As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to ... Read allAs an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together.As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between Hiccup, an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the key to both species forging a new future together.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Pete Selwood
- Drül
- (as Peter Selwood)
Featured reviews
The live-action version of "How to Train Your Dragon" is simply excellent. This is how you adapt an animated classic: with respect and care. The movie stays very faithful to the original, almost identical in many scenes and emotions, yet manages to feel fresh and engaging.
The cast fits naturally with the story-they were well chosen and deliver strong performances without overdoing it. The interactions, the relationships, and the character dynamics all feel in line with the spirit of the original movie.
What impressed me most was the emotion. I genuinely felt the same feelings I had when I first watched the animated film years ago. That sense of wonder, friendship, and growth is perfectly preserved here. It's rare for a live-action remake to capture the soul of its source material, but this movie nails it.
Disney should honestly take notes from Universal Pictures and DreamWorks. This is proof that respecting the source is the real key to success in remakes. A great work, and easily one of the best live-action adaptations I've seen.
The cast fits naturally with the story-they were well chosen and deliver strong performances without overdoing it. The interactions, the relationships, and the character dynamics all feel in line with the spirit of the original movie.
What impressed me most was the emotion. I genuinely felt the same feelings I had when I first watched the animated film years ago. That sense of wonder, friendship, and growth is perfectly preserved here. It's rare for a live-action remake to capture the soul of its source material, but this movie nails it.
Disney should honestly take notes from Universal Pictures and DreamWorks. This is proof that respecting the source is the real key to success in remakes. A great work, and easily one of the best live-action adaptations I've seen.
Honestly... I didn't expect to feel the same way I did back in 2010, but this film brought it all back.
The remake went far beyond my expectations. The casting was spot on-even though I had doubts at first, the performances felt genuine and convincing. Especially Hiccup and Astrid: I found myself reconnecting with them like it was the first time.
Visually, it's stunning. The world of Vikings and dragons feels totally believable. The direction respects the spirit of the original, while adding a more grounded and mature tone.
This isn't just a copy-it's a heartfelt experience that stands on its own.
The remake went far beyond my expectations. The casting was spot on-even though I had doubts at first, the performances felt genuine and convincing. Especially Hiccup and Astrid: I found myself reconnecting with them like it was the first time.
Visually, it's stunning. The world of Vikings and dragons feels totally believable. The direction respects the spirit of the original, while adding a more grounded and mature tone.
This isn't just a copy-it's a heartfelt experience that stands on its own.
This movie runs mostly as the original animation. Could be said, one of the most stunning live-action remake. Graphic cool, CGI cool (like animation dragons but upgraded a bit more real), landscape sooo cool, casting fine enough, music nice, plot same as origin but I saw some minor changes that don't affect the story. Flying scene very fantastic. For emotional, beginning to middle (for me) feels a bit neutral until toothless started flying scene cuz it was the same as animation, and mid to end was a bit intense, I saw they tried emotional act at final a bit more than original. Personally, I like to see a bit dark as origin with iconic music (not as animation's) however since this is children film, I can't blame on them. Anyway and overall, I really enjoyed the film as if I saw 1st original while I was young. It brought some nostalgia back. I'm looking forward to 2nd movie. Thank you, DreamWorks!
I think one of the problems with this current live action era is how took the original material and go: "Yep we are not doing that" and proceed to torn the story apart, but this one tastes of love for the first movie and and don't take away the magic away.
I understand that some of the cast aren't carbon copies of their animated but overall the actors are fairly good and we get to see a little more of character building for some of the kids, like Snoutloud and Astrid.
Hiccup is great and awkward like he is supposed to be, Stoic is stubborn and strong-headed, is his way or the highway and Gerald Butler delivers. I mean come on he is Stoic!
I understand that some of the cast aren't carbon copies of their animated but overall the actors are fairly good and we get to see a little more of character building for some of the kids, like Snoutloud and Astrid.
Hiccup is great and awkward like he is supposed to be, Stoic is stubborn and strong-headed, is his way or the highway and Gerald Butler delivers. I mean come on he is Stoic!
