The family-friendly film from Universal and DreamWorks Animation tells the story of a friendship between a Viking named Hiccup (Mason Thames) and a dragon called Toothless.
“This is an excellent opening for a live-action animation remake, and it’s especially good for the fourth episode in a series like this,” said David A Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research.
Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch,” another live-action remake, kept up its excellent summer returns with US$15.5 million, Exhibitor Relations said.
So far, the film about Hawaiian girl Lilo (Maia Kealoha) and her blue alien friend Stitch (Chris Sanders) has grossed nearly US$860 million worldwide.
Debuting in third place is A24’s “Materialists,” a sophisticated rom-com starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, at US$12 million.
“It’s a grown-up story that’s well-timed as summer counter-programming,” Gross said.
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” – the latest, and ostensibly last, in the hugely successful Tom Cruise spy thriller series based on a 1960s TV show – held its own in fourth place at US$10.3 million.
The Paramount film has now topped the US$500 million mark worldwide.
In fifth place was Lionsgate’s “Ballerina,” a “John Wick” spin-off starring Ana de Armas as a dancer turned contract killer, and co-starring Anjelica Huston. Keanu Reeves makes a brief appearance as the hitman Wick. It took in US$9.4 million.
Rounding out the top 10 were:
- “Karate Kid: Legends” (US$5 million)
- “Final Destination: Bloodlines” (US$3.9 million)
- “The Phoenician Scheme” (US$3.1 million)
- “The Life of Chuck” (US$2.1 million)
- “Sinners” (US$1.5 million)