How to Train Your Dragon” took flight at the box office this weekend, proving that some remakes still have teeth. The Universal live-action adaptation of the beloved animated franchise soared to a strong $83 million debut in North American theaters,

How to Train Your Dragon' flew to the top of the box office charts, earning a stronger-than-expected $83 million in its first weekend of release.

When box office estimates for Dean DeBlois' live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon were reported midweek, the vibe was "conservative." There were expectations for the movie to make somewhere in the range of $65-75 million domestically,