Dog Man: Box Office Report – A Solid Start for DreamWorks’ Latest Animated Adventure

DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man, based on Dav Pilkey’s beloved graphic novel series, finally hit the big screen on January 31, 2025. The film, a spin-off of Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), opened to positive reviews from critics and fans alike. But how did it fare at the box office? Let’s break down its numbers and performance.

Opening Weekend Performance

Despite a modest budget of $40 million, Dog Man debuted with $40.6 million at the global box office, a strong start for an animated film based on a children’s book series. While it didn’t quite reach the heights of some recent DreamWorks blockbusters, Dog Man still performed respectably, especially given its family-friendly appeal and built-in fanbase.

• Domestic Box Office: Around $20 million

• International Box Office: Estimated $20.6 million

Compared to other mid-budget animated films, Dog Man had a decent but not record-breaking debut.

How Does It Compare to Other DreamWorks Films?

Here’s how Dog Man stacks up against other recent animated releases from DreamWorks:

Film	Opening Weekend	Total Box Office	Budget
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)	$12.4M	$484M	$90M
The Bad Guys (2022)	$23.9M	$250M	$80M
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken (2023)	$5.5M	$45M	$70M
Dog Man (2025)	$40.6M	TBD	$40M

Looking at these numbers, Dog Man had a better debut than some past DreamWorks films like Ruby Gillman, but it’s still uncertain if it will have the long legs at the box office like The Bad Guys or Puss in Boots 2, which became sleeper hits.

Why Dog Man Performed Well

1. Built-in Fanbase: The Dog Man books are wildly popular, with millions of copies sold worldwide.

2. Nostalgia Factor: Fans of Captain Underpants were eager to see another adaptation from Dav Pilkey’s universe.

3. Star-Studded Voice Cast: Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Ricky Gervais, and Isla Fisher helped attract a wider audience.

4. Positive Reviews: Critics and audiences praised its humor, animation style, and heartwarming story, which encouraged word-of-mouth.

Challenges & Future Box Office Predictions

While Dog Man had a strong start, it faces tough competition in February and March 2025 from bigger blockbusters. To sustain momentum, it will need:

• Strong word-of-mouth from families and kids

• Minimal drop-off in its second weekend

• Success in international markets

Given its low budget, the film doesn’t need to break records to be profitable. If Dog Man follows the path of The Bad Guys, it could end up making $100M–$150M globally, making it a modest success for DreamWorks.

Final Verdict: A Promising Start for Dog Man

Dog Man may not be a box office juggernaut, but it’s off to a decent start with $40.6 million in its opening weekend. With strong reviews and a dedicated fanbase, it has a chance to grow into a cult favorite and possibly even spawn a sequel.

If Dog Man continues to fetch good numbers in the coming weeks, DreamWorks might just have a new animated franchise on their hands! 🚀