Dir: Dean DeBlois
Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Frost, Gerard Butler
This charming yet overly loyal live-action adaptation of the animated classic suggests that DreamWorks haven’t learned from Disney’s mistakes, as they are also guilty of profiting from a beloved IP’s legacy.
Live-action adaptations of childhood classics have been around for many years, with Disney making a significant impact in the live-action remake market since 1994 following the release of “Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book”. Now, over thirty years later, the world’s most recognisable production company continues to produce live-action remakes, with a staggering 24 films released to date, including two already in 2025. While these remakes vary in quality, most moviegoers generally consider them inferior to the animated originals that captivated children for generations before their live-action transformations.
Following in the footsteps of their long-term rivals, DreamWorks has also decided to give one of their beloved animated classics the live-action treatment. “How to Train Your Dragon”, first released as an animated film in 2010, is loosely based on the 2003 fantasy novel of the same name by Cressida Cowell. It tells the story of Hiccup, a young outcast Viking boy who befriends an equally lonely dragon named Toothless. The film was a massive success for DreamWorks, spawning a trilogy that received acclaim from both critics and audiences. It quickly became the studio’s flagship franchise after the conclusion of the “Shrek” films. While “Shrek”, arguably DreamWorks’ biggest property, seems like a more logical choice for a live-action remake, the Ogre’s long absence from the big screen may have impacted box office sales—at least until the release of “Shrek 5” in 2026.
Given the options available, “How to Train Your Dragon” may be the most sensible choice for DreamWorks’ live-action remake, especially since it is based on existing source material that could be further explored. The animated films also feature some of the most impressive visuals the studio has ever produced. Personally, I was somewhat excited leading up to the release of “How to Train Your Dragon”, despite my cynicism toward live-action remakes. What kept my hopes high was the return of Dean DeBlois as the director. The Canadian filmmaker directed all three animated iterations of the franchise, co-directing the first film with Chris Sanders. Coincidentally, DeBlois and Sanders began their filmmaking careers by co-directing the 2002 Disney animation “Lilo & Stitch”, which just had its own live-action remake hit theatres a few weeks ago.
Having initially lauded DeBlois return, it became increasingly apparent during the film that the filmmaker had decided to play things pretty safe with this overly faithful remake. The narrative closely follows the original animated film, introducing us once again to Hiccup (Mason Thames), a 16-year-old misfit Viking. Hiccup’s village, Berk, frequently faces attacks from dragons. To cope with his physical weaknesses, he uses his skills as an apprentice to the blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost) to create mechanical devices, much to his father’s disapproval. Hiccup’s father, Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), is the village chieftain, and one day wishes Hiccup could be a brave Viking warrior like himself.
During one of the dragons’ night-time raids, Hiccup manages to shoot down a legendary and elusive dragon known as the Night Fury with one of his inventions. Instead of killing the downed dragon, which he had initially intended to do in order to prove himself, Hiccup finds compassion and sets it free. To his surprise, the angered Night Fury spares Hiccup, and the two begin to form a bond, with Hiccup naming the dragon “Toothless.”
While Hiccup’s father and the Viking fleet search for the dragon’s nest, Hiccup is enrolled in dragon-fighting training alongside other Viking teens: Snotlout (Gabriel Howell), Fishlegs (Julian Dennison), the identical twins Ruffnut (Bronwyn James) and Tuffnut (Harry Trevaldwyn), and Astrid (Nico Parker), whom Hiccup has a crush on. Through his growing friendship with Toothless, Hiccup learns that the dragons are aggressive only out of self-defence and vows to foster a new era of peace between the two conflicting species.
These live-action remakes continue to challenge me, both as a movie reviewer and as a casual cinemagoer. I cannot deny that I had a great time with this modern remake of “How to Train Your Dragon”. It possesses many of the qualities that made the original one of my all-time favourite DreamWorks animations. The transition to live-action may be the most seamless I have seen to date, with the real-life locations serving as worthy stand-ins for the fantastical and awe-inspiring island of Berk. The visual effects impressively render the various species of dragons, with Toothless retaining his cuteness and playful characteristics without feeling out of place in a live-action setting. While the other dragons have lost some of the caricature-like qualities that added to the quirkiness of the original film, they still embody their unique designs, representing Hiccup and Astrid’s band of trainee dragon fighters.
The film reaches its highest point during the breath-taking flying sequences, particularly when Astrid takes her first sky bound journey across the Northern Lights. This scene is a visual treat and reminds me of why I fell in love with the original fifteen years ago. Herein lies the problem with these live-action remakes: even when they are at their best, they only serve to remind us of the unimprovable animations that have preceded them. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy DreamWorks’ first attempt at live-action remakes, but it doesn’t have the same impact the second time around, especially since DeBlois doesn’t add anything new to the story.
This latest version of “How to Train Your Dragon” is 27 minutes longer than the original, which surprised me, given that it is essentially a shot-for-shot remake. While it may not be as egregious as Gus Van Sant‘s 1998 remake of “Psycho”, DeBlois and cinematographer Bill Pope nearly replicate the most memorable scenes from the original frame by frame.
It’s nice to see more screen time given to Astrid, whose strength was quickly overshadowed by her role as Hiccup’s romantic interest in the original. Nicole Parker does a great job of conveying the character’s ambition, devotion, and occasional hot-headedness on the big screen. The cast, overall, does a great job bringing their characters to life, particularly Gerard Butler, who previously voiced Stoick in the three animated films. One area where this live-action remake improves upon the original is the relationship between Stoick and Hiccup, with Butler’s history with the franchise allowing him to deliver some of his best emotional work in years.
At the end of the day, the original is an exceptional fantasy story that appeals to audiences of all ages, especially younger moviegoers. By essentially retelling the same story, this remake has a solid foundation, and you could argue it serves as an excellent fantasy adventure on its own. Unfortunately, it is still riding the coattails of an original film that will always be regarded by most as the superior and more beloved version.
The Verdict:
Dean DeBlois returns with a film that successfully captures the playful spirit and wonder of the animated fantasy adventure. However, his cautious storytelling prevents the undeniably enchanting tale from exploring new territory for today’s audience. Fans of the original will enjoy seeing Hiccup and Toothless soar through the skies again, but in the end, they will likely leave the cinema with a sense of nostalgia, reminded of their love for the first film.
How to Train Your Dragon is now showing in UK Cinemas
Dan Loves Film 
Good review. Personally, I liked this movie. Despite it lacking originality and being almost a “shot-for-shot” remake, it still retains mostly everything to love about the original animated feature, but brought into a new cinematic medium. Was it necessary? No. Is it better than the 2010 version. No. But it is still a solid remake and far superior to many of Disney’s live-action remakes of late.
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I agree with most of this. I enjoyed it dont get me wrong as its a great story but it just is not needed
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