Latest news with #HowtoTrainYourDragon
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will '28 Years Later' take a bite out of ‘Elio'? Will ‘Dragon' continue to soar? Here's our box-office prediction
Despite two high-profile film releases this weekend, How to Train Your Dragon won't be slayed at the box office. Universal's live-action adventure will remain on top of the June 20-22 box office, adding over $40 million to its $113 million domestic gross so far. How to Train Your Dragon has earned $227 million worldwide since it debuted last week. More from GoldDerby 'Jaws' turns 50: Steven Spielberg's caught-on-camera Oscar snub still smarts - and shows need for Best Director reform All the 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4 Emmy predictions, including those 'Sunny' guest stars Ryan Murphy and the JFK Jr.-Carolyn Bessette controversy, explained: Why 'American Love Story' Instagram post got so much hate Sony's highly anticipated 28 Years Later, directed by Oscar winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), and Disney/Pixar's Elio will face off in a close battle for second place — both are projected to earn around $30 million. 28 Years Later will easily become the franchise's biggest debut, surpassing 2002's 28 Days Later ($10 million) and 2007's 28 Weeks Later ($9.8 million). Beyond its promising start, it won't take much for 28 Years Later to become the highest-grossing installment in the trilogy, a title currently held by 28 Days Later, which earned $75 million worldwide. With strong anticipation and a legacy behind it, the film is set to breathe new life into the acclaimed zombie franchise. Set nearly three decades after the contagious rage virus devastated the world, 28 Years Later follows a group of isolated survivors who journey to the mainland, only to discover that a dangerous mutation threatens to decimate the remaining population. This latest installment will launch a new trilogy from director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland. The film was shot back-to-back with its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, slated for release in 2026. Meanwhile, a third entry — and the fifth installment in the franchise — is already in development, ensuring that the iconic series continues to expand its terrifying legacy. Directed by Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, and Domee Shi, Elio tells the story of an 11-year-old who unexpectedly forms a unique bond with eccentric aliens after being mistakenly identified as Earth's official intergalactic ambassador. With a production budget of $150 million, the stakes are high for Pixar, which has faced challenges in recent years. Three of its recent original movies — Turning Red, Luca, and the Oscar-winning Soul — were released directly to Disney+ instead of full theatrical runs, raising questions about the studio's box office strategy and its ability to deliver theatrical hits in a competitive marketplace. Last year, Inside Out 2 delivered a record-breaking $1.69 billion worldwide for Pixar, reaffirming the studio's success with sequels, which have consistently proven to be more profitable than original concepts. Early projections suggest Elio could earn the unfortunate distinction of being the studio's worst theatrical debut ever — a title currently held by 2023's Elemental, which opened to a modest $29.6 million in North America. All eyes will be on the weekend numbers to see if Pixar can defy predictions and turn things around. Also debuting this weekend is Magenta Light Studios' Bride Wars, a universally panned action-comedy starring Rebel Wilson as a secret agent who will stop at nothing to save her best friend's wedding. Gold Derby readers predict that How to Train Your Dragon will win the June 20-22 weekend with between $25 million and $50 million domestically. 28 Years Later is the runner-up selection of our oddsmakers. NEW RELEASES Director: Danny Boyle Distributor: Sony Pictures A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors. The horror sequel, starring Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes, has a running time of one hour, 55 minutes, and is rated R. 28 Years Later is certified "fresh" with a 92 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; "generally favorbale" reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 76 percent. Director: Adrian Molina, Madeline Sharafian, and Domee Shi Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be. The animated adventure, featuring the voices of Zoe Saldaña, Yonas Kibreab, Remy Edgerly, and