The live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has overtaken James Cameron’s iconic film Terminator 2: Judgment Day in global box office receipts, marking a significant milestone for the franchise. This achievement highlights the movie‘s impressive commercial success since its release.
James Cameron remains a dominant figure in cinema, known for directing three of the top five highest-grossing films worldwide: Titanic, Avatar, and its sequel Avatar: The Way of Water. While Cameron prepares for the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, How to Train Your Dragon has quietly climbed the ranks by surpassing several major box office hits.
Significance of Surpassing Terminator 2 at the Box Office
According to Box Office Mojo, How to Train Your Dragon currently ranks as the 245th highest-grossing movie worldwide, amassing $526.2 million in ticket sales. This places it ahead of Terminator 2, which holds the 251st position with $517.7 million. Beyond Cameron’s film, the movie has also outperformed titles like Meet the Fockers, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
Potential to Surpass Other Blockbusters in 2025
Despite some initial skepticism from viewers concerned about the live-action film’s close resemblance to its animated predecessor, How to Train Your Dragon has won over many with positive reviews. The movie currently holds a Certified Fresh rating of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, including an 8 out of 10 stars from ScreenRant’s Sarah Moran, who highlighted its striking visuals and strong performances.
Critical and audience opinions remain somewhat mixed, yet overall reception has been favorable. The film ranks as the fifth highest-grossing title of 2025 to date and has a promising chance to surpass Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which trails by less than $60 million.
What This Means for the Franchise and Studio
The ongoing commercial success of How to Train Your Dragon is encouraging news for DreamWorks and signals potential for more live-action adaptations. While Disney has long led live-action remakes, DreamWorks’ achievement with this film marks a key first, suggesting future projects in a similar vein may follow.
Moreover, this positive box office momentum supports the planned production of a live-action sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2, which was announced even before the original’s release. Surpassing classic and contemporary films solidifies confidence in the franchise’s continuation and growth.
Cast Bringing Fantasy to Life
Mason Thames stars as Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, bringing a fresh take to the adventurous character originally known from the animated series. Nico Parker portrays Astrid Hofferson, contributing a strong presence that has resonated with audiences and critics alike.
“The movie’s visuals and cast truly elevate the story to a new level.” —Sarah Moran, ScreenRant
