Box Office: ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Dominates Again as Pixar’s ‘Elio’ Struggles with Record-Low Debut

DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden Realms continued its strong box office run this weekend, easily holding the No. 1 spot for the second week in a row. The fantasy sequel pulled in an estimated $42 million, bringing its domestic total to over $145 million and reaffirming the franchise’s enduring popularity.

Meanwhile, Pixar’s latest original film, Elio, is headed for a historic low. With a disappointing $14 million opening weekend, it marks what could become the weakest box office debut in Pixar’s history.

Industry analysts cite limited pre-release buzz, lukewarm reviews, and a crowded release schedule as key factors. Elio, which tells the story of a young boy mistaken for Earth’s ambassador to an alien civilization, had been seen as a bold return to original storytelling for Pixar. But the gamble appears to have fallen short with audiences.

“It’s clear Elio didn’t connect in the way Pixar hoped,” said box office analyst Delia Grant. “Original IP is always a risk, but this one didn’t land.”

In contrast, How to Train Your Dragon has benefited from strong word of mouth, high audience scores, and multigenerational appeal. The film’s continued dominance underscores DreamWorks’ ability to revive its most beloved franchises.

Rounding out the top five were:

• Bad Boys: Ride or Die with $11.5 million
• The Watchers at $8.9 million
• Inside Out 2 holding on with $8.1 million

Pixar is expected to refocus marketing efforts on the international release of Elio, hoping to soften the domestic blow. But for now, the box office crown belongs firmly to dragons — not aliens.