Brad Garrett, has a running time of one hour, 39 minutes, and is rated PG. Elio is certified "fresh" with a 86 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; "generally favorable" reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 66 percent. Director: Simon West Distributor: Magenta Light Studios When a mercenary group takes a lavish wedding hostage, they have no idea what they are in for as the maid of honor is actually a secret agent ready to rain hellfire upon anyone who would ruin her best friend's wedding. The action-comedy, starring Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Anna Chlumsky, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, has a running time of one hour, 45 minutes, and is rated R. Bride Hard is certified "rotten" with a 27 percent score per the aggregated critic reviews at Rotten Tomatoes; "overwhelmingly negative" reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 15 percent. BOX-OFFICE PREDICTIONS How to Train Your Dragon shows no signs of slowing down, expected to stoke the box-office flames with $40 million in its second weekend. In the highly competitive battle for second place, projections suggest 28 Years Later will narrowly edge out Elio, with the latter facing stiff competition for the younger audience still captivated by Dragon. Each are expected to earn around $30 million. Speaking of younger audiences, Disney's Lilo & Stitch remake is likely to secure fourth place this weekend, bringing in another $8 million domestically. The film has already proven to be a massive success, grossing $864 million worldwide to date. Rounding out the top five will likely be A24's Materialists, a rom-com from Celine Song starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. However, it faces fierce competition from Tom Cruise's action-packed Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. Paramount's blockbuster continues to draw audiences, amassing $509 million globally so far. It wouldn't be surprising if Cruise manages to overtake Materialists in the final rankings. Here are Gold Derby's predictions box-office rankings for the top five: 1. How to Train Your Dragon 2. 28 Years Later 3. Elio 4. Lilo & Stitch 5. Materialists Do you agree or disagree with those rankings? Make your predictions right now — it's fun and easy! Join the box-office discussion in our forums. Best of GoldDerby Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') 'It almost killed me': Horror maestro Mike Flanagan looks back at career-making hits from 'Gerald's Game' to 'Hill House' to 'Life of Chuck' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘28 Years Later' $5.8M, ‘Elio' $3M Previews – Friday AM Box Office
UPDATED FRIDAY AM AFTER EXCLUSIVE: Sony's 28 Years Later gobbled up $5.8M in previews Thursday night. That's an excellent preview number for a horror movie, especially in these times, besting the Thursday nights of Final Destination Bloodlines ($5.5M), Sinners ($4.7M), pre-Covid's A Quiet Place ($4.3M) and even post-Covid's Scream VI ($5.7M). The question is whether moviegoers, like the undead themselves, will continue to run to 28 Years Later. More from Deadline '28 Years Later' Review: Danny Boyle Delivers Severed Heads And Broken Hearts In His Gory Zombie-Horror Threequel What Are The Critics Saying About '28 Years Later'? Deadline On The Red Carpet: Aaron Taylor-Johnson On '28 Years Later's Brexit Nod, Danny Boyle Talks "The Growth" Of Horror, Jodie Comer On "Manifesting" A Movie Musical & Tom Rothman With An Actor Tip As we saw with the Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 68% last night, PostTrak audiences were also a hard crowd for this Danny Boyle movie giving it 3 stars and a 54% definite recommend. Men over 25 showed up at 52% and gave the zombie third chapter its best grades at 75%. Women over 25 were next at 27% (72% grade), followed by women under 25 at 13% (65%) and men under 25 at 9% (74%). Meanwhile, Disney/Pixar's Elio in total Wednesday and Thursday previews did $3M. The animated feature is booked in 3,750 theatres including 725 premium large format screens, 2,500+ 3D Screens and 175 D-Box/Motion screens. Elio, 28 Years Later and How to Train Your Dragon are sharing the PLFs, while Imax auditoriums will be held by the latter title. Those who watched Elio, are loving it with a 60% definite recommend from the general audience and 4 1/2 stars. Kids under 12, a near even split between boys and girls at 51%/49%, also think it's 4 1/2 stars. Parents, mostly Dads yesterday at 56%, gave it 4 stars. With yesterday being