In 2025, a single actor appeared in three major theatrical releases that collectively grossed nearly $790 million at the global box office. In fact, that figure would be extraordinary for a seasoned Hollywood veteran. And yet, for an 18-year-old from Dallas, Texas someone who, in fact, spent his earliest years touring with a professional ballet company rather than working on film sets, it still feels almost surreal.
Mason Thames was born on July 10, 2007, in Dallas, Texas, into a family that seems to have performing arts in its DNA. For instance, his sister, Brooke-Madison Thames, is a dancer.That actor is Mason Thames. If you haven’t been paying close attention, moreover, his journey stands as one of the most quietly remarkable rises in modern Hollywood.
Mason Thames is an American actor best known for his starring role in The Black Phone (2022) and, more recently, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon (2025). Finally, as of 2026, his estimated net worth is around $2 million, a figure that, given his rising career trajectory, is likely only the beginning.
Mason Thames at a Glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mason Thames |
| Date of Birth | July 10, 2007 |
| Age (2026) | 18 years old |
| Birthplace | Dallas, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor |
| Height | ~5’8″ / 173 cm (unconfirmed) |
| Relationship Status | Dating Mckenna Grace (confirmed Feb 2026) |
| Children | None |
| Education | High school (freshman year); online schooling thereafter |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Religion | Not publicly confirmed |
| Current Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Known For | The Black Phone, How to Train Your Dragon (2025) |
| Net Worth (est. 2026) | ~$2 million |
Before He Ever Read a Script, He Was Performing on Stage
Mason Thames was born on July 10, 2007, in Dallas, Texas, into a family that seems to have performing arts in its DNA. For example, his sister, Brooke-Madison Thames, is a dancer. Meanwhile, Mason chose a different stage, stepping into acting, where he quickly began building his own path in Hollywood.He started dancing too, in fact, long before anyone called him an actor.
From roughly 2013 to 2016, when most kids his age were playing youth soccer, Mason was touring as the youngest member of a professional international ballet company. For four years. He performed in productions including The Nutcracker, developing the kind of discipline, physical awareness, and stage confidence that most actors spend years in class trying to acquire.
That foundation matters more than it might seem. In fact, ballet at a professional level demands memorization under pressure, emotional expression without words, and total body awareness, all of which translate directly to camera performance. Moreover, by the time Mason auditioned for a film role, he already had thousands of hours of stage performance behind him.
His parents — Elizabeth and Chad Thames, with Chad working in real estate. Moreover, supported the family’s move to Los Angeles when Mason was around 12. As a result, his mother relocated with him to pursue his emerging acting career, while his father remained in Austin. It was a real family sacrifice, made quietly and without fanfare.
Mason attended traditional high school through his freshman year before switching to online schooling as his film commitments expanded. His education, in many ways, became the film industry itself.
From TV Bit Parts to a Blumhouse Breakout
Mason’s official acting debut came in 2019, when he was cast as Danny Stevens in Apple TV+’s ambitious sci-fi drama For All Mankind — appearing in three episodes in the show’s first season. It was a small role, but a legitimate one. The kind that gets you in the room for the next audition.
He followed that with a single episode of Evel in 2020, alongside Milo Ventimiglia, and three episodes of Walker (2021–2022), where he played a younger version of the show’s lead character. However, none of these were star-making moments. Instead, they worked as building blocks — quiet, intentional, and cumulative.
Then came The Black Phone.
The Role That Changed Everything
In 2022, director Scott Derrickson and Blumhouse Productions released a supernatural horror film based on a Joe Hill short story. In this film, Mason Thames played Finney Blake, a shy, clever 13-year-old abducted by a masked serial killer played by Ethan Hawke. Moreover, the story follows Finney as he is trapped in a soundproof basement with only a disconnected phone, through which the ghosts of previous victims whisper guidance.
It was a demanding, emotionally complex lead role. And Mason, at 14, delivered it completely.
The Black Phone grossed $161.4 million worldwide against a production budget of just $16–18 million — a return of roughly ten times its cost. As a result, Thames received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Younger Actor in a Film. A year later, the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards gave him their Editor’s Eyeball on the Future award — an industry signal that this wasn’t a fluke.
The industry had noticed. What came next was unexpected even by Hollywood standards.
The Dream Role He Didn’t Know Was Coming
Director Dean DeBlois had seen The Black Phone. As a result, he was casting the lead for a live-action adaptation of one of DreamWorks Animation’s most beloved properties: How to Train Your Dragon. Consequently, he chose Mason Thames to play Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III.
Here’s the detail that makes that casting genuinely extraordinary: in fact, as a child, Mason Thames had dressed as Hiccup for Halloween. Notably, he grew up loving the character. Years later, he was the character in a $150 million Universal Pictures production that went on to gross $636.6 million globally.
