HOT TAMALES® ANNOUNCES SIZZLING NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL PICTURES' LIVE-ACTION ADAPTATION OF HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON

HOT TAMALES® celebrates 75 fiery years with bold new partnership and sweepstakes ahead of the movie's June 13, 2025 theatrical release

BETHLEHEM, Pa., June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, HOT TAMALES®, America's #1 cinnamon-flavored candy,  is cranking up the heat in celebration of its 75th anniversary by teaming up with Universal Pictures' highly anticipated live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, soaring into theaters June 13, 2025.

The fiery collaboration fuses two legendary fan favorites—HOT TAMALES® and the beloved dragon Toothless—for a summer celebration packed with bold flavor, epic adventure, and high-stakes fun. From visionary How to Train Your Dragon creator Dean DeBlois' cutting-edge visuals to the candy's signature cinnamon kick, it's an immersive summer experience designed to fire up moviegoers and candy lovers alike.

"We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate our 75^th anniversary than by partnering with How to Train Your Dragon," said Zack Greenfield, Brand Manager of HOT TAMALES®. "The film's adventurous, high-energy spirit is the perfect match for our brand, and we're thrilled to bring fans into the fun with bold flavor, exciting prizes and a celebration worthy of the big screen."

To mark the partnership, HOT TAMALES® is launching a limited-time sweepstakes running from June 9 to June 13, 2025. Fans can enter by commenting on the designated sweepstakes post on HOT TAMALES®' official Facebook or Instagram pages. Ten winners total—five from each platform—will be randomly selected to receive a fiery prize pack that includes two movie tickets to see How to Train Your Dragon, a stash of HOT TAMALES® candy, and a movie-themed gift pack inspired by the film.

Whether you're a dragon-riding dreamer or a heat-loving snacker, this summer's hottest movie and candy collaboration invites fans to unleash their adventurous side and experience a celebration like no other. For more information about HOT TAMALES®  visit www.HOTTAMALES.com and follow on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Universal Pictures' Live-Action How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters June 13, 2025.

About Just Born Quality Confections

Just Born Quality Confections is a third-generation family-owned candy manufacturer with its purpose to bring sweetness to people's lives. Just Born is the maker of some of America's most beloved and iconic brands – PEEPS®, MIKE AND IKE®, HOT TAMALES® and GOLDENBERG'S® PEANUT CHEWS®. Just Born has been a part of family traditions and memories for more than 100 years. In 1923, the founder, Sam Born, opened a small candy shop in Brooklyn, New York, where he marketed the freshness of his daily-made candy with a sign that declared, "Just Born." Together with Born's brothers-in-law, Irv and Jack Shaffer, the company thrived and, in 1932, moved its operations to Bethlehem, PA where it has grown to become one of the largest candy companies in the US by giving back to the community, being good environmental stewards and creating a culture where people want to work.

For more information, please visit www.justborn.com. Follow @JustBornInc on Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).

About Universal Pictures' How to Train Your Dragon
From three-time Oscar^® nominee and Golden Globe winner Dean DeBlois, the creative visionary behind DreamWorks Animation's acclaimed How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, comes a stunning live-action reimagining of the film that launched the beloved franchise.

On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.

With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village's quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.

As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup's friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

The film also stars Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), BAFTA nominee Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones).

How to Train Your Dragon is written, produced and directed by DeBlois. It is also produced by four-time Oscar^® nominee Marc Platt (Wicked, La La Land) and Emmy winner Adam Siegel (Drive, 2 Guns). How To Train Your Dragon is part of the Filmed For IMAX^® Program, which offers filmmakers IMAX^® technology to help them deliver the most immersive movie experience to audiences around the world. 

Inspired by Cressida Cowell's New York Times bestselling book series, DreamWorks Animation's How to Train Your Dragon franchise has captivated global audiences, earning four Academy Award^® nominations and grossing more than $1.6 billion at the global box-office. Now, through cutting-edge visual effects, DeBlois transforms his beloved animated saga into a breathtaking live-action spectacle, bringing the epic adventures of Hiccup and Toothless to life with jaw-dropping realism as they discover the true meaning of friendship, courage and destiny.

About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks.  NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

SOURCE Just Born Quality Confections