How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

​“How to Train Your Dragon” stars Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, and Harry Trevaldwyn.  Released on June 13, 2025, the film has a young Viking befriending a dragon.

The film is written and directed by Dean DeBlois, who’s known for directing “Lilo & Stitch”, “Heima”, and the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy.  It is the live-action remake of the 2010 animated film by Will Davies, Dean DeBlois, and Chris Sanders.  It is also loosely based on the book series by Cressida Cowell.  Since 1998, DreamWorks Animation has proven its worth as a fierce competitor to Disney in the animation realm, delivering content that has delighted multiple generations of families.  Even though most of its animated films weren’t as good as others, DreamWorks stands as one of the studios known for providing diverse animated content that appeals to both kids and adults through its stories and presentation.  However, this year sees DreamWorks Animation taking an unusual direction that not many of us expected the animation studio to take: producing a live-action movie.  But it’s not just any live-action film.  Instead, it’s a live-action recreation of one of the studio’s most successful animated franchises, “How to Train Your Dragon”.  I wish I were joking, ladies and gentlemen, but apparently, I was not.  DreamWorks Animation, known for producing only animated movies, is copying Disney’s trend of live-action remakes and applying it to one of its own works as the studio’s first foray into live-action territory.  You know, because it has been working so well with Disney’s recent outings this year regarding their critical receptions.  Was this one able to soar above the “soulless” live-action remakes, or does it further emphasize that some animated films should remain “animated”?  Let’s take flight and find out.

The story centers on Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Thames), a timid yet inventive Viking residing on the rugged isle of Berk.  Hiccup is caught in a generational war between his Viking tribe and the vicious dragons that have come to steal their livestock.  Despite being deemed weak, Hiccup compensates for his ability to craft mechanical devices under the apprenticeship of village blacksmith Gobber (Frost).  Hiccup uses his latest invention to capture a rare dragon many believed to be more feared than the rest: a Night Fury.  However, instead of proving his worth by killing it, Hiccup sets the Night Fury free, resulting in it sparing him in return.  He then winds up befriending the Night Fury, whom he names Toothless, while keeping its existence a secret from other Vikings, including his father, the village chieftain Stoick the Vast (Butler).  As Hiccup learns more about the dragons’ true nature, he finds himself questioning the generational feud between the Vikings and the winged creatures.

“How to Train Your Dragon” has held a special place in my heart as one of my favorite animated movies from DreamWorks since I first experienced it in theaters fifteen years ago.  Its narrative offered a refreshingly entertaining and genuinely heartfelt take on the human-pet relationship, featuring a Viking befriending a vicious yet lovable dragon.  As for the animation, my god, the animation!  It was a breathtaking and gorgeous sight to behold, especially for the flight sequences featuring Hiccup and Toothless.  It was one of the examples of how DreamWorks Animation can excel with a source material when it comes to storytelling, characters, and, most importantly, presentation.  I also loved its sequels for emphasizing Hiccup’s coming-of-age journey from being the runt of the Viking litter to emerging as Berk’s next chieftain.  “The Hidden World” may not have reached the same heights as its two predecessors, but it still found a place in my heart as a splendid and beautifully animated conclusion to the Viking-dragon duo’s arc. 

That said, I did have my concerns about its live-action reiteration, which debuted less than two decades after the animated version was released.  It boasts several advantages that could help it turn the tide in the realm of unnecessary remakes, including its promising young cast, stunning visuals, and the return of Dean DeBlois from the animated trilogy.  However, its marketing put a damper on my expectations, indicating that it would likely be a shot-for-shot remake of the original’s story, leading me to question its existence when we got the original available to stream at home.  This issue has been a thorn in Disney’s back with its own live-action adaptations, many of which have faced criticism for being too safe and resembling their animated counterparts too closely, such as “The Lion King”.  Its attempts to distinguish the remakes from the originals through narrative changes and updates for modern audiences also didn’t help much, especially given the constant backlash from the "man-babies" on social media.  In short, it bears repeating that there’s no winning with Hollywood’s live-action remakes.