Thames later told The Hollywood Reporter: the film was “the most special thing I have ever done.” You can believe him.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–2016 | Professional ballet company tour | 4-year performance career; youngest cast member |
| 2019 | For All Mankind (Apple TV+) | Acting debut; 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Evel (TV) | Supporting role; alongside Milo Ventimiglia |
| 2021–2022 | Walker (TV) | 3 episodes as Young Cordell Walker |
| 2022 | The Black Phone | Breakthrough; $161.4M global gross; Saturn nom. |
| 2023 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Won Editor’s Eyeball on the Future |
| 2025 | How to Train Your Dragon | $636.6M global gross; franchise lead |
| 2025 | Black Phone 2, Regretting You | Three major releases; ~$790M combined worldwide |
| 2026 | Saturn Award nomination | How to Train Your Dragon; Best Younger Actor |
| 2027 | How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Currently in production |
Mason Thames Net Worth in 2026: What We Know
As of 2026, Mason Thames has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. At just 18, his earnings are driven almost entirely by film salaries from major studio productions no business empire, no brand deals on record, just exceptional acting work.
His per-film compensation is not publicly disclosed. However, industry context is instructive: young leads in Blumhouse productions and Universal Pictures franchise films typically earn in the mid-to-high six figures per film, with backend participation possible for major releases. With three theatrical films in 2025 alone, and a sequel locked for 2027, the $2 million figure reflects a career still very much in its early innings.
How Does Mason Thames Make His Money?
Thames earns his income almost exclusively through acting. He has not publicly announced any business ventures, brand partnerships, or investment activity as of 2026. Unlike some young stars who diversify aggressively, Thames appears focused entirely on building his filmography.
His Instagram presence is growing — he posts behind-the-scenes content that resonates authentically with fans — but social media is not yet a significant income channel. That may change quickly given his 2025 box office profile.
Net Worth Breakdown (Estimated)
| Income Source | Est. Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Film acting (salaries/fees) | ~85–90% | 3 major studio releases in 2025 alone |
| Streaming residuals | ~5–10% | For All Mankind, Walker, past projects |
| Social media / Instagram | ~5% | Growing; no confirmed brand deals |
| Business ventures | 0% | None publicly confirmed as of 2026 |
| Endorsements | Unconfirmed | No major deals on record |
Lifestyle: Low Profile, High Impact
For someone whose 2025 films collectively out-earned nearly every individual movie released that year, Mason Thames keeps a strikingly quiet public life.
He relocated from Texas to Los Angeles with his mother as a preteen, trading the comfort of a settled family home for the uncertainty of industry life. Meanwhile, his father stayed behind in Austin. As a result, that kind of early sacrifice tends to leave an impression — and Thames’s grounded, unpretentious social media presence suggests it did.
His Instagram (@masonthames) is populated with behind-the-scenes images, candid moments with co-stars, and a personality that reads as genuinely his own. No luxury posturing. No carefully constructed persona. Just a teenager who happens to be one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful young actors.
Personal Life: The Relationship He Made Official
For months, fans and entertainment reporters speculated about the nature of Mason Thames’s relationship with actress Mckenna Grace — his co-star in the 2025 romantic drama Regretting You, adapted from the Colleen Hoover novel of the same name.
In February 2026, Thames made it official. He and Mckenna Grace are together.
It’s a relationship that makes a certain kind of Hollywood sense: two young actors, serious about their craft, who fell for each other while playing love interests onscreen. Grace, known for her roles in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and The Handmaid’s Tale, is a peer in every meaningful sense — and by all public accounts, the two handle their relationship with the same quiet maturity Thames brings to everything else.
He is not married, has no children, and keeps his personal life largely private beyond what he chooses to share.
Social Media Influence
Mason Thames maintains an active Instagram presence under @masonthames, where he has built a meaningful following through authentic behind-the-scenes content. His follower count has grown in parallel with his box office profile — readers should verify the current figure at time of reading, as the number moves quickly.
No verified TikTok or YouTube presence has been documented. No major brand sponsorship deals are on record as of 2026.
For context, actors with his commercial profile and demographic appeal typically command $5,000–$20,000 per sponsored Instagram post at industry benchmark rates — though no confirmed deals of this nature have been reported. Social media remains a fan engagement tool for Thames rather than a revenue stream, at least for now.
How Does Mason Thames Compare to His Peers?
Thames isn’t the first young actor to break through via a horror film franchise. But the speed and commercial scale of his trajectory is genuinely unusual.
| Actor | Net Worth (est.) | Career Path |
|---|---|---|
| Mason Thames | ~$2M (2026) | The Black Phone → How to Train Your Dragon |
| Jacob Tremblay | ~$2M | Room, Wonder, franchise supporting roles |
| Finn Wolfhard | ~$4M | Stranger Things (TV-first) → It franchise |
| Jaeden Martell | ~$2M | It franchise → Knives Out |
The comparison is instructive. Thames is roughly on par with peers in net worth terms but his 2025 box office performance (~$790M combined) already exceeds the career theatrical totals of most actors in this cohort at a similar age. And unlike Wolfhard, who built his initial platform through television, Thames established himself entirely through theatrical film — a foundation that historically produces more durable long-term careers.
