It’s not unexpected, but Universal’s live-action “How To Train Your Dragon” film has claimed the top spot at the box office this weekend. Interestingly enough, Nico Parker’s character Astrid seems to be absent from the promotional materials. I’ll delve deeper into that topic later on.
How To Train Your Dragon box office report
I’m thrilled to report that the movie’s performance has exceeded expectations, with projections pointing towards a staggering global debut of over $200 million. That’s simply massive!
The U.S. debut of this film is impressive, earning an estimated $82.7 million by Saturday. This figure surpasses the original 2010 release, which when adjusted for inflation, opened to more than $64 million in today’s dollars.
The Rotten Tomatoes audience rating is exceptionally high, sitting at 98%, and this aspect carries more weight since it’s the viewers who truly matter. Critics, on the other hand, are less enthusiastic with a rating of 77%.
Given the budget of approximately $165 million, it seems “How To Train Your Dragon” is poised for success. Its break-even point lies around $412.5 million. Remarkably, it has already earned half of that in just a single weekend.
Where’s Astrid? Nico Parker Missing From TV Spots
Concerning Astrid, last Friday while I was catching the NBA Finals, commercials for “How To Train Your Dragon” came up. However, it seemed odd that they didn’t include Nico Parker’s portrayal of Astrid in those ads.
I also did a quick check on YouTube for How To Train Your Dragon spots and sure enough, no Astrid.
As a dedicated fan, I must confess that my viewing experience might not be comprehensive, but switching Astrid with Nico Parker in the “How to Train Your Dragon” series significantly alters her character’s appearance.
This past week, ahead of the film’s premiere, Nico Parker voiced her indifference towards fan reactions while emphasizing the importance of diversity in the movie.
It seems clear that Disney’s experience with Rachel Zegler in Snow White isn’t something Universal wants to replicate or be associated with. Whether this decision not to feature Astrid has anything to do with it, I don’t know. Still, avoiding potential comparisons appears to be a shrewd move on their part.
— Cosmic Book News (@cosmicbooknews) June 14, 2025
Release info
How to Train Your Dragon represents a live-action adaptation of the successful animated movie directed by Dean DeBlois, famed for the initial trilogy. The young actor Mason Thames takes on the role of Hiccup, while Nico Parker portrays Astrid. Gerard Butler reappears as Stoick in this version. Other cast members include Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Murray McArthur.
This movie, titled “Hiccup and Toothless’ Adventure,” is one of the productions under the Filmed For IMAX® program, made by DeBlois, Marc Platt, and Adam Siegel. Derived from Cressida Cowell’s popular novels, it chronicles Hiccup and his dragon companion Toothless as they challenge tradition and strive for harmony between Vikings and dragons in a visually breathtaking retelling.
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2025-06-15 01:01