Context:

The live-action remake of 'How to Train Your Dragon' continues to dominate the North American box office, earning $37 million in its second weekend, despite the release of new films like Pixar's 'Elio' and Danny Boyle's '28 Years Later'. 'Elio', a Pixar film about a boy dreaming of alien encounters, has had a challenging start, garnering only $21 million, marking the lowest opening for Pixar. '28 Years Later', directed by Danny Boyle, opened with $30 million, receiving positive reviews but mixed audience reactions, and is slated for further franchise development. Meanwhile, Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' remake and the A24 film 'Materialists' are also performing steadily, with global earnings reflecting continued interest in family-friendly and romantic drama genres. Anticipation builds for the upcoming weekend as major releases like 'F1' and 'Megan 2.0' are set to enter the competition in theaters.

Dive Deeper:

• 'How to Train Your Dragon' retains its top position in theaters, grossing $37 million in its second weekend, despite competition from new releases like 'Elio' and '28 Years Later'. The film has quickly accumulated $358.2 million globally and is set for a sequel, continuing the revival of the DreamWorks Animation franchise.

• Pixar's 'Elio', a sci-fi adventure about a boy dreaming of meeting aliens, opened with a modest $21 million, marking the lowest opening for Pixar. The film faced production challenges, with changes in directors and the removal of previously announced characters.

• Danny Boyle's '28 Years Later' debuted with $30 million, marking the director's largest opening weekend. The film revisits the 'rage virus' narrative with a new coming-of-age story and has received good reviews, though audience reactions are mixed.

• Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' remake continues to draw young audiences, earning $9.7 million in its fifth weekend, contributing to a global total of $910.3 million, showcasing the enduring appeal of live-action remakes.

• A24's 'Materialists', a romantic drama, has performed well, holding strong with $5.8 million in its second weekend, bringing its total to $24 million, signaling steady interest in the genre.

• The box office landscape is set for further competition as 'F1' from Apple and Warner Bros., and Universal’s 'Megan 2.0' are anticipated to launch in the coming weekend, promising a dynamic theatrical environment.

• The box office rankings for the weekend show a diverse array of genres appealing to various audiences, with 'How to Train Your Dragon', '28 Years Later', and 'Elio' leading in sales, and other films like 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning' and 'Ballerina' also drawing attention.