far, the movie has surpassed the lifetime global haul of 1998's The Prince of Egypt, the Biblical musical featuring a stacked voice cast and based on the Book of Exodus. Directed by Brenda Chapman, Simon Wells, and Steve Hickner, The Prince of Egypt featured Val Kilmer as the voice of Moses,...

How To Train Your Dragon Worldwide Box Office: Budget & Returns ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

After A Minecraft Movie and Lilo & Stitch, How To Train Your Dragon is on track to become a massive success story for Hollywood in 2025. As expected, it registered a smashing start in North America as well as internationally. As a result, it has already crossed the $200 million mark at the worldwide box office. Recently, it also crossed its first significant milestone in the domestic market. Keep reading for a detailed collection report!

Reception of the film

Directed by Dean DeBlois, the latest American fantasy adventure film is a live-action remake of the 2010 film of the same name. Upon its release, it opened to mostly positive reviews from critics, and even among the ticket-buying audience, it is enjoying favorable word-of-mouth. This positivity has helped the film garner an impressive sum so far.

Crosses its first significant milestone in...

The live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake is currently soaring high in theaters across the globe. The film, directed by Dean DeBlois (who also helmed the animated original), earned strong reviews upon its release, and audiences have reacted equally warmly to the live-action reboot. With the movie already being considered a success, especially in comparison to other live-action remakes of animated classics, a sequel is inevitable. While the new live-action movie is almost a shot-for-shot remake of the original, DeBlois wants to make some big changes in the anticipated sequel.

Speaking to Discussing Film to promote How to Train Your Dragon, Dean DeBlos revealed that he's already looking ahead to the sequel, and it includes altering some of his least favorite parts of the film. The original How to Train Your Dragon 2 is considered by many to be the best in the trilogy, and DeBlois is well aware of that sentiment.

How to Train Your Dragon is slaying the box office after being released last week.

If you didn’t know, a live-action sequel has already been given the greenlight!

Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the animated movies and the new live-action that just came out, shared an update on the status of the sequel in a new interview.

During his update, Dean revealed that it could deviate from the animated version, while the first live-action was very faithful, and he’s still working on the script!

Keep reading to find out more…

“It’s very amorphous right now. I think there’s something about the second animated movie that most fans prefer out of the trilogy, and I want to hold on to that aspiration,” he told Discussing Film. “[How to Train Your Dragon 2] was like our Empire Strikes Back, where everything got bigger and broader. Characters get richer and things get scarier,...

How To Train Your Dragon Worldwide Box Office: Hits Major Global Milestone(Photo Credit –Facebook)

How to Train Your Dragon is currently the trending movie worldwide and has crossed a major global milestone. The film continues to rule at #1 rank in North America and earned a record collection on its first Monday in its franchise. The live-action remake is going to have a blockbuster run, and this milestone is just the beginning. Keep scrolling for the deets.

The live-action remake has held on to the Og film’s essence, and it feels nice to witness a live-action Night Fury dragon on the screen. The movie’s visuals are breathtaking, doing justice to its animated counterpart. It is getting more love than the animated films as it recorded the biggest opening weekend in the franchise, collecting $84.6 million domestically. However, it was possible because the animated features were successful.

How to Train...

The live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake has hit a major global box office milestone in just a few days. The 2025 movie is the first DreamWorks movie to get the live-action treatment, with the original trilogy's director Dean DeBlois returning to helm the project. Despite early qualms and backlash concerning a few creative decisions, the How to Train Your Dragon remake was highly-rated by both critics and audiences for its faithfulness to the original. As a result of the hype, the live-action adaptation opened to a record-breaking $84 million opening weekend, superseding the debut of the original animated movies.

According to The Numbers, How to Train Your Dragon has now made over $206 million at the global box office. This total is based on $93 million domestically and $113 million from international sales. The remake is now only the tenth movie in 2025 to cross this milestone after becoming the no. 1 movie during its debut weekend.

Dean DeBlois, the director of all the films in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, both animated and live-action, has revealed his inspiration for directing the beloved films. DeBlois had one main influence when coming up with the feature adaptation of Cressida Cowell's series of the same name, and it was none other than the sci-fi classic for the whole family, Steven Spielberg's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

DeBlois spoke to Den of Geek during their web series In the Den, and he picked E.T. as the film to dissect during the promotion of the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon. The director says the Spielberg classic inspired him to come up with a movie that explored the same themes he went through when he was a child:

"I grew up in a suburb that was built in the 1970s, and it looks like it.