The long-awaited live-action adaptation of the beloved animated classic How to Train Your Dragon exceeds all expectations. Directed once again by Dean DeBlois and powered by John Powell's unforgettable score, the film stays about 95% true to the original story: a young Viking who forms an unlikely bond with the very creature his people are sworn to destroy.
-Highlights:
The casting is surprisingly good - I had my doubts about Hiccup and Astrid, but the actors became their characters in the best way.
The CGI is epic. Every dragon - from Toothless to the fire-covered Monstrous Nightmare - looks incredibly realistic and faithful to the animated designs.
The music hits hard emotionally. Scenes like the sand drawing, flight training, the romantic flight, and the final battle with the Alpha dragon are breathtaking.
Visually, the landscapes and Viking setting are on another level - rich, immersive, and cinematic.
-What would I change? Honestly? Nothing. This is how live-action adaptations should be done. Hollywood finally got it right (unlike certain mouse-owned franchises... 🐭👀).
-Final thoughts: This movie isn't just a tribute - it's a stunning, faithful revival of Berk's magic for a new generation. A must-watch experience on the big screen!
-Highlights:
The casting is surprisingly good - I had my doubts about Hiccup and Astrid, but the actors became their characters in the best way.
The CGI is epic. Every dragon - from Toothless to the fire-covered Monstrous Nightmare - looks incredibly realistic and faithful to the animated designs.
The music hits hard emotionally. Scenes like the sand drawing, flight training, the romantic flight, and the final battle with the Alpha dragon are breathtaking.
Visually, the landscapes and Viking setting are on another level - rich, immersive, and cinematic.
-What would I change? Honestly? Nothing. This is how live-action adaptations should be done. Hollywood finally got it right (unlike certain mouse-owned franchises... 🐭👀).
-Final thoughts: This movie isn't just a tribute - it's a stunning, faithful revival of Berk's magic for a new generation. A must-watch experience on the big screen!
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- TriviaGerard Butler's mother Margaret fell ill during production in Belfast, so he would go back to Scotland most weekends to be with her. She passed away in February 2025 at age 81. Butler, who grew up without a father, shared how touched he was that director Dean DeBlois paid tribute to her at the end of the live-action remake of the animated franchise: "I was so excited for her to see it, but I had a feeling she wouldn't. So Dean very kindly dedicated the movie to her." DeBlois shared that he brought the idea to Universal Pictures so he could surprise Butler with the dedication. "I knew that the loss of his mother was a deeply felt wound and that he was having a tough time recovering from it," DeBlois said. "So to honor her with a dedication in the credits just seemed like the right thing to do in that moment." Butler, who had already voiced Stoick in the franchise's animated films, shared how his mother knew, "Since I was a kid, I wanted to be an actor. If Stoick had a mum, that would have been my mum. She was an amazing woman, but she was strong, she was fiery, and she was graceful, and she was beautiful. When I saw the movie, I noticed that I had put more of my mother than of myself into that role."
- GoofsWhen the initial attack on the dragon nest begins, a small crew of Vikings are shown pulling down the ropes on a catapult in order to make the projectiles launch.
This method is physically and historically inaccurate, as catapults are designed to only work using a counterweight mechanism that gets released before launch. The energy required to make this work through human muscle alone would be impossible.
- Crazy creditsBefore the credits roll, a dedication is given to Margaret, Gerard Butler's mother who fell ill during production and passed away before the film's release.
- ConnectionsFeatured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Road to the Oscars 2023 (2023)
- SoundtracksYou Are My Homeward
Written by Dean DeBlois, John Powell
Animated to Live Action Movies
Animated to Live Action Movies
How to Train Your Dragon and more side-by-side looks at animated features and their live-action counterparts.
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Cómo entrenar a tu dragón
- Filming locations
- Iceland(on location)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $150,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $262,537,705
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $84,633,315
- Jun 15, 2025
- Gross worldwide
- $626,842,705
- Runtime
- 2h 5m(125 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
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