Latest news with #TrainYourDragon
Miami Herald
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Gerard Butler's net worth: The A-list actor's wealth & income
Gerard Butler is an A-list actor who has appeared both in big-budget movies and action films with more modest budgets. Collider, an entertainment news website, referred to him as the last great B-movie action hero - the 2.0 version of Steven Seagal, who made a name for himself with action roles in the 1980s and 90s. In a more than three-decade career on stage and film, Butler still commands a large following who are drawn to his varied roles - from his 2004 portrayal of a pained musician in the catacombs of Paris to his 2018 performance as a detective chasing thieves. All told, his movies have taken in billions of dollars in ticket sales at the box office. Butler returned to one of his iconic roles, Stoick the Vast, in the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon, which made its Hollywood premiere in mid-June 2025. Like its animated counterpart, the new live-action film will likely spawn sequels in the years to come. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Butler continues to entertain audiences and has other film projects in the works, with at least one more to be released later in 2025. Here's how much Butler is worth in 2025 and how he makes his sources estimate Butler's net worth at around $80 million. Much of that wealth is derived from his earnings as an actor, but he also has other sources of income. Related: 'How to Train Your Dragon': Which film made the most money? Butler primarily makes his money as an actor in leading roles, sometimes taking a large pay or opting for a percentage of a film's profits. In a 2018 article, Forbes described Butler as a B-movie action star who could work in the right film with the right budget, particularly if the budget isn't high. Aside from acting, he also serves as a producer in some of his movies, which provide him with additional income from royalties and distribution. Among his endorsement deals, Butler serves as a brand ambassador for Festina, a maker of inexpensive watches. Gerard James Butler was born in Paisley, Scotland, on November 13, 1969. He studied at the University of Glasgow School of Law to be a lawyer. But after being dismissed as a trainee lawyer at a firm in Edinburgh, he pursued a career in acting. He started on stage in London and eventually found his way to Hollywood in the late 1990s and became an A-list actor. Foto24/Getty Images Butler made a name for himself in the 2006 film 300 as King Leonidas I, trying to fend off the Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae with just 300 Spartan soldiers. Before that, he mostly played small parts, though he did have a leading role in the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera. After 300, Butler's roles vacillated between comedy, drama, and action. In 2010, he got his first franchise role as the voice of Viking leader Stoick in How to Train Your Dragon. (Aside from the How to Train Your Dragon series, Butler had also appeared in another dragon-themed movie titled Reign of Fire opposite Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey in 2002.) That was followed in 2013 with the Antoine Fuqua film Olympus Has Fallen, in which he played Secret Service agent Mike Banning. Both franchises were followed by two sequels. In 2018, Butler played a detective in Den of Thieves, which spawned a sequel in 2025. In 2020, he played structural engineer John Garrity, who leads his family to safety from a comet striking Earth, in the film Greenland. A post-apocalyptic follow-up is due out later in 2025. Some of Butler's films that are considered B-movies include Plane, in which he plays a pilot who fends off terrorists after making an emergency landing; Kandahar, in which he portrays a CIA agent attempting to flee Afghanistan with his translator; and Last Seen Alive, in which he stars as a husband trying to find his missing wife. More on net worth: Ralph Macchio's net worth: A revived career for the Karate Kid star Jackie Chan's net worth: The 'Karate Kid: Legends' star's wealth & incomeTom Cruise's net worth: The 'Mission: Impossible' star's wealth in 2025 Butler's assets include multiple real estate holdings. One of his homes is in Los Feliz, California, and Trulia, a real estate marketplace, lists it as a Spanish-style four-bedroom, four-bathroom rental property valued at around $4.4 million. He reportedly also has homes in Malibu and New York City. Butler is also an entrepreneur and an investor in Caliwater, which makes beverages from cacti. Past investments include a stake in Jamaica Tallawahs, a former cricket franchise in the Caribbean Premier League. In the entertainment industry, Butler owns G-Base Productions, which has produced some of his films, including the two Den of Thieves movies, Olympus Has Fallen and its two sequels, and the two Greenland films. The Fallen franchise has crossed over into television, with the eight-episode Paris Has Fallen series in 2024, for which G-Base was part of the production team. Related: Which "Mission: Impossible" film made the most money? A retrospective of the Tom Cruise action franchise The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘How to Train Your Dragon' hiccups into live action