With the resounding success of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon, a sequel is in the works, and Gerard Butler has commented on whether another iconic actor will be playing their animated character in live-action as well. 2025's How to Train Your Dragon is said to be a great first remake for DreamWorks, following the plot of the hit 2010 animated movie and starring Mason Thames as Hiccup and Nico Parker as Astrid. Gerard Butler voiced Hiccup's father Stoick in the animated trilogy and reprises his role for the remake, garnering praise for his performance all over again.

With the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2 in development, people are wondering if Cate Blanchett will again play Valka, Hiccup's mother, who is revealed to be alive in the sequel. During an interview with Discussing Film, Gerard Butler said, "Cate, come on let's go," believing she is the only one for the role.

It's no secret that Joe and Anthony Russo have had a rough time after their (first) stint with Marvel Studios ended in 2019. It's also no secret that they re-energized the franchise when they originally signed on over a decade ago, and delivered some of its most successful (and acclaimed) movies. The Russos' made their MCU debut back in 2014, with the hit film Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Betting on them was a huge swing on Disney's part, considering their experience was largely in television, and that, too, in sitcoms. The studio is currently celebrating the success of its latest release, Lilo & Stitch, which is poised to enter the $1 billion mark at the global box office. On its way to passing that benchmark, it overtook The Winter Soldier internationally.

Lilo & Stitchhas grossed over $850 million worldwide so far, of which around $460 million has come from international markets. By comparison, The Winter Soldier...

Live-action How to Train Your Dragon glided straight to the top of the U.K.-Ireland chart with an estimated £11.4 million ($14.5 million) opening weekend, the best start for the decade-old franchise and the territory’s second-strongest debut of 2025 behind Lilo & Stitch. Universal booked the picture into 670 sites, saturating multiplexes and independents during a post-exams school break that traditionally boosts family turnout.

The local launch formed part of a $197.8 million worldwide bow powered by $83.7 million in North America and $114.1 million from 69 international markets, led by Mexico ($14 million), the U.K.-Ireland haul, and China ($11.2 million). In India the film drew ₹4.88 crore on day one, outpacing every previous entry in the animated series and confirming the brand’s cross-cultural reach.

Analysts argue the result arrives at a pivotal moment for British exhibitors: Comscore figures show first-quarter box-office revenue fell 14 percent year-on-year even as admissions slipped further, yet May takings rebounded 50 percent thanks...

The live-action remake of 2010's How to Train Your Dragon became a box-office smash over the weekend, earning a series-best $83.7 million domestically. The initial previews for the new film highlighted the faithfulness of the adaptation, which in some cases perfectly recreated frames from the original film, directed by Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch) and the remake's helmer Dean DeBlois.

The element that carries over most directly to the live-action redo is undoubtedly the titular dragon, Toothless, whose more photorealistic design matches his 2010 imagining almost exactly.

But during the development of the first film, which was adapted from the book series by Cressida Cowell, Toothless started off with a very different look, one far afield from the sleek, cat-like black design that became essential to the franchise's iconography.

Sanders, during his Gold Standard career retrospective interview with Gold Derby, reflected on his time making the first How to Train Your Dragon, which...

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The bet on live-action remakes has paid off for Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon, as the film soared to the top of the box office over the weekend. And while the original didn’t come out all that long ago — it was released in 2010 — the live-action film still managed to bring the story to a new generation of fans.

get peacock

The story, based on the...

Sure, “How to Train Your Dragon,” in theaters now, is a live-action adaptation of a beloved animated original, the latest in a whole host of features that try to recapture the magic of a classic, only this time in a different medium. But it’s by far the greatest live-action adaptation of a beloved animated original yet – something that doesn’t, as critic Bilge Ebiri said in his review for New York Magazine, “feel totally pointless.”

DreamWorks Animation’s original “How to Train Your Dragon” was an Oscar-nominated 2010 hit, based on a series of books by British author Cressida Cowell, and concerned the Viking nation of Berk, which is constantly at war with dragons. A young man named Hiccup (Mason Thames in the new movie), desperate for his father’s approval, attempts to take down a dragon (who he eventually names Toothless), but ends up befriending it. And their relationship...

It was a big weekend at the box office and, once again, it was all thanks to a major family-friendly film -- more specifically, a live-action remake of an animated favorite. DreamWorks and Universal's new take on "How to Train Your Dragon" hit theaters over the weekend and did very well for itself, proving that this whole live-action remake business still has a lot of gas left in the tank.

