Can How to Train Your Dragon outperform Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King at the box office this summer?
DreamWorks will premiere its first live-action remake, How to Train Your Dragon, on June 13, 2025. According to early estimates, it might generate $650-$750 million globally. If the number is higher, it would surpass Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King’s $722 million total from last year.
Why Mufasa Was Hard to Beat: Lion King brand love
Release on holidays
The voice cast includes Beyoncé, Donald Glover, and Blue Ivy.
Despite mixed reviews, it ended 2024 as the 6th biggest grosser.
What Makes How to Train Your Dragon popular: The original animated trilogy’s emotion and rich world are still loved.
Returning filmmaker Dean DeBlois leads a live-action adaptation starring Mason Thomas (Hiccup) and Nico Parker (Astrid).
The mid-June release date aligns with the summer blockbuster season, with minimal fantasy-adventure competition.
Early buzz: CinemaCon reactions suggest moviegoers are ready.
Possible Obstacles
Remake fatigue: Viewers may tire of live-action remakes.
Replicating Berk and Toothless’ charm in a realistic situation is challenging.
Mufasa benefitted Disney’s global marketing reach and Christmas timing.
DreamWorks has a 2027 sequel planned, indicating confidence in the franchise’s live-action future. How to Train Your Dragon could surpass Mufasa as summer’s box-office king if it combines nostalgia with contemporary visuals and passion.
Whether it surpasses $722 million depends on audience word-of-mouth and whether moviegoers still value a protagonist and his dragon.
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