How to Train Your Dragon marks DreamWorks’ first foray into the realm of live-action adaptations of beloved animated movies. It’s a trend that has so far been dominated by Disney, and the studio’s seen great success – but they have also weathered some big failures. DreamWorks, to my great surprise and delight, seems to have figured it out straight out of the gate. The How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake is a fantastic movie, not just emulating the animated original, but elevating it, all while also delivering an exciting summer blockbuster poised to thrill.
The story will be familiar to anyone who’s ever seen 2010’s How to Train Your Dragon, but to recap: it follows Hiccup, a Viking from a tribe renowned for dragon hunting. Their home is frequently raided by dragons, and during one such attack, Hiccup attempts to prove himself by capturing and killing a dragon. He nearly succeeds, but when faced with actually killing it, he instead lets it go. From there, Hiccup and Toothless, a fearsome yet friendly Night Fury, form an unlikely but unbreakable friendship that will test what other Vikings, including Hiccup’s own father, can come to accept.
How To Train Your Dragon’s Story Is Exactly The Same As Before, But It Looks Better Than Ever
Truly Stunning Visuals Only Enhance What Was Already An Excellent Tale
How to Train Your Dragon isn’t a shot-for-shot remake of the 2010 animated movie, though it does recreate some iconic scenes. It is a beat-for-beat remake, however, bringing more or less the exact same story to the screen. To account for the added 27 minutes of runtime, there are minor additions and a few expansions (that are more like flourishes) – but it is pretty much the same plot as the animated movie. And that’s great, because when the story is as excellent as How to Train Your Dragon, there’s no reason to mess with it.
Now, pair that excellent story with some truly gorgeous visuals and wonderful performances, and you have a great movie. It’s as simple as that. Except we know it’s anything but simple to pull that off, and I believe How to Train Your Dragon only does it because it had the perfect people behind the camera. Dean DeBlois returns as writer and director, and while it’s not unheard of for original filmmakers to come back for remakes, this one feels special.
DeBlois clearly came to this project determined to, if not elevate what he helped make before, then at least equal it.
DeBlois’ has crafted a movie that is both a loving homage to the animated original and an exciting summer blockbuster full of spectacle and heart. It delivers the same thrills that came from watching it the first time. He knows which scenes should remain the same and which could use some tweaking, particularly now that it’s in live-action. It’s actually a little astonishing how well How To Train Your Dragon works, given that so many live-action remakes haven’t. But DeBlois clearly came to this project determined to, if not elevate what he helped make before, then at least equal it.
As evidence of this approach, look no further than two of his collaborators. John Powell, the composer for the animated trilogy, returns to pen the score. Having him return is a no-brainer, and, of course, from the moment his score plays over the studio logo, you’re immediately transported back to Berk. For cinematographer, DeBlois asked Bill Pope after a recommendation from legendary cinematographer and the animated movie’s visual consultant, Roger Deakins.
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Pope’s involvement might be one of the biggest reasons why a live-action How to Train Your Dragon works as well as it does. His photography is absolutely gorgeous, bringing Berk to life in rich detail, from the cozy interiors of Hiccup’s home and workshop, to sweeping Icelandic vistas. Then there are the flying scenes, which will not disappoint. The movie was filmed for IMAX, and it makes excellent use of that large screen format, delivering immersive sequences where it feels like you’re flying right alongside Hiccup and Toothless.
Speaking of Toothless and the many other dragons – they look fantastic. The visual effects team really nailed translating their designs from computer-generated animation to a more realistic style. Of course, it’s not true realism since dragons don’t actually exist, but that probably only helps to sell the illusion. Of the bunch, I’d argue Toothless looks the least “real”, appearing like a high-definition rendering of his cartoon. That’s fine, though, because retaining some of his cartoon-y design is what allows him to remain so expressive.
I’m Genuinely Shocked By How Good The How To Train Your Dragon Cast Is
The Similarities Between Their Performances & The Animated Characters Are Uncanny (And I Don’t Just Mean Gerard Butler)
How To Train Your Dragon‘s cast blew me away. Some of the actors reminded me so much of the animated characters, it honestly freaked me out a little. Gabriel Howell’s Snotlout, for instance, gives a performance that’s just a perfect reflection of what Jonah Hill and the animators originally delivered; it, like the movie, is both an homage and enough of its own thing. The whole cast of young adults are just fantastic, but so much does ride on Mason Thames’ Hiccup, and he knocks it out of the park.
Thames is roughly a decade younger than Jay Baruchel was when he first voiced Hiccup in the 2010 film, but his youthfulness is a welcome addition. Baruchel’s is a more sarcastic, older-sounding Hiccup, but it suits Hiccup to feel young and foolhardy, which Thames nails. He’s also hilarious and great at physical humor. The scene between Hiccup and Toothless involving a fish (you’ll know the one I mean) is both hysterical and disgusting. This was when I began to realize how well this story was working in live-action, because while funny in animation, the added ick factor here makes the scene even more fun.
I was delighted by Butler’s performance because he wholeheartedly understood the assignment.
Nick Frost plays Gobber, taking over from Craig Ferguson in the animated trilogy, and he is fine. I can’t say anything he brought to the role ever exceeded what Ferguson did, or was even all that different, and as such, it’s a perfectly serviceable performance. On the complete opposite end of that spectrum we have Gerard Butler, reprising his role as Stoick, chief and Hiccup’s father. I was delighted by Butler’s performance because he wholeheartedly understood the assignment.
Butler’s take on Stoick here is an extension of what he originally brought to the role, but everything is more dialed in. This is thanks in large part to the costumes, hair, and makeup. Crucially, having all of that lets Butler give a more realized performance. And he goes for it – he’s big when he needs to go big, really hamming it up when necessary, but he can also be so small and sad in those heartwrenching moments. It’s an exaggerated performance, to say the least, but it fits the film’s tone.
In fact, everyone in the cast is on the same page. From main characters to background actors, they all give slightly exaggerated performances that match the world’s heightened reality. It’s just another reason why having DeBlois at the helm was such a smart move – he directs his cast into giving committed performances that are never too over the top, but are also not too reserved or boring just because this is live-action and nothing can be silly lest it come across as less “real”.
How To Train Your Dragon Has Made Me A Fan Of Live-Action Remakes
Well, At Least A Fan Of This Live-Action Remake Because Of How Good It Is
Image via Universal Pictures
Days after my screening, I’m still a little stunned by how much I enjoyed this take on How to Train Your Dragon. I’m not a fan of this trend of adapting animated movies into live-action, as if live-action filmmaking is somehow more legitimate than animation. It’s a line of thinking that only becomes more infuriating when a movie being heralded as live-action is largely computer-generated imagery – AKA animation! But I digress.)
I really like the animated version. It’s a near-perfect movie. While we didn’t need a new one, watching How to Train Your Dragon changed my mind. This movie is a real joy to watch, and the experience of seeing it on the big screen was one of the better times I’ve had in a while (my audience loved it, by the way). I can’t say I’m eagerly anticipating every upcoming live-action adaptation, but I’m certainly looking forward to How to Train Your Dragon 2.
How to Train Your Dragon will release in theaters on June 13.
How to Train Your Dragon
8/10
- Release Date
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June 13, 2025
- Runtime
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116 Minutes
- Director
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Dean DeBlois
- Writers
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Dean DeBlois
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Mason Thames
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
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- This adaptation is a love letter to the animated original.
- It’s the same story but with stunning visuals that have it looking better than ever.
- A cast who really get into their characters, with performances that perfectly fit the tone.
