Universal and DreamWorks estimate that their upcoming animated movie, How to Train Your Dragon: Hidden World, will reach $40 million at the box office during its opening weekend, according to Variety. This will be Universal’s first time distributing a film in the franchise since NBCUniversal bought DreamWorks Animation. Some anticipate that the third installment will reach $50 million. The previous films in the franchise both made over $40 million during their initial releases. The film, directed by Dean DeBlois, follows Hiccup and Toothless on their journey to find the Hidden World, a dragon utopia, as they learn to face the unknown. The main protagonists will again be voiced by Jay Baruchel and America Ferrera, respectively. The rest of the cast includes Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Kit Harington, and F. Murray Abraham.
According to Box Office Mojo, the film has grossed $175,000,000 in foreign markets since its release date on January 3, more than a month earlier than its intended release date in the U.S., which is February 22. With the box office suffering from decreased sales this past holiday weekend, it is looking for films that will help boost its performance. Along with the animated film’s debut, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, set to release March 8, brings hopes of boosting ticket sales.