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Dragons may be extinct, but cinemas are staying alive with help from HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON’s $83.7M debut.

Hollywood handicappers originally expected a $70-80M launch for Universal/Dreamworks Animation/Marc Platt Productions’ live action PG comedy action adventure HTTYD. By mid-weekend, the buzz was for $82M. Instead, exhibs got an over-performing DRAGON at 4,356 theatres ($19,215). With a lively $114.1M internationally, it’s done $197.845M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $150M to produce. Not surprisingly, HTTYD 2 is already on Universal’s 2027 release schedule.

Directed by Dean DeBlois, co-director of the animated 2010 original, it stars Gerard Butler, Mason Thames & Nico Parker.

DRAGON’s tracking best and equally well for first choice with men & women under 25 (each eight points over norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics are okay at 77%, but paying audiences are cheering at 98%, which should mean long boxoffice legs.

Domestic ticket sales for Father’s Day weekend were $151.7M, according to Comscore Senior Media Analyst Paul Dergarabedian. That’s up 34% from the prior weekend, but down 29% vs. this time last year. Comscore’s year to date tally has 2025 at $3.73B, up 23.1% from $3.03B in 2024. The prior weekend showed 2025 looking better with 26.08% vs. last year.

Meanwhile, back at the multiplexes: Disney/Rideback’s LILO & STITCH was #2 in weekend four with $15.5M (-52%) at 3,675 theatres ($4,218). It’s done $366.4M domestic & $858.4M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $100M to produce.

A24’s R rated rom-com MATERIALISTS opened #3 to a terrific $12M ($) at  2,844 theaters. It’s tracking best for first choice with women under 25 (equal to norm). Rotten Tomatoes critics love it at 86%, but audiences are just a blah 69%.

Paramount/Skydance Media’s MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING was #4 in weekend four with $10.3M (-30.52%) at 2,942 theatres ($3,501). It’s done $166.3M domestic & $506.8M worldwide. BUDGET BUZZ: $400M to produce.

Next weekend (6/20): Disney/Pixar’s PG animated comedy adventure ELIO should send families to the multiplexes where exhibitors will embrace all those popcorn munching munchkins. It’s opening at about 3,700 theatres.

Directed by Adrian Molina (COCO co-director), Madeline Sharafian (first time feature director) & Domee Shi (TURNING RED), its voice stars include Zoe Saldaña. ELIO’s tracking for first choice below norm with all demos.

. Sony’s R rated horror thriller 28 YEARS LATER should be a magnet for moviegoers who love to see horror genre films with a screaming audience. It’s tracking best for first choice with men over 25 (five points over norm) and going into about 3,000 theatres.

28’s directed by Danny Boyle, who directed the franchise’s first episode, 28 DAYS LATER, which opened 6/27/23 to $10.1M and went on to do $74.9M on a production budget of $8M.