So, Toothless returns to the screen just in time for the 15th anniversary of his first appearance. And this time, he's interacting with entire actors rather than just their voices. One of those voices, Gerard Butler, reprises his role as dragon-hating Viking chieftain, Stoick. Also on board is Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and co-directed the original film with Chris Sanders. DeBlois also directed the sequels, and wrote and directed this one. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Night Fury dragon, Toothless in Universal Pictures' live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon.' (Universal Pictures) Universal Pictures Advertisement He also co-wrote and co-directed (with Sanders) the original 'Lilo and Stitch.' The Nostalgia is also pure evil, at least where current cinema is concerned. Creativity has become increasingly stifled. I'm constantly telling you that, regardless of quality, these remakes are unnecessary and cynical cash grabs. Plus, a studio best not tinker too much with the plot or the look of the movie it's remaking, or there will be blood. Just look at the Advertisement Toothless stans will have no such complaints with 'How to Train Your Dragon.' Despite being 30 minutes longer than its source material, this is almost a shot-for-shot recreation. Toothless makes a seamless transition as well. He still has the big, expressive eyes and endearing yet oddly shaped head. He also has the broken tail that will be a major plot point. Night Fury dragon, Toothless, and Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures' live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon.' (Universal Pictures) Universal Pictures The outdoor cinematography by Bill Pope ('The Matrix') is gorgeous, capturing the ragged cliffs and vast waters of Berk, the Viking town where Stoick and his son, Hiccup (Mason Thames), live. However, the opening battle between human and dragon is woefully underlit. The flying scenes, while occasionally thrilling and always vertiginous (especially in IMAX), worked better in the animated version. The plot remains the same here. Dragons and Vikings have been mortal enemies for generations. Fiery battles are common every season, with people like Gobber (Nick Frost) losing limbs or getting scarred during run-ins with the beasts. According to the townsfolk, Hiccup is a screw-up who will never become the great fighter and leader his father is. Deemed weak, he's relegated to building contraptions as Gobber's blacksmith apprentice. But during one Viking raid on the dragons, Hiccup thinks he's struck a Night Fury dragon with a gigantic bola. Of course, no one believes him, and he doubts himself until he finds an injured Toothless. Rather than fry him to a crisp, Toothless spares Hiccup and the two form a friendship. The apprentice builds a prosthetic tail for his scaly buddy to help him fly again. As a thank you, Toothless flies Hiccup all over the countryside. Advertisement Mason Thames in 'How To Train Your Dragon.' (Universal Pictures) Universal Pictures Since no Viking has ever attempted to understand dragons, let alone ride one, Hiccup's newfound, nonviolent knowledge of the creatures helps him in the mandatory Dragonslayer sessions everyone expected him to fail. This stokes the ire of Astrid (Nico Parker), the presumed best student in the class. Hiccup's impressive success also makes him a celebrity among his peers. These are teens with names like Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Ruffnut (Bronwyn James), and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn). They more or less resemble their animated counterparts, both in attitude and appearance. As with most movies about fathers and sons, Stoick finds himself at odds with his kid. He treats Hiccup like damaged goods, especially when he discovers his progeny would rather befriend dragons than behead them. Of the human actors, Butler is most successful at bringing his character to life. 13toothless - Gerard Butler as Stoick in Universal Pictures' live-action 'How to Train Your Dragon.' (Helen Sloane/Universal Pictures) Helen Sloane/Universal Pictures Perhaps his history of voicing Stoick gave Butler a full understanding of the man, and that translates very well to this iteration. He brings a jovial humor to his scenes with Frost (who is also good here) and has a few moments that are surprisingly moving. One of the lines I'm glad the new film kept was Hiccup's explanation that he saw himself in Toothless, that they were both 'broken.' Though his line readings are not as snarky as Jay Baruchel, who originated the role, Thames convinces us of the emotional bond he has with Toothless. I'm on the fence here. I enjoyed the animated version of this movie quite a bit, so I'm torn between being happy this film was nowhere near as bad as I'd expected, and being frustrated that I sat through a carbon copy. Your enjoyment will depend on whether your Toothless nostalgia has a full set of teeth. Advertisement ★★1/2 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Starring Gerard Butler, Mason Thames, Nick Frost, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn. At AMC Boston Common, Landmark Kendall Square, Alamo Drafthouse Seaport, AMC Causeway, suburbs. 125 min. PG (violence) Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
