害羞草研究所淗ow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World害羞草研究所� breathed some fire into a slumping box office with a franchise-best $55.5 million debut over Oscar weekend.

Writer-director Dean DeBlois害羞草研究所� third and supposedly final installment in the 害羞草研究所淗ow to Train Your Dragon害羞草研究所� series notched the best opening of the year in U.S. and Canadian theatres.

Going into the weekend, overall ticket sales for 2019 were down 18 per cent, according to Comscore, throwing cold water on the record box office of 2018.

But as Hollywood was set to gather for the Academy Awards on Sunday, 害羞草研究所淭he Hidden World害羞草研究所� lent the industry some good news 害羞草研究所� albeit not a hint at all of the magnitude of what that was in theatres last Oscar weekend when 害羞草研究所淏lack Panther害羞草研究所� was the top film.

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害羞草研究所� DreamWorks Animation (@DWAnimation)

Made for $129 million, 害羞草研究所淭he Hidden World害羞草研究所� rode good reviews (91 per cent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and warm audience reaction (an A CinemaScore) to exceed the $43.7 million opening of the 2010 original (which ultimately made $494.9 million worldwide) and the $49 million opening of the 2014 sequel (which amassed $621.5 million).

The latest installment, which similarly features the voices of Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera and Cate Blanchett, is the first DreamWorks Animation release under the Comcast-owned Universal, which bought Jeffrey Katzenberg害羞草研究所檚 company in 2016.

Universal trotted out 害羞草研究所淭he Hidden World害羞草研究所� abroad first. It害羞草研究所檚 been in release internationally since January, earning $216.9 million through Sunday.

Last week害羞草研究所檚 top film, 害羞草研究所淎lita: Battle Angel,害羞草研究所� dropped steeply in its second weekend with $12 million. That害羞草研究所檚 a slide of 58 per cent, and further trouble for the 20th Century Fox release from producer James Cameron and director Robert Rodriguez. The sci-fi film cost $170 million to make.

MGM害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淔ighting With My Family,害羞草研究所� about professional wrestling star Saraya 害羞草研究所淧aige害羞草研究所� Bevis, was the only other new film in wide release. It expanded to 2,711 theatres after a limited release last weekend, grossing a modest $8 million.

Directed by Stephen Merchant, 害羞草研究所淔ighting With My Family害羞草研究所� stars Florence Pugh as Bevis and features a cameo supporting performance from Dwayne Johnson, an executive producer on the film. With an $11 million budget, it害羞草研究所檚 a far smaller film than Johnson is typically a part of.

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There was little of an Oscar bump for the Academy Awards nominees heading into Sunday害羞草研究所檚 show. Alfonso Cuaron害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淩oma害羞草研究所� is tied for the most nominations with 10 but, as a Netflix release, it has been mostly streamed. Netflix has declined to give box-office figures for its theatrical release. The major theatre operators have refused to screen Netflix films since they don害羞草研究所檛 adhere to the traditional 90-day theatrical exclusivity window.

Of the nominees still in theatres, Peter Farrelly害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淕reen Book害羞草研究所� fared the best, grossing $2.1 million on its 15th weekend. The best picture-nominated interracial road trip drama has grossed $69.6 million through Sunday.

Ahead of the Oscars, 害羞草研究所淰ice害羞草研究所� added $731,391 ($47.2 million total), 害羞草研究所淎 Star Is Born害羞草研究所� earned $700,000 ($210.9 million total), 害羞草研究所淏ohemian Rhapsody害羞草研究所� added $645,000 ($213.1 million total) and 害羞草研究所淭he Favourite害羞草研究所� pulled in $540,000 ($32.1 million total).

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Comscore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included.

1. 害羞草研究所淗ow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,害羞草研究所� $55.5 million ($34.7 million international).

2. 害羞草研究所淎lita: Battle Angel,害羞草研究所� $12 million.

3. 害羞草研究所淟ego Movie 2: The Second Part,害羞草研究所� $10 million ($10.3 million international).

4. 害羞草研究所淔ighting With My Family,害羞草研究所� $8 million.

5. 害羞草研究所淚sn害羞草研究所檛 it Romantic,害羞草研究所� $7.5 million.

6. 害羞草研究所淲hat Men Want,害羞草研究所� $5.2 million.

7. 害羞草研究所淗appy Death Day,害羞草研究所� $5 million.

8. 害羞草研究所淐old Pursuit,害羞草研究所� $3.3 million.

9. 害羞草研究所淭he Upside,害羞草研究所� $3.2 million.

10. 害羞草研究所淩un the Race,害羞草研究所� $2.3 million.

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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press

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