• by Wayne Friedman , Yesterday

Universal Pictures’ “How to Train Your Dragon” picks up where Walt Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” left off: Slaying it at the box office.

The live-action movie adaptation of the animated original (2014) rocketed to a series best $83.7 million in domestic box office revenue business and $197.8 million globally, according to IMdb’s Box Office Mojo.

A national TV campaign with $23.5 million in spend (3,800 airings and 2.2 billion impressions), according to estimates from EDO Ad EnGage, built on strong consumer sentiment for the film to reach A sky-high, 98% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Lilo & Stitch” (now in its fourth week) added another $15.5 million, to total $366.4 million domestically. EDO says Disney spent a modest $16.5 million in national TV advertising (5,970 airings, 3.7 billion impressions) so far.

A24’s “Materialists,” another mid-June debut about a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker torn between a perfect match and her imperfect ex -- hit $12.0 million.

Paramount Pictures’ “Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning,” also in its fourth week, took in $10.3 million (a total of $166.3 million domestically so far.). Lionsgate’s “Ballerina,” in its second week, came in at $9.4 million.

Season-to-date through June 15, $421.6 million has been spent on national TV advertising -- down 6% (from $446.8 million.)

This year so far, Fox Television Network is at an estimated $52.3 million, followed by ABC with $49.1 million; CBS at $37.5 million; TNT with $36.7 million; ESPN at $30.0 million; and NBC at $18.2 million.

Through June 15, U.S./Canada box office revenue is up 25% versus 2024 results, but down 7.4% against 2023 -- to $3.6 billion.