However, even with those glaring issues, what truly matters to me is still the execution and passion behind the live-action adaptations.  Whether due to the familiarity of the stories, plot additions, or character modifications, I’m open to accepting these remakes as acceptable companions to their animated originals if the direction, cast, and script were executed correctly.  The "Jungle Book” remake from Disney is one example of this success.  It gave audiences a sense of familiarity but also effectively distinguished itself from its animated counterpart through its story alterations, which avoided becoming a pointless carbon copy of the original version.  The remake of “How to Train Your Dragon” seemed like it didn’t have that many changes made to the original’s beloved plot based on the trailers, so the best thing I could do for this review was to see how well the story would adapt to a live-action format.  After taking the time to see the remake, the only way I can describe the film is that it’s a suitable option for families — if they haven’t seen the animated version.

To further decipher what I meant, it’s best to look at “How to Train Your Dragon” from two different viewpoints.  The first perspective is how the movie turned out as its own film.  As a standalone movie, “How to Train Your Dragon” is a fun, albeit formulaic and average, reflection of friendship, bravery, and generational customs that comes equipped with a visually dazzling fire burning inside its chest.  I wouldn’t say it’s a genuinely profound depiction of its heartfelt themes, as its emotional depth and charm lacked a proper burst in most of its key storytelling moments.  Nevertheless, it compensated for this with the impressive technical aspects that brought the world of Berk to life and the enjoyment of watching the Vikings beat the snot out of the fire-breathers.  

Not counting the music-related films, “Heima” and “Go Quiet”, the movie marks Dean DeBlois’ first foray into live-action territory after his experience with animation, mainly with “Lilo & Stitch” and the “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy.  Despite serving as co-director with Chris Sanders, DeBlois did prove through the “Dragon” sequels that he can deliver beauty and sincerity in animation form on his own.  That track record brought me some confidence that he could achieve similar results with real people, real settings, and CGI dragons.  Despite a few rough patches in his vision, including the murky lighting effects and tolerable humor, I thought DeBlois didn’t do too badly in his live-action debut.  Through his thoughtful approach to the film’s charm, fantasy action, and visual splendor, Dean DeBlois crafted a small yet awe-inspiring cinematic experience that’s best described as a fantasy blockbuster for kids.  Was there room for improvement?  Of course, there was.  But, much like his animated outings, DeBlois’ live-action effort certainly has the heart that not even a dragon can decimate with its fire.

More importantly, the film benefitted profoundly from its biggest strength: the visuals.  After watching the first trailer of “How to Train Your Dragon,” I knew that the visual effects would be the standout of the experience, especially regarding the dragons, and I was right.  The CGI was exceptional, particularly in its depiction of the dragons that soar and claw their way across the screen.  Regarding the meticulous attention to textures, animalistic behaviors, and designs, the visual effects beautifully envisioned the fire-breathers as living, breathing creatures that were seamlessly integrated into the backgrounds.  I would also point out that the visuals worked exceptionally well for the flight sequences featuring Hiccup and Toothless.  Thanks to the immersive cinematography and grand scope crafted by Bill Pope, these scenes delivered thrill-inducing and subtly gorgeous flights that warrant the big-screen treatment.  I would even say that they were my favorite parts of the film that emphasize the bond between Hiccup and Toothless.  The production designs, mainly for Berk, were also quite impressive for its grand, Ireland-like sceneries and practical effects.  It may not be wildly imaginative, but the settings show that beauty can also be found in simplicity.

As a standalone film, “How to Train Your Dragon” is quite an enjoyable treat that doesn’t offer more but also doesn’t offer less in its core concept and heartfelt messages.  However, when viewed as a live-action remake, it is understandably inferior to its animated counterpart, with the main problem stemming from its lack of distinct identity.  I recently revisited the original to gain a deeper understanding of how it might transition to live-action and comprehend the challenges the filmmakers faced in adapting the original narrative.  Long story short, the original version still holds up well in representing the soul and wondrous immersion of its narrative and themes through the art of CGI animation.  So, how does the live-action version handle this challenge?  Well, I will say this: it’s the animated film beat by beat, save for a few extended segments and minor adjustments, but with murky lighting and toned-down characters.  

On the one hand, Dean DeBlois was admirable in honoring his own narrative through his screenplay and direction without being something else entirely.  He also did a fine job maintaining the film’s core themes, illustrating Hiccup’s journey from being an awkward, weak Viking to a courageous one who challenges his tribe’s traditions to save both species.  On the other hand, this approach was also the reason why the remake is unnecessary, as its heavy reliance on replicating scenes shot-by-shot and beat-by-beat diminished its potential to warrant its existence.  It did provide a couple of sequences that explored more of its character dynamics, including Hiccup and Astrid (Parker) and Snotlout’s (Howell) estranged relationship with his father, Spitelout (Peter Serafinowicz).  Unfortunately, the latter didn’t pay off as well as I had hoped since it’s more focused on Hiccup, Stoick, Astrid, and Toothless rather than the other supporting characters.  

