How to Train Your Dragon has pᴀssed a key James Cameron film at the box office. Cameron has a great commercial track record with his movies, continuing to prove himself a box office king. Three of the top 5 highest-grossing movies of all time were directed by him, which were тιтanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water.
Cameron has another chance for box office glory this year with the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash. Before that point, however, several films had done well at the box office so far this year. This includes the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, which has been well-received by critics and audiences alike.
As per Box Office Mojo, How to Train Your Dragon has now pᴀssed Terminator 2: Judgment Day at the all-time worldwide box office. At the time of writing, the live-action adaptation was the no. 245 highest-grossing film of all time, with a $526.2 million gross. Terminator 2 sits at no. 251 with $517.7 million.
In addition to Judgment Day, How to Train Your Dragon has pᴀssed some other key films worldwide. This includes Meet the Fockers, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
What This Means For How To Train Your Dragon
The Movie Could Even Pᴀss Mission: Impossible
How to Train Your Dragon has far exceeded initial expectations on multiple dimensions. Some initial reactions were more mixed since some viewers were bothered by the sH๏τ-for-sH๏τ comparison in promotional material, which led to the argument that the movie was unnecessary.
Once it came out, however, How to Train Your Dragon‘s reception has been extremely positive, including a Certified Fresh 77% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes. This included an 8 out of 10 star review from ScreenRant‘s Sarah Moran, who praised the movie’s visuals and cast.
Ticket sales have matched this critical reception so far. How to Train Your Dragon is now the no. 5 highest-grossing movie of 2025 so far. It will also have the opportunity to cross Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which is currently less than $60 million behind.
Our Take On How To Train Your Dragon’s Box Office Performance
This Is Good For The Franchise’s Future
How to Train Your Dragon‘s continual box office milestones are great news for DreamWorks. Disney has been making live-action adaptations for over a decade, but this was the studio’s first attempt at this treatment. Its success will likely enable and encourage them to make other similar films.
Most prominently, it will help the production of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2. The sequel’s production was announced before the remake even came out. Its continued box office success further justifies the confidence in the franchise, as it soars past classic films.
Source: BOM