Live-Action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Takes Flight in India with Strong Opening Weekend Projections

The beloved animated franchise gets a stunning live-action makeover, drawing crowds across India with impressive box office projections and global momentum.

Mumbai, India – June 15, 2025:

DreamWorks’ much-anticipated live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has hit Indian cinemas with a powerful lift-off, drawing in enthusiastic audiences and outperforming expectations in its opening weekend. Released across the country on June 13, 2025, the film is projected to earn over ₹10 crore by Sunday, driven by robust attendance for both its original English version and its dubbed Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu counterparts.

The English version alone raked in ₹4.09 crore on its opening day, while the regional language releases have significantly boosted the film’s overall appeal and accessibility, reinforcing the growing trend of Hollywood blockbusters being successfully localized for Indian viewers.

Globally, the movie is soaring with an estimated $200 million in revenue, signaling strong franchise loyalty and successful marketing strategies that have captivated family audiences and fantasy fans alike.

A Beloved Franchise Returns with a New Visual Identity

The original How to Train Your Dragon animated trilogy, based on Cressida Cowell’s book series, was a critical and commercial success. The films—released between 2010 and 2019—earned a devoted fan base with their heartwarming story of Hiccup and his dragon companion, Toothless. The trilogy garnered Academy Award nominations and grossed over $1.6 billion globally, cementing its legacy in the modern animation canon.

The new live-action film, directed by Dean DeBlois—who also helmed the original trilogy—reimagines the sweeping tale for a new generation. While maintaining the emotional core of the original, the film introduces fresh visual storytelling through state-of-the-art CGI and live-action performances, providing an immersive cinematic experience.

India has traditionally shown strong enthusiasm for fantasy franchises, as evidenced by the box office success of Avatar: The Way of Water, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Jungle Book‘s live-action remake. How to Train Your Dragon seems poised to follow that trajectory.

Pan-India Appeal: English and Regional Versions Resonate with Audiences

According to early box office data, the English version has attracted a strong urban demographic, especially in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. However, the success of the Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu versions indicates that the film is reaching a much broader cross-section of moviegoers across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

Film exhibitors report houseful shows in select premium multiplexes as well as strong occupancy in regional circuits. Trade analysts predict that if the current trend continues, the film could touch the ₹25–30 crore mark in India within its first two weeks.

The decision to release dubbed versions has proven instrumental in the film’s Indian performance. The localization not only widened the audience base but also helped retain the emotional intensity and humor that fans remember from the original.

Audience Reactions and Social Media Buzz

Viewer response in India has been overwhelmingly positive, especially among young adults and families. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube have seen a flood of fan reactions, reviews, and short-form content praising the film’s visuals, performances, and nostalgic value.

Trending hashtags like #HowToTrainYourDragonLiveAction and #ToothlessReturns have contributed to the film’s growing popularity online, encouraging more footfall in theatres.

Cinema-goers have particularly praised the character designs of the dragons, especially the beloved Toothless, who retains his expressive charm even in CGI-enhanced live-action form. Hiccup’s portrayal by a rising young actor—whose name is fast gaining traction in Indian fan circles—has also been well received for blending vulnerability and heroism.

Box Office Forecast: ₹10 Crore and Rising

As of Saturday morning, early estimates from leading trade sources suggest the film will close the weekend with box office earnings north of ₹10 crore in India. This is a commendable figure, considering that the film is competing with both Bollywood and regional-language releases this week.

The global box office, meanwhile, has crossed the $200 million threshold within just three days of release. Analysts attribute this rapid success to the franchise’s existing fan base, the universal appeal of its themes, and a strong international release strategy. In territories like the U.S., U.K., Australia, and China, the film has already surpassed expectations.

The Broader Impact: Hollywood’s Growing Footprint in India

The success of How to Train Your Dragon is part of a larger trend of increasing Hollywood penetration in Indian markets. Major studios like Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. have been strategically releasing dubbed versions of their big-budget films, recognizing the lucrative potential of India’s multilingual audiences.

Hollywood’s share in the Indian box office pie has grown steadily over the past decade. In 2023, Hollywood accounted for approximately 15% of India’s theatrical revenue, and that figure is projected to rise. Localization, marketing collaborations, and festival tie-ins have all contributed to this upward trend.

The use of advanced visual effects and storytelling that resonates across cultures has also made Hollywood content appealing to Indian viewers seeking big-screen spectacle and emotional engagement.

Expert Insight: Why This Film Works

Film critics and industry experts point to several factors behind the film’s success:

• Franchise Familiarity: The original trilogy created a deep emotional connection with viewers. The live-action version benefits from that goodwill.

• Family Appeal: The film’s themes of friendship, bravery, and self-discovery resonate with a broad age group.

• Visual Spectacle: High-quality CGI and world-building transport audiences into the Viking and dragon-filled realm of Berk.

• Effective Marketing: Collaborations with influencers, advanced ticket bookings, and pre-release screenings helped build anticipation.

Critics have also noted that the film avoids excessive reliance on action, focusing instead on character development and emotional storytelling—elements that defined the animated trilogy’s success.

What’s Next for the Franchise?

With strong opening figures and positive word-of-mouth, discussions about a sequel or expanded universe are already underway. DreamWorks is reportedly considering spin-offs or potential series adaptations, possibly in collaboration with streaming platforms.

The franchise had previously seen success with television series like Dragons: Race to the Edge, and the new live-action format opens the door to even richer storytelling across platforms.

Conclusion

How to Train Your Dragon (2025) has successfully navigated the challenge of translating animated magic into live-action grandeur. With early box office results reflecting strong interest and cross-demographic appeal, the film is not only reigniting the dragon-riding legacy of Hiccup and Toothless but also reinforcing the value of emotionally grounded storytelling in a blockbuster landscape.

For Indian audiences, the film delivers both nostalgia and novelty—blending a familiar narrative with modern cinematic spectacle. As global and domestic figures climb, the movie is proving that when executed well, live-action remakes can indeed soar to great heights.