It’s because it did something really unusual in today’s box-office climate and reclaim a number one box-office spot and hold onto it for quite a while.
NOTE: This is taken from gazelle’s locked thread on the ‘HTTYD Movie Franchise’. If you want to post this yourself, gazelle, let me know and I’ll delete this post after you’ve reposted. Thanks! 
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I SAW THIS MOVIE TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME!
It’s the best out of the computer animated Dreamworks pictures for sure, blowing KPF out of the water- and kicks the ass of most of Pixar’s own movies!
(Yeah, it’s true).
I loved it!
I especially loved Hiccup’s relationship with his father (how it was protrayed and was played out in all its awkward/angst like glory). When his father [spoil]got mad and ruined everything when Hiccup was trying to show how dragons were okay, it really made sense and worked too. In a way, the killing of dragons and viewing them as dangerous was what he felt was an essential part of being a Viking- like a version of patrotism or religion. And the idea that hatred wasn’t a good way of defining anyone to a group. And that new ideas are needed to make progress otherwise we stangnate. Also to accept his son as who he was, and that what/who is son was was a good thing! It did give that impression, especially when he told him he ‘wasn’t his son’ which was heart breaking. Parents don’t always take kindly to their time held beliefs being challenged, especially by their children, that can be a double whammy. The fact he reacted in anger felt real. I’ve heard similar stories in that respect. But I’m so glad things worked out. [/spoil]
Also when he [spoil]saved toothless[/spoil] was also great. And also why Hiccup didn’t kill Toothless was great.
I’m going to see this movie again. This is actually a big deal for me. Usually if I really like a movie, I’ll wait until it comes on DVD. I’ve NEVER gone to a theatre twice to see a movie!
But I just can’t wait that long for this one!
This moment of over the top-fangirlishness was brought to you by mentalguru studios. More when it happens, as it happens.
Stay tuned.
(On another note, a sequel? Geez. We don’t really need one folks. The movie was near perfection and was good on its own).
(Also I take the whole idea of Hiccup X Toothless even more sourly then I did before. Toothless is basically 90% cat and 10% dog in how he acts. Ew.).
[/spoil]
I also really like how every event later on in the movie appears to be a reference to something that happened early on in the movie, but then completely contradicts it. The ‘gesture’ thing, Astrid’s “that’s for the […] and that’s for everything else” moments, the intro and outro of Berk by Hiccup, Hiccup befriending dragons instead of wanting to kill them very, very badly, Hiccup and Toothless’ injuries, and the list goes on.
It just… you know, it fits. It might not be the best story, but it is well thought through, and I didn’t manage to find any plotholes (that can’t be explained) except for this little graphical one:
Early on in the movie, Hiccup makes a drawing of Toothless and then erases the left half of his tail wing. When he reads the Dragon Manual and lays his drawing on the book, the tail wing was back again as if it never left, and later on, when he decides to craft Toothless an artificial tail wing, the tail wing on his drawing is suddenly gone again and he draws it back.
That was a stupid, little mistake, but nothing to be seriously worried about, I guess. 
According to IMDB, that little problem was actually fixed some time after Dreamworks sent out the first copies to cinemas. Assuming this is true, it may or may not have been fixed for the copy your local cinema(s) use, but it certainly should be fixed on the DVD. In spite of seeing the movie six times, I keep forgetting to check this. It really is that immersive that I never noticed it.
I noticed it the first time I saw the movie… 
And no, I’ve seen it in 4 different cinemas, in Bergen op Zoom, Berlin, and 2 cinemas in Rotterdam. They all had it. 
Oh well.
Glad you enjoyed Dragons too, mentalguru. I agree, it’s so much better than KFP because it feels more ‘honest’, rather than trying to be ‘hip’ like KFP did half of the time. Sometimes, you gotta play it true to be cool.
The part where [spoil]Stoick has a row with Hiccup and practically ‘disowns’ him[/spoil] was shocking and hit a raw nerve with me. Personally, [spoil]I’ve had arguments with my parents over my ‘idealistic’ ambitions versus their ideas of a ‘successful life’ (career, getting married, ‘financial goals’, etc.).[/spoil] So for me, Dragons really spoke to me on a deeper level than the average viewer (and I’m sure this feeling is not exclusive to me). In a way, Dragons is a progressive film that preaches integration instead of tolerance, understanding instead of prejudice, and no matter which way you cut it, Liberal Left or Conservative Right, it’s a beautiful message to teach the kids. Luke 6:27-36, people (You don’t have to be Christian to know this proverb).
Yup, I agree. If anyone wants to write a Hiccup and Toothless adult fanfic, go ahead, but you’re not gonna make me read it! 