Besides those extended scenes and some minor plot changes, it’s undoubtedly a rehash of the first film, with the narrative pattern, dialogue, and John Powell’s score sealing the deal.  It was tolerable for the first few minutes, but after that, it became increasingly derivative, constantly copying the original’s key highlights instead of presenting them through a fresh perspective.  The original version’s scenes are still remarkable, even upon repeated viewings, but the live-action remake’s approach to those sequences felt like a desperate attempt to leverage nostalgia without any sense of depth, humor, and identity to carry them.  Granted, people weary of Disney’s efforts to differentiate its live-action remakes through narrative changes will be happy that “How to Train Your Dragon” stays true to its roots.  However, its lack of a unique identity and absence of storytelling risks further showcase the lose-lose scenario regarding live-action remakes of animated films.  Regardless of the direction they choose for their remakes, it seems impossible to satisfy everyone.

As for the cast, they may not have fully recaptured the performances of the original voice actors.  However, they certainly did their best to showcase their talents through their own interpretations.  Mason Thames, who made a name for himself in “Black Phone”, is facing the challenge of leading a modern big-budget blockbuster, let alone one targeting family audiences and is based on a beloved IP.  He faces the task of conveying Hiccup’s inventive yet timid nature that balances his awkwardness with courage and charisma, much like Jay Baruchel did in the animated version.  Based on what I’ve seen, I thought Thames handled the task pretty well.  Admittedly, I still favor Baruchel’s take on the protagonist due to him nailing the character’s timidity and development.  However, what Thames delivered to the table with his performance was commendable in highlighting Hiccup’s appealing personality, though slightly more subdued than his animated counterpart.

Nico Parker, who began her acting journey in the live-action “Dumbo” remake, tackles another live-action remake in her filmography, this time as the tough-as-nails and feisty Astrid.  I do not doubt that her performance could give her a chance to grab more roles like this in the future.  Parker respectfully embodied Astrid’s fierce persona and vulnerable side, as originally portrayed by America Ferrera in the animated version.  Except for one scene where her facial expression seemed emotionless, Nico Parker provided a solid first impression that may show promising signs for her future as an actor.  Gerard Butler was the only returning actor from the franchise, reprising his role as Stoick the Vast, and I’m glad he did.  Like James Earl Jones’s iconic role as Mufasa in the “Lion King” remake, Butler proves he’s the only actor capable of bringing his character to life, whether in animation or live action.  Every scene he’s in was engaging enough for me to tolerate the film’s overly similar pattern a bit longer.  Nick Frost also had a few enjoyable moments as Gobber, but I believe Craig Robinson still comes out on top with his take on the character, particularly in terms of line delivery.

Overall, “How to Train Your Dragon” glides its way to enjoyable heights, but its rehashed narrative beats prevent it from truly soaring above the remake clouds.  When viewed as a standalone film, it’s a watchable and mildly charming fantasy adventure featuring breathtaking visuals and immersive set designs that help excuse most of its narrative flaws.  I would even say that it’s another suitable choice for families to endure during the summer.  Unfortunately, as a remake, it’s a needless shot-by-shot replication that lacks any compelling interest and refreshing identity to coexist alongside its animated counterpart.  By leaning heavily on nostalgia through its shot-by-shot sequences, rather than presenting it with a fresh perspective, it further emphasizes the ongoing issues with live-action remakes, regardless of how good or bad they turn out.  While it affected my overall enjoyment of the film, it didn’t detract as much as the “Lilo & Stitch” remake did, so I should be grateful for that.  Dean DeBlois did a commendable job of honoring the source material’s story and themes through his direction, enjoyable cast, impeccable visuals, and subtle charm.  Unfortunately, they’re not enough to extinguish the flames of its copy-and-paste narrative beats, bleak lighting effects, and hit-and-miss humor.  If you love the animated trilogy, you’ll likely find enjoyment in this version, primarily for its faithful adherence to the original plot.  But, like my experience with the other live-action remakes, I still prefer the animated version one hundred percent.

C