Juneteenth, a young federal holiday, distribution sources are always mixed on whether it's a big moviegoing day or not. Kids are already off from school. Yeah, but adults are off from work. While not massive, the day did have a pulse, check it out: Eight of the movies in the top 10 saw spikes in their daily grosses over Wednesday including How to Train Your Dragon (+15%), Materialists (+7%), Lilo & Stitch (+16%), Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning (+22%), Ballerina (+10%), Phoenician Scheme (+6%), and The Life of Chuck (+3%). Top 5 from yesterday: 1.) How to Train Your Dragon (Uni) 4,356 theaters, Thu $9.7M, Wk $123.4M/Wk 1 2.) Lilo & Stitch (Dis) 3,675 (-510) theaters, Thu $2.7M Wk $26M (-45%), Total $376.8M/Wk 4 3.) Materialists (A24) 2,844 theaters, Thu $1.6M, Wk $17.5M/Wk 1 4.) Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning (Par) 2,942 theaters, Thu $1.5M, Wk $15.8M (-27%), Total $171.8M/Wk 4 5.) Ballerina (LG) 3,409 theaters, Thu $1.1M, $14.1M (-56%), Total $46.5M/Wk 2 EXCLUSIVE: Sony's 28 Years Later is coming in with a preview gross tonight that's well north of $5M, we are hearing from sources. But don't start comping it yet to New Line's box office surprise sequel, Final Destination: Bloodlines which did $5.5M in previews for a franchise best opening of $51.6M. Horror films are frontloaded, duh. Rotten Tomatoes audiences are being pretty hard on this Danny Boyle zombie movie at 67% despite critics giving the installment the best reviews the 23-year old franchise has ever seen at 92%. Final Destination: Bloodlines earned both great reviews and audience exits on Rotten Tomatoes respectively with 92% and 87%. Previews began at noon for 28 Years Later. Tracking spotted this viral infected undead post-apocalyptic movie at an opening between $28M-$30M. The movie reps a return for Boyle as director and Alex Garland as screenwriter after 2002's 28 Days Later. That movie opened to $10M back in the day at 1,261 theaters, while 28 Weeks Later, which was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, opened to $9.8M back in 2007 at 2,303 theaters. Meanwhile, Disney/Pixar's Elio after two nights of previews is looking to be around $2.5M-$3M. That's the amount of preview cash that Pixar's summer 2023 movie, Elemental, banked before an $11.7M Friday and $29.6M opening. Elio is hoping to clear a 3-day between $20M-$25M. No RT audience scores yet, but critics enjoyed it at 86% certified fresh. Those reviews are stronger than Elemental at 73% fresh which wind up with an audience score of 93% and a solid A CinemaScore. As we mentioned, the best advertisement for Elio is the movie itself. In a marketplace where it's hard to launch original animation, the hope is that the Adrian Molina-Madeline Sharafian-Domee Shi directed movie pulls an Elemental and posts some wild multiple of 5x or more (that pic ended its stateside run at $154.4M). As we reported previously, Universal/DreamWorks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon is expected to hold the fort at No. 1 with a second weekend of $40M-plus. Through Wednesday, the Dean DeBlois directed live action take of his animated movie is up to $113.7M. Best of Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Universal Swoops Into CineEurope With Fresh ‘Jurassic World Rebirth' & ‘Wicked: For Good' Clips; Touts Steven Spielberg & Christopher Nolan Projects
Hot off the nearly $200M global opening of its live-action How to Train Your Dragon, Universal kicked off its CineEurope presentation here in Barcelona today with a different sort of soaring beasts — showing exclusive clips from its upcoming Scarlett Johansson-starrer Jurassic World Rebirth. The Gareth Edwards-directed sci-fi adventure entry in the $6B+ grossing franchise starts rollout on July 2. And, of course, there was plenty of attention paid to Wicked: For Good, the sequel to Jon M. Chu's 2024 $750M global grossing fantasy musical. This included an illuminated green balloon descending from the rafters into the auditorium and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look that was introduced by Chu. More from Deadline 'Superman' Flies Into Barcelona With 30 Minutes Of Footage During Warner Bros' CineEurope Presentation Sony Unleashes Extended Footage Of '28 Years Later', Screens Scenes From Darren Aronofsky's Austin Butler-Starrer 'Caught Stealing' - CineEurope Lionsgate Shows Off Movie Magic With First 'Now You See Me: Now You Don't' Footage; Paul Feig Promises Pearl-Clutching Moments In 'The Housemaid' - CineEurope As is typical, Universal came to Barcelona