Czarine - I love the plot mirroring device. Dragons has to be one of the most well-written animated (scratch that, count live-action too) movies in recent memory. It instantly grabs you from the first frame till the last, and even the ‘action-packed’ moments are filled with character interactions and developments. I’m still finding it hard to believe it’s from the same studio that made ‘Shark Tale’ and ‘Bee Movie’.
And yeah, I saw that continuity error too in the 2D version. I forgot to look out for it in the IMAX 3D version, but since I can’t remember much, it must have been fixed so as to not have jogged my memory. How could they have missed such a glaring mistake after so many dailies and test screenings?
…
Amazingly, Dragons is still high in the U.S. box office rankings, hovering at 2nd place after a staggering month-and-a-half, only beaten by that ‘Creepy Guy With Long Fingernails Movie Which is Really a Remake of a Horror Classic’. Ugh! 
This Very Good Take To Be From Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon Kung Fu Panda And DreamWorks Best
not speak good English
Oh, excuse me.
nothing happens
It’s been two months since its release and Dragons is still in the Top Ten for both the U.S. and Australia, while lesser competitors like ‘Clash of the Titans’ and ‘Furry Vengeance’ have dropped out long ago!
Granted, it’s probably due to the extra 3D surcharge, but the same could be said for Alice and Titans, and they didn’t perform as well. Overall, that’s pretty strong legs (or should I say wings?) for an ‘animated kids movie’.
Congratulations to Sanders, DeBlois, and their talented team, you guys deserve it!
They certainly do deserve it! Good on them. They managed to produce a story which remained interesting with incredibly relateable characters despite it being in a setting we wouldn’t be used to, and for me it was definitly one of the best computer animated movies I’ve ever seen, not just the best Dreamworks one.
I think Hiccups dad might be my favourite character though- I feel his arc was pretty interesting all in all and I think my favourite moments (plus the crushing moments) tended to involve him in some way with Hiccup or Toothless (or both of them).
I’m with you on that one, mentalguru. Hiccup’s dad was, for me, the most convincing and relateable character in the entire movie, creating some of the most touching scenes.
Yeah, when he said ‘You’re not my son!’ I was like ‘oh no, he didn’t! D:’. I knew his dad would be mad, but actually denying him as his son… wow.
‘Today my boy becomes a viking, today HE BECOMES ONE OF US!’ < one of my favorite contradictions in the movie. Yes, this movie is FULL of contradictions. Hiccup fights hard to be like the rest of the village but in the end his entire village is like him. 
Still love it, still not getting tired of watching it, still can’t wait for the DVD/Bluray to come out somewhere in July.
What really got me is the bit where they’re talking together after Stoick returns ([spoil]when he gives him the breast hat 
[/spoil]), and he tells him “You’ve held up your end of the deal”, when in reality, [spoil]he was doing exactly the opposite by not only not fighting dragons like his father expected, but training and bonding with one.[/spoil]
I agree, Stoick has one of the best character arcs in the whole movie, and there’s something about a father-son relationship that just gets to me. Although it was bumpy at first, their relationship really becomes so super sweet by the end of the film, especially after everything that happened. [spoil]He finally realized just how much Hiccup meant to him after he almost lost him. Oh man, the look on his face when he thinks Hiccup’s dead at the end… D:[/spoil]
And yeah. Could the DVD release come any sooner? I’m getting a bit anxious here.
little chef
I wholeheartedly agree with commenters here… Stoick is one of the strongest characters in the film, and definitely in more ways than one!
The ‘[spoil]breast plate[/spoil]’ scene really makes you cringe, because you know Hiccup is essentially [spoil]telling a ‘white lie’ to his dad, yet this is really their first attempt at ‘patching up’. You also know Hiccup’s eventually going to have to reveal his secret, and it fills you with a sense of awkwardness and dread. But it is also heartwarming, because you see Stoick genuinely trying his best to bond with his son (albeit, only after his son became the ‘village hero’).[/spoil]
I was really shocked with the [spoil]“You’re not my son”[/spoil] line. He was practically [spoil]disowning Hiccup at that point[/spoil], and it really hit too close to home for me (I’ve had rows with my parents about my career prospects, and my father came pretty close to giving up on me several times).
It really has the most touching father-son relationship since Ratatouille.
I also realized another reason why I love Dragons so much today, while borrowing a book on herpetology. My attitude to life is to always give people the benefit of the doubt (so if you’ve scorned me before, I’m willing to give second chances). And I always respect ‘misunderstood creatures’ like sharks, snakes, spiders and lizards (the latter two of which actually are the most useful ‘housemates’ you can have, if you wanna free pest exterminators). So Dragons, with its admirable message against xenophobia, speciesism, and militant jingoism, really appealed to my inner compass.
Haha, ditto on that thedriveintheatre. Surprisingly, I like lizards too! So it was nice to see dragons being portrayed in a positive light in this film (well, the majority of the dragons anyway! )
I know, right? 