Director Dean DeBlois' "How to Train Your Dragon" topped the box office with an estimated $83.7 million domestically. Even better for Universal, the movie performed significantly stronger overseas, taking in $114.1 million for a $197.8 million global start. Even against a $150 million production budget and a sizable global marketing spend, that's a very good debut. It didn't hurt that competition was relatively light, with "Lilo & Stitch" slowing down a bit and last weekend's "John Wick" spin-off "Ballerina" falling off a cliff after an already not-so-great opening.

The "How to Train Your Dragon" live-action remake from director Dean DeBlois has finally taken flight this week, and with it comes the inevitable discourse of critics and audiences alike voicing their opinions. The common consensus is that, amid the current trend of adapting animated classics into live-action, Universal's new take on the beloved 2010 film could be the best of a bad lot, but that it still feels quite unnecessary. Aside from a few character deviations, Hiccup and Toothless' initial steps in this inevitable three-picture journey are nearly identical to those of the franchise it's expanding. 

Let me preface this by saying that I love the original "How to Train Your Dragon" movies and believe them to be one of the greatest trilogies ever made. The heartfelt and exhilarating story of Hiccup's journey befriending and eventually parting ways with the legendary Night Fury will always hold a special place...

If you’ve suddenly felt the urge to saddle up a dragon, it’s probably because How to Train Your Dragon is back in the spotlight. With the live-action remake soaring through theatres, fans are now itching to return to Berk. Yes, the Island where Vikings ride dragons, and “unholy offspring of lightning and death itself,” turn out to be pretty cuddly.

For fans old and new, now is the perfect time to revisit the story of Hiccup and Toothless. But before you go looking for your favorite Night Fury on Prime Video, you might want to check whether Toothless is actually waiting for you there. Look in detail at which How to Train Your Dragon movies are available on Prime Video.

Which How to Train Your Dragon movies are on Prime Video? A still from How To Train Your Dragon | Credit: DreamWorks

If you’re hoping to catch Hiccup...

Update June 16, 2025: How to Train Your Dragon soared to the top of the weekend box office, delivering a franchise-best $83.7 million over its June 13-15 opening.

Universal’s live-action remake also raked in $114 million from international markets, bringing its worldwide total to nearly $200 million. The audience enthusiasm was fueled by an A grade from CinemaScore and a 98 percent rating from moviegoers on Rotten Tomatoes.

The strong opening was enough to dethrone Lilo & Stitch, which settled into second place with $15.5 million after enjoying a three-week reign at number one. Celine Song’s romantic comedy Materialists debuted in third with $12 million, marking A24’s third-highest opening after Civil War ($25.5 million in 2024) and Hereditary ($13.5 million in 2018).

Rounding out the top five were Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning with $10.3 million and Ballerina with $9.4 million.

Original story published June 13, 2025: Universal’s How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action remake of the 2010 animated film...

You would be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu after watching 2025's "How to Train Your Dragon." The live-action remake of the 2010 animated movie of the same name is soaring high at the box office by remaining extremely faithful to its source material. In his review, /Film's Ethan Anderton even called the film "loyal" to a fault, so much so it struggles to find ways of differentiating itself from the animated original that wormed its way into the hearts of a whole generation.

The "How to Train Your Dragon" remake brings back several key creative players from the 2010 animated film, with co-helmer Dean DeBlois returning to the director's chair to translate many of his own shots into live-action and composer John Powell revamping his score from the original movie. Of course, there's also the mighty Gerard Butler, who's back in tow here as the gruff-but-loving Viking Stoick the Vast.

One of the best things about the "How to Train Your Dragon" remake is that it brings a cast member from the 2010 animated film back for the live-action version. Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick the Vast, complete with extra facial hair and his signature booming voice, and relishes every moment. It's not a jarring casting choice, but rather one that fans will be happy to see, as Butler seamlessly falls back into the part. Thanks to his successful integration into live-action, it makes us wonder whether there's any space in this new take on the world of dragons and Vikings to allow some other cast members from the original trilogy to do the same.

With the live-action "How to Train Your Dragon" teeing up the arrival of characters we know appear in "How to Train Your Dragon 2" to show up in its live-action sequel, it only makes...

How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Vs Animated Trilogy (Photo Credit – YouTube)

The live-action remake of the 2010 fantasy adventure animated film How to Train Your Dragon is now playing in theaters worldwide. The film has received a thumbs-up from many critics and viewers. But the real question is: how have fans rated the movie compared to its three animated counterparts on IMDb? Let’s find out how the latest installment stacks up against the widely admired animated trilogy. And whether the live-action version has managed to surpass them all to become the franchise’s highest-rated film on IMDb?