with a packed slate. Veronica Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Universal Pictures International, introduced the show, saying, 'We believe in celebrating the power of cinema and the unparalleled theatrical experience for all types of films, ranging from emotional dramas, to animated event films, daring action blockbusters, inventive horror films and charming romantic comedies.' Citing the upcoming slate from Universal, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and Focus Features, Kwan Vandenberg said, 'In the next two years, we will deliver you the biggest and most diverse slate of films of any studio with 27 wide releases this year, and our most exciting lineup yet for 2026, which will include films from two of the greatest directors of our time Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan, and three blockbuster animations.' Of the latter, DreamWorks Animation's August release, The Bad Guys 2 zoomed in with an extended exclusive look. Niels Swinkels, EVP & MD, Universal Pictures International noted that Spielberg has wrapped his untitled event film, and that Nolan is hard at work on his epic The Odyssey which is being entirely shot with Imax cameras. Swinkels and Julien Noble, President of International Marketing, Universal Pictures International later had some fun introducing live-action/animated adventure comedy Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie, the big-screen version of Netflix's immensely popular kids series. They showed off an extended trailer. It releases domestically on September 26. Other key titles touted were Bob Odenkirk sequel Nobody 2 and Blumhouse's Five Nights at Freddy's 2, the sequel to 2023's horror hit — which got a new teaser and starts offshore rollout on December 3; M3GAN 2.0, Soulm8te and Black Phone 2 footage was also screened. From Focus, CineEurope got an exclusive look at Yorgos Lanthimos' fall release, Bugonia starring Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone; and a new exclusive trailer for Focus threequel Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, whose first trailer dropped earlier this month and has more views than the combined total of the 2nd film's teaser and trailer. The U.S. and UK open on September 12. Best of Deadline 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'How to Train Your Dragon' music composer John Powell recalls making the music during Palisades fire; escapes with two poodles and a backup drive
'How to Train Your Dragon' music composer took his job way too seriously, to the extent that his life was in danger during the savage Palisades fire in January. But when he did, the 61-year-old ran out of the house with two poodles and a 12 terabyte backup drive containing every single piece of music he had ever written. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now John Powell and the Palisades disaster In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, John Powell revealed that he was working on the music for 'How to Train Your Dragon.' However, during the initial warnings, Powell paid no attention to the inferno, solely because he had been living in Palisades for over 20 years, and the fire hazards were part of his life. This time, it was different. The updates about the risk were escalating by the hour, and later by the minute. Covering the vents and holes, and spraying with the pool pumps, he was exhausted and panicked about the situation, but the score did not leave his mind. Two poodles and a backup drive 'When I'm writing, it's very hard to get me out of that brain set,' Powell said, adding that he thinks he is neurodivergent. After persistent announcements and calls from his son, he decided to escape with two poodles and a 12 terabyte backup drive containing every single piece of music he had ever written. While John's house did not burn down, it was affected after 30 of the 60 houses on his street suffered a great loss. However, his former home, where he used to live on rent, was damaged. He went from Airbnb to Airbnb and contacted his fellow composer, . 'It wasn't like I could call Universal and say, can we move the recording dates and the mixing dates and the release date? I have a responsibility to make sure that I get the music done on time,' John said, adding that he only had a month before he had to record with the orchestra. 'You've just got the work in front of you, and that becomes the most important thing at that moment, which is slightly sad to say, but it's a useful thing under those sort of circumstances,' the composer stated.
