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Review by James Lindorf
Cressida Cowell began publishing her series of children’s books about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and his unusual best friend in 2003. DreamWorks Animation’s acclaimed adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon” in 2010 has expanded it into a massive franchise. Twelve books, three theatrical movies grossing over 1.5 billion dollars, multiple television spin-offs, and over half a dozen video games have been released. It was only a matter of time before they tried to move beyond the world of animation to bring in an even wider audience. The “How to Train Your Dragon” live-action remake opens everywhere on June 12th.
Dean DeBlois first got into the director’s chair for 2002’s “Lilo and Stitch,” which also got the live-action treatment this year. DeBlois partnered with director Chris Sanders for that film, reteaming for the 2010 “How to Train Your Dragon” adaptation. Since then, Sanders has gone on to other projects while keeping a foot in this world as a producer. While DeBlois has been steering this franchise for the last 15 years, making him the obvious choice for the latest film.
On the remote island of Berk, life is tough, but the Vikings that call it home are even tougher. Their biggest problem is the dragons that have been stealing livestock and attacking the village for generations. Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone) dreams of being an elite dragon killer like his father, Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise). But when presented with the opportunity to cement his legacy, Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he not only refuses to kill the most feared dragon, a Night Fury, but he befriends the animal, naming him Toothless. This act will damage his relationship with Stoick, as well as the fierce and ambitious Astrid (Nico Parker; The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Shaun of the Dead). But their friendship will be the key to forging a new future when an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons.
The most significant difference between the two versions of “How to Train Your Dragon” is the runtime. The animated version comes in at a svelte 98 minutes while the live-action version pushes the story to 125. That extra time isn’t used to add in a new subplot. Instead, it works to slow down the pacing. More time is spent on training and flying montages, as well as various other scenes here and there. While the story has a lot of depth, the relationship between Hiccup and Stoick remains relatively flat. Like something from 30 or 40 years ago, a parents just down understand, situation. Stoick is focused on his work and grief and takes no time to care for his son beyond the necessities. Not expanding on this element is the biggest failing of the film and its extra 27 minutes. In the end, those minutes add nothing but length.
The original film is wonderfully animated, and asking the creative team to bring it to life was a big ask. While the world of Berk can sometimes look like a cut scene from a video game, the creature effects and flying scenes are beautifully rendered. The dragon designs are the same that fans have come to love over the last 15 years, from the stubby Gronkle and the self-immolating Monstrous Nightmare to the speedy Night Fury. While overly long, the story can’t be faulted; it is still funny, sweet, and emotionally appealing to all four quadrants of viewers. The cast is also a significant strength of the film. Mason Thames is a natural as Hiccup, completely embodying the animated character without making you long for Jay Baruchel. Parker is a feisty, determined, well-rounded version of Astrid, and Butler is fully committed to his role.
While it falls into the realm of an unnecessary remake, “How To Train Your Dragon” 2025 is still a thoroughly enjoyable film. It has all the highs and lows of the original; you just have to wait longer to experience them. Combining the story with the strength of the cast and deducting points for the length and a terrible Fishlegs costume, the new film comes in at a 4.5 out of 5. A higher score than most films I review, but I will still return to the original when I feel the need to return to Berk.
Director: Dean DeBlois
Producer: Marc Platt, Dean DeBlois, Adam Siegel
Screenwriter: Dean DeBlois
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions
Rating: PG (Sequences of Intense Action|Peril)
Genre: Kids & Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Action, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date: June 13th, 2025
Runtime: 2h 5m
