The boy who dared to befriend a dragon is back — this time in breathtaking live action. With sweeping vistas, dazzling spectacle, and heartfelt adventure, How to Train Your Dragon roars into a new era of magic and fantasy.
A frightened boy. A mysterious dragon. A single outstretched hand. When Hiccup first touched Toothless, it sparked a magical friendship that launched a phenomenon. How to Train Your Dragon (2010), adapted from Cressida Cowell’s novels, became a modern classic — spawning sequels, series, theme park rides, and millions of devoted fans. Now, the tale takes flight once more in an ambitious live-action remake.
On the rugged island of Berk, Vikings have long waged war against dragons. Hiccup (Mason Thames), a clever but awkward misfit, doesn’t fit the mould of a dragon-slaying hero or match up to the towering legacy of his father, the Viking chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler). Everything changes when he encounters Toothless, a fearsome Night Fury. Instead of raising his weapon, Hiccup extends his hand, forging a bond that could rewrite his people’s future.
Scroll to continue content
When Astrid (Nico Parker), a fierce dragon-fighter-in-training whom Hiccup has a crush on, grows suspicious of his secret, the young Viking must decide who he truly wants to be: a warrior, or something far braver.
Live-action remakes of beloved animated films can be a dicey proposition. Change too much, and one risks earning the ire of loyal fans. Change too little, and the necessity of the endeavour comes into question.
This was the challenge faced by director Dean DeBlois, who also co-directed the first animated film and directed the next two. He felt protective of the property and volunteered to direct the live-action version after hearing it was in development.
“In terms of grandeur and wish fulfilment, I thought we could lean into the immersive quality of what live action could bring,” DeBlois tells The Wrap, adding that revisiting the story gives him the “opportunity to lend more nuance to those relationships and those backstories”.
It’s fair to say he has succeeded in his mission.
Filmed against the sweeping landscapes of Northern Ireland — from Dunseverick Castle to Tollymore Forest — the live-action adaptation captures Berk with the grandeur of a fantasy epic while keeping the heart firmly intact.
For Thames, who was only 16 years old when he filmed the movie, stepping into Hiccup’s boots was a dream come true. “I watched it when I was five … I [even dressed up as] Hiccup for Halloween,” he tells Seventeen. His boyhood devotion shines through in a performance that balances Hiccup’s awkward charm and earnest appeal with quiet courage. Parker, meanwhile, wins over sceptics with her spirited take on Astrid, proving that heart and grit matter more than hair colour.
Audiences have flocked back to Berk — making the film one of 2025’s biggest box office hits. A sequel is already in the works, with DeBlois promising an Empire Strikes Back moment for the saga. And with whispers of Cate Blanchett’s return as Valka, the skies over Berk promise even greater adventures ahead.
So, saddle up: Hiccup and Toothless are ready to soar once more — higher, fiercer, and more magical than ever.
With an ancient evil threatening their worlds, it’s up to Hiccup, Toothless, and their courageous companion Astrid to make the realm realise they’re stronger together.
View Details
In the culmination of the epic trilogy, the young Viking Hiccup and the Night Fury dragon, Toothless, encounter a female Night Fury and face their biggest threat yet.
View DetailsImages: © 2025 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.