Another live-action remake topped the charts as Universal Pictures’ “How to Train Your Dragon” soared to $83.7 million at the box office, marking the best domestic opening weekend for the franchise. The fantasy adventure movie beat analysts’ expectations of $70 million and held off Disney’s live-action remake “Lilo & Stitch,

Jeremy Fuster, Film Reporter, joined TheWrap in 2016 and covers box office and labor news. He received a National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for his coverage of the 2023 WGA Strike and was nominated by the LA Press Club as Best Entertainment Journalist. He can be reached at [email protected].

But arguably the most fun catch we made is the inclusion of director DeBlois in the actual Isle of Berk. Actor Mason Thames (Hiccup) and Nico Parker (Astrid) confirmed the cameo to NBC Insider when we spoke to them for the film's junket.

As Hiccup, the 17-year-old actor is shouldering the weight of Universal’s new live-action franchise — and living out his childhood fantasy.

"How to Train Your Dragon" artisans on using sheep fur, bagpipe and locations including the Faroe Islands to help bring remake to life.

For context, when Hiccup wakes up, he is surprised to be in his house, and that’s also when it’s revealed that he lost his leg during the battle. When he walks out of his home with his prosthetic on, he sees how they’ve rebuilt and trained a few more dragons while he’s been out. It’s obvious that time has passed, but just how much time is unclear.

On the set of the live-action movie, Toothless and the other dragons existed as large puppets with simple functions, operated by a team of master puppeteers led by Tom Wilton, a performer who had worked on the “War Horse” stage play.

Universal's 'How to Train Your Dragon' is opening to $82.5M, the best in the franchise, while A24's 'Materialists' is looking at $11M+.