Universal's live-action remake of 'How to Train Your Dragon' took flight on Friday, raking in $35.6 million from 4,356 theaters in North America. This marks the fourth-largest opening day of 2025, following 'A Minecraft Movie,' 'Lilo & Stitch,' and 'Captain America: Brave New World.' At the same time, A24's romantic comedy 'Materialists' is looking at a strong third-place debut.

The PG-rated 'How to Train Your Dragon' is now expected to reach a three-day total of $82.7 million, surpassing initial estimates of $70-80 million. This would make it the biggest opening ever for the franchise, surpassing 2019's 'How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' which opened with $55 million.

This successful launch of 'How to Train Your Dragon' demonstrates Universal's ability to produce live-action remakes of beloved animated films. The film, directed by Dean DeBlois, cost $150 million to make and has already secured a sequel for June 2027. Similar to Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch,' the movie appeals to a millennial audience, with the original DreamWorks Animation film debuting in 2010. Reviews have been positive, and early audience reactions have been favorable, as shown by Cinema Score's 'A' grade.

On the other hand, A24's 'Materialists,' directed by Celine Song and starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal, exceeded industry expectations with an estimated $5 million from 2,844 theaters on Friday. The romantic comedy is on track to earn around $12 million over the weekend, making it A24's third-highest opening, following 'Civil War' and 'Hereditary.'

Despite receiving praise from critics, 'Materialists' received a 'B-' grade from Cinema Score, indicating a less enthusiastic response from general audiences. However, with a production budget of $20 million, the film is positioned as strong counter-programming against blockbuster releases in the coming weeks.

At the box office, live-action remakes continue to dominate, with Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' dropping to second place after three weekends at the top. The film added $4.7 million on Friday, bringing its domestic total to an impressive $355 million.

In a close race for fourth and fifth place, Lionsgate's 'Ballerina' holds the edge but is experiencing a significant drop in its second weekend. The R-rated action film earned $2.35 million on Friday and is projected to make $8.7 million in its second weekend, down 64% from its $24 million debut. Paramount's 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' follows closely behind, with a projected total gross of $165 million by Sunday.