Universal’s strategy to launch How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World internationally ahead of its U.S. bow is paying off. The Dreamworks Animation feature owned the top spot at the global box office last weekend, pulling in $40.2 million.
The film has grossed $84.4 million from 41 international markets since it launched in early January in Australia and New Zealand. Last weekend, the Dean DeBlois-directed film had its biggest expansion yet, opening in 23 new foreign markets. It was the no. 1 film in twenty of those spots, lead by Mexico which delivered $7.7 million from 865 locations, marking the biggest launch ever for a Dreamworks film in that country. It also opened in the top spot in the U.K. with $6.8 million.
The film was also the best all-time Dreamworks debut in Malaysia, with $1.9 million, and the second-biggest animation launch ever in Thailand, with $1.8 million.
