DreamWorks and Universal’s live-action “How to Train Your Dragon” launched in South Korea on June 6 and immediately took first place on the charts, dethroning local hit Hi-Five over the June 6-8 frame. According to the Korean Film Council’s ticketing network, the Viking adventure commanded a 31.2 percent real-time reservation share on opening morning, backed by more than 102,000 presold tickets. Industry watchers estimate the picture drew about 550,000 admissions across its debut weekend, setting it up for a possible 1.8–2 million-ticket run.
Pre-release momentum had been building for weeks: the film opened its international rollout in Korea two full weeks ahead of the U.S. launch, part of a schedule that began May 30 for overseas markets. Universal’s strategy echoes Disney’s staggered campaigns for recent remakes and gives Dragon a clear runway before Pixar’s Elio enters the global conversation. U.S. tracking suggests the picture could deliver an $80-100 million domestic opening, a range that would eclipse every prior entry in the franchise.
Strong early word-of-mouth is underpinning the Korean launch: the movie began with a near-perfect 99 percent “Golden Egg” score from multiplex chain CGV and a 9.4 user rating at Megabox. Local press also noted the film’s blend of practical creature effects and CG, with returning director Dean DeBlois telling NBC that he spent a year and $50 million refining dragon puppetry to keep the creatures tactile for actors and audiences alike.
The strong debut displaced Hi-Five, which had opened the previous week with 380,330 admissions and ₩3.5 billion ($2.6 million) in its first three days. While Kang Hyeong-cheol’s superhero comedy still controlled many prime screens, Dragon’s family appeal and nostalgia factor—15 years after the original 2010 animation—proved decisive. A social-media tracking post put the film’s first-two-day Korean gross at roughly $1.7 million from 226,000 tickets, positioning it for solid legs as school holidays approach.
Universal will expand the release across additional Asian territories this week before the North American bow on June 13, hoping that Korea’s robust start signals renewed global appetite for big-budget live-action re-imaginings. Entertainment Weekly notes that the project marks DreamWorks’ first venture into the remake arena, with DeBlois and producer Marc Platt steering the franchise beyond animation. Franchise lore, returning composer John Powell and a marketing push built around premium formats aim to keep the title aloft as Lilo & Stitch and other summer tentpoles loom.