The Sun
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
How to make remake movies
IN the ever-growing graveyard of 'live-action remakes nobody asked for,' How to Train Your Dragon has defied the odds by not only surviving but absolutely soaring. Directed by Dean DeBlois, the same creative genius behind the original animated trilogy, this live-action reboot dares to ask the question: What if Hollywood got one right for once? The answer? A resounding yes, complete with fire, friendship and more emotional resonance than anyone probably signed up for. Dragons, drama, dream casting For starters, let us talk casting. Mason Thames brings a charming awkwardness to Hiccup, staying true to the character's scrappy, inventive spirit. Nico Parker's Astrid? Fierce with a capital F, making her scenes pop with strength and subtle wit. And yes, Gerard Butler is back as Stoick, because sometimes the universe does give out small blessings. Supporting characters do not feel like afterthoughts either. Nick Frost as Gobber is a riot and Julian Dennison steals scenes as Fishlegs with his signature blend of lovable chaos. Even Toothless, reimagined through top-tier CGI, feels alive in a way that is surprisingly intimate without veering into uncanny valley. Visually majestic, emotionally grounded Purists, brace for it: there are some minor tweaks. But this is not a desecration of childhoods, it is more like a respectful adaptation that understands its roots. From the tone to the narrative beats, this version remains deeply loyal to what made the original fly in the first place. The coming-of-age themes, emotional stakes and dragon-sized scale of the story are all intact, just told with a different brush. Critics will no doubt emerge from their dragon-proof bunkers to say it is 'unnecessary' or 'lacking the charm of animation.' But no live-action remake was ever going to satisfy everyone. What this one does is respect the original while confidently telling the story in a new format. That alone makes it far superior to most of its genre peers (yes, Lilo & Stitch, this is directed at you). From the wind-whipped cliffs of Berk to the skies lit with fire and wonder, the visuals in How to Train Your Dragon are nothing short of breathtaking. DeBlois has harnessed the power of VFX teams to make flying with dragons feel like an actual experience, not just a green screen fantasy. And yet, for all its visual bravado, the heart of the story never gets lost. The emotional core about unlikely friendship, defying tradition and finding strength in vulnerability lands with as much weight as ever. It is a story with wings and a soul. Reboot that does not feel like a cash grab It is no secret that Hollywood loves a good remake... and an easy profit. But this film does not feel like a studio boardroom churned it out. DeBlois' return as writer-director brings a sense of authorial care rarely seen in reboots. The film breathes sincerity. It wants to honour the world it is rebuilding and that care shows in every frame. Plus, giving credit where it is due: the score by John Powell is a returning hero in its own right. With sweeping strings and triumphant horns, the music is just as magical as fans remember now, with even more sonic depth for live-action scale. Whether it is a long-time fan revisiting Berk or someone walking in fresh, the film works across the board. It is thrilling, funny, heartfelt and surprisingly thoughtful for a movie involving fire-breathing reptiles. Non-fans will find themselves swept up in a story that is easy to follow and hard not to fall in love with. Meanwhile, fans can breathe a sigh of relief, this remake does not spit on the original, it roars in celebration of it. Of course, there will be naysayers. Some will say the animated version 'just had more charm'. Others will nitpick the minor character redesigns or wish that one line had stayed exactly the same. But if a remake tries to please everyone, it ends up pleasing no one. Thankfully, this film stays grounded in what matters and flies above the noise. How to Train Your Dragon is an excellent film in its own right. With top-notch performances, breathtaking visuals and a faithful yet fresh retelling of a beloved story, it sets a new bar for what remakes can be. It entertains, it moves and most importantly, it respects its audience, both old and new. The movie teases an epic adventure where two worlds must unite and take flight.
