How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

It’s been fifteen years since the first cinematic version of How to Train Your Dragon wowed audiences, with its vivid adaptation of the much-loved children's books from British author Cressida Cowell. Two more animated movies were released, along with numerous TV series, such as Rescue Riders. In 2025, audiences have been given a new adaptation to explore, this live-action remake from director Dean DeBlois (who was also integral in the original movies), begging the question: do we need this?

The answer is yes.

This is how live-action remakes should be done. A powerful translation of everything that was superb about the original, combined with all the benefits of using all of the actors (not just their voices) and incredible stunts, set pieces, and some seriously swirling camerawork.

For those who don’t know the story of How to Train Your Dragon, it is set on a small island called Berk where a community of vikings live. Among them, is Hiccup (in this 2025 film played by Mason Thames), a calamity of a viking whose penchant for messing up has garnered him an unfavourable reputation on Berk. His father, Chief Stoick the Vast (a returning performance from Gerard Butler, who voiced the character previously), is desperately embarrassed by his son’s lack of ability when it comes to defending the village from the dragon pests, who blight their lives with stolen livestock and scorched huts.

When an opportunity presents itself to Hiccup to prove his mettle, a downed Nightwing that, if killed, would bring our hapless hero-to-be fame and glory, Hiccup decides instead to show mercy and befriends the dragon he subsequently names Toothless. From there, the pair must navigate the growing hostilities between Vikings and dragons whilst creating their own incredible bond.

From the opening scenes of Berk being attacked in the night to the end credits, this 2025 version of How to Train Your Dragon is almost a like-for-like action-remake and that’s really its only downfall. Whilst audiences, especially die-hard fans, will often be upset whichever way a filmmaker goes when remaking a film, there is nothing original on offer here - if you have seen the 2010 animated version, then you have seen this film. Only a few small tweaks have been made, such as Snotlout’s troubled relationship with his father being given more screen time.

That being said, every frame of this movie is glorious. It looks and feels just like an adventure film should, with high-velocity action sequences throwing you into freefall set perfectly against poignant moments of Hiccup’s journey towards manhood. The trials that Hiccup and the other young recruits go through are brilliantly shot, creating an intense gauntlet for them to survive whilst in the presence of the always creatively rendered dragons.

Butler is sturdy as the Chief, but it is Nick Frost’s depiction of Gobber, Hiccup’s quasi-guardian, that brings the most impressive performance in the film. Mason Thames and Nico Parker (the latter playing Astrid - Hiccup’s love interest) have a terrific chemistry, and their scenes together on Toothless’s back provide engaging moments.

If such a gem of an animated film can be given this kind of live-action remake, it gives us hope that others can follow suit. Scorch the soulless cash-grabs and merchandise opportunities and give us this instead, a foray into danger and adventure that glides off the screen.