Which How to Train Your Dragon Movie Tops IMDb?

As of now, the live-action film has an IMDb user rating of 8.1/10. On the other hand, the animated films How to Train Your Dragon (2010), How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) hold IMDb scores of 8.1/10, 7.8/10, and 7.4/10, respectively.

A dragon ride stunt gone wrong left new Hiccup actor Mason Thames with a bloody chin during the filming of the How to Train Your Dragonremake. The 2025 live-action film, directed by original trilogy writer and director Dean DeBlois, brings the beloved animated story into live-action with a fresh cast tasked with grounding the fantasy of Berk in emotion and realism. With practical effects and detailed sets, the How to Train Your Dragon remake offers a tactile approach to Hiccup and Toothless' story.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Thames, who stars opposite Nico Parker as Astrid, revealed that what was supposed to be a fun action sequence between Hiccup, Astrid, and Toothless quickly turned into one of the shoot's bloodiest behind-the-scenes moments. Thames explained that he and Parker were shooting a dragon flight sequence using a massive gimbal rig designed to mimic Toothless' movements, and when the dragon was supposed to dive,...

Well, well, well – looks like Hiccup and Toothless just proved that sometimes live-action remakes can actually work! Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation have absolutely crushed it with their live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, which didn’t just fly into theaters – it soared straight to the top of the box office charts.

The film earned a jaw-dropping $83.7 million domestically and $197.8 million worldwide during its opening weekend, marking not just a franchise-best debut, but also securing its place among the most successful live-action remake openings in cinema history.

This isn’t just good news for Universal – it’s fantastic news for anyone who was worried that Hollywood had completely lost the art of making quality remakes.

Record-breaking numbers that’ll make you do a double-take Toothless and Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon (2025) | Credits: Universal Pictures

Let’s talk numbers, because honestly, they’re pretty incredible. At $83.7 million domestically,...

Worldwide box office: June 13-15 RankFilm (Distributor)3-day (world)Cume (world)3-day (int’l)Cume (int’l)Territories 1 How To Train Your Dragon(Universal) $197.8m $197.8m $114.1m $114.1m 82 2 Lilo & Stitch(Disney) $46.8m $858.4m $31.3m $492m 53 3 Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning(Paramount) $31.3m $506.8m $21m $340.5m 67 4 Ballerina(various) $22.9m $91.5m $13.5m $49.7m 85 5 Materialists(Sony) $15.5m $15.5m $3.5m $3.5m 12 6 Karate Kid: Legends(Sony) $8.5m $90m $3.5m $45.8m 58 7 Final Destination: Bloodlines(Warner Bros) $7.8m $271.7m $3.9m $141.1m 76 8 The Phoenician Scheme(Universal) $4.5m $26.9m $1.4m $14.1m 58 9 Housefull 5(various) $4.5m $27.1m $4.2m $25.9m 23 10 The Life Of Chuck(various) $2.9m $3.4m $721,300 $937,000 12

Credit: Comscore. All figures are estimates.

The Dragon Ball series is a legacy series that has enthralled multiple generations of fans. The franchise has taken on many forms, keeping up with the trends, expectations, and evolving whenever needed. Dragon Ball has been wildly popular everywhere, from the manga to anime to theme parks and even parades. The only place it could be said to be lacking is with respect to live-action content.

Dragon Ball Evolution is not the best representation of the series. A new live-action could present the best that the series has to offer to the fans, but it would need a good actor to play Goku. Many fans have been clamoring for Simu Liu after Shang-Chi, but he isn’t the only one capable of pulling off an action series. This list will list five alternatives that can portray the Saiyan better than Liu in a live-action.

1. Ross Butler Ross Butler in 13 Reasons...

The director of How to Train Your Dragon explains why the remake cut a beloved Hiccup and Toothless scene. Written and directed by Dean DeBlois, DreamWorks' 2025 live-action film is an adaptation of both the animated How to Train Your Dragon and Cressida Cowell's children's book series of the same name. The movie follows Hiccup (Mason Thames), a young Viking who defies tradition when he befriends a dragon, ultimately changing his world forever. The film carefully balances familiarity with new material. However, according to DeBlois, one iconic scene from the original had to be cut from the final product.

In a recent interview with Variety, DeBlois, who also wrote and directed the animated How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, revealed that a post "Test Drive" scene where Hiccup and Toothless are interrupted by a group of mischievous little dragons was cut during editing. Although the scene was shot in its entirety,...