Legacy and Impact: The Boy Who Became Hiccup
There’s a version of Mason Thames’s story that’s easy to miss if you’re only tracking the box office numbers.
It starts with a six-year-old in Dallas who loved performing, not in front of a camera, but on stage as part of a professional ballet company touring internationally. It continues through years of small TV roles that most people never noticed. Then came The Black Phone, where Mason Thames proved he could stand out alongside one of his generation’s finest actors.
And it arrives, somehow, at a live-action dragon movie. A childhood character Thames had dressed as for Halloween, now brought to life by him for $636 million worth of audiences worldwide.
That full-circle moment the Halloween costume becoming the $150M film role isn’t just a charming anecdote. It’s a window into what kind of performer Thames is becoming. One who prepared obsessively, chose carefully, and treated each step as foundation rather than destination.
He represents something the industry doesn’t always reward: a young star who appears to be building a career rather than chasing a moment. Commercially serious. Critically credible. At the same time, not overexposed.
The fan debate over the live-action How to Train Your Dragon was fierce — animation purists pushed back hard. However, Thames let his performance answer the criticism. As a result, he earned a 2026 Saturn Award nomination for it.
That tends to be how durable careers are built.
What’s Next for Mason Thames?
The pipeline is full. Meanwhile, How to Train Your Dragon 2 is currently in production and scheduled for release in June 2027, with Thames reprising his role as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, and Cate Blanchett, who joins the franchise as Valka.
He also starred in Idiots (2026), playing Sheridan Kimberley in a lower-profile project — the kind of strategic sidebar that suggests Thames and his team understand the value of range alongside franchise commitments.
Industry speculation (frame it accordingly) points to interest from superhero and additional franchise properties. Nothing confirmed. But the phone, as they say, is ringing.
FAQs:
1. What is Mason Thames’s net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Mason Thames has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His wealth comes almost entirely from film acting, including lead roles in major Universal Pictures productions. With three blockbuster releases in 2025 and a sequel in 2027, that figure is expected to rise significantly.
2. How did Mason Thames become famous so young?
Thames broke through with his lead role in Blumhouse’s The Black Phone (2022), playing a kidnapped teenager opposite Ethan Hawke. The film grossed $161.4 million worldwide. He followed that with the live-action How to Train Your Dragon (2025), which grossed $636.6 million globally, cementing his status as one of Hollywood’s most commercially valuable young actors.
3. How old is Mason Thames and where is he from?
Mason Thames was born on July 10, 2007, making him 18 years old in 2026. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, before relocating to Los Angeles with his mother around age 12 to pursue his acting career.
4. What movies has Mason Thames been in?
Thames is best known for The Black Phone (2022), How to Train Your Dragon (2025), Black Phone 2 (2025), and Regretting You (2025). He also had roles in the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind and the TV series Walker.
5. How does Mason Thames make his money?
Mason Thames earns money primarily through film acting, starring in major studio productions for Universal Pictures and Blumhouse. As of 2026, he has no publicly confirmed brand endorsements or business ventures acting is his near-exclusive income source.
6. Is Mason Thames related to any other famous actors?
No. Mason Thames has no known connections to other celebrities by family. He is the son of Elizabeth and Chad Thames of Dallas, Texas. His sister, Brooke-Madison Thames, is a dancer, not an actor.
7. Is Mason Thames dating anyone?
Yes. Mason Thames publicly confirmed his relationship with actress Mckenna Grace in February 2026. The two co-starred in the 2025 romantic drama Regretting You, adapted from the Colleen Hoover novel, and their relationship became public after months of fan speculation.
8. How many Instagram followers does Mason Thames have?
Mason Thames is active on Instagram under @masonthames, where he shares behind-the-scenes content from his film projects. His following has grown rapidly alongside his 2025 box office success — check his profile directly for the current figure, as it updates frequently.
9. What is Mason Thames doing now in 2026?
In 2026, Mason Thames is in production on How to Train Your Dragon 2, scheduled for a June 2027 release, reprising his role as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, and Cate Blanchett. He also appeared in Idiots (2026) as Sheridan Kimberley, a lower-profile film between franchise commitments.
Conclusion
Mason Thames’s story doesn’t begin with a casting call. Rather, it begins on a ballet stage, at age six, as the youngest performer in a touring professional company — a child already learning what it meant to be accountable to an audience.
That foundation, built long before Hollywood ever knew his name, is what makes his rise feel earned rather than accidental. The Black Phone wasn’t a lucky break. Years of training, auditions, and quiet preparation led to the role long before it arrived. Playing Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon wasn’t luck either. Mason Thames grew up loving the character, then stepped into the role on a $150 million production seen by audiences worth hundreds of millions at the global box office.
His Mason Thames biography isn’t the story of a child star. It’s the story of a craftsman, still at the very beginning of his work.
