91裸聊视频淗ow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World91裸聊视频� breathed some fire into a slumping box office with a franchise-best $55.5 million debut over Oscar weekend.

Writer-director Dean DeBlois91裸聊视频� third and supposedly final installment in the 91裸聊视频淗ow to Train Your Dragon91裸聊视频� 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, 91裸聊视频淭he Hidden World91裸聊视频� lent the industry some good news 91裸聊视频� albeit not a hint at all of the magnitude of what that was in theatres last Oscar weekend when 91裸聊视频淏lack Panther91裸聊视频� was the top film.

: The Hidden World is NOW PLAYING! Get tickets:

91裸聊视频� DreamWorks Animation (@DWAnimation)

Made for $129 million, 91裸聊视频淭he Hidden World91裸聊视频� 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 Katzenberg91裸聊视频檚 company in 2016.

Universal trotted out 91裸聊视频淭he Hidden World91裸聊视频� abroad first. It91裸聊视频檚 been in release internationally since January, earning $216.9 million through Sunday.

Last week91裸聊视频檚 top film, 91裸聊视频淎lita: Battle Angel,91裸聊视频� dropped steeply in its second weekend with $12 million. That91裸聊视频檚 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.

MGM91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淔ighting With My Family,91裸聊视频� about professional wrestling star Saraya 91裸聊视频淧aige91裸聊视频� 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, 91裸聊视频淔ighting With My Family91裸聊视频� 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, it91裸聊视频檚 a far smaller film than Johnson is typically a part of.

READ MORE: B.C. business women pitch products to stars at Oscars

READ MORE: Academy reverses plans, will air all awards live at Oscars

There was little of an Oscar bump for the Academy Awards nominees heading into Sunday91裸聊视频檚 show. Alfonso Cuaron91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淩oma91裸聊视频� 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 don91裸聊视频檛 adhere to the traditional 90-day theatrical exclusivity window.

Of the nominees still in theatres, Peter Farrelly91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淕reen Book91裸聊视频� 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, 91裸聊视频淰ice91裸聊视频� added $731,391 ($47.2 million total), 91裸聊视频淎 Star Is Born91裸聊视频� earned $700,000 ($210.9 million total), 91裸聊视频淏ohemian Rhapsody91裸聊视频� added $645,000 ($213.1 million total) and 91裸聊视频淭he Favourite91裸聊视频� 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. 91裸聊视频淗ow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,91裸聊视频� $55.5 million ($34.7 million international).

2. 91裸聊视频淎lita: Battle Angel,91裸聊视频� $12 million.

3. 91裸聊视频淟ego Movie 2: The Second Part,91裸聊视频� $10 million ($10.3 million international).

4. 91裸聊视频淔ighting With My Family,91裸聊视频� $8 million.

5. 91裸聊视频淚sn91裸聊视频檛 it Romantic,91裸聊视频� $7.5 million.

6. 91裸聊视频淲hat Men Want,91裸聊视频� $5.2 million.

7. 91裸聊视频淗appy Death Day,91裸聊视频� $5 million.

8. 91裸聊视频淐old Pursuit,91裸聊视频� $3.3 million.

9. 91裸聊视频淭he Upside,91裸聊视频� $3.2 million.

10. 91裸聊视频淩un the Race,91裸聊视频� $2.3 million.

___

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .