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Year upon year, audiences have succumbed to live-action adaptations of our favourite animated classics. Whether it be well-received titles, including 2016’s The Jungle Book, or our less acclaimed efforts like 2019’s The Lion King, one thing is for certain – the box office benefits, and we’ll be getting plenty more of these. DreamWorks first foray into the now sub-genre of live-action remake is fan favourite How to Train Your Dragon, set on the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations. However, Hiccup (Mason Thames) stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. There’s no beating around the bush here – How to Train Your Dragon is not only a triumph, but the best live-action remake we’ve received so far.
How to Train Your Dragon manages to do something quite magical that other remakes that’ve come before it haven’t nailed yet. At times, it’s pretty much shot-for-shot, and tricky to see where the extra twenty-or-so minutes of run-time are. The conversations are familiar, the shots we know and love from the original are replicated, and John Powell’s iconic score booms through the speakers. Where that is a hindrance in other movies, as it feels like a soulless cash grab, it excels here. The reason – it manages to capture the heart and soul of the original completely perfectly.
There are multiple ways it achieves this, the first being the performances. Mason Thames (The Black Phone) is a wonderful Hiccup, nailing his quirky characteristics, inspiring determination, and charming awkwardness well. Thames breathes new life into this already adored character, it’s hard not to love him even more. His scenes with Toothless are once again the best parts of the movie, just like they are in the animated original, with much of this being down to Thames. Gerard Butler (300) reprises his role as Hiccup’s father, Stoick, this time providing more than just his voice, and he really is a standout. Stoick doesn’t understand his son, as he doesn’t exhibit the Viking characteristics he desperately wants to see in him, and Butler embodies this perfectly. Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) as Gobber works well, and Nico Parker makes for a great Astrid (Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy). The whole ensemble has flawless chemistry and gives their all.
Seeing this world come to life in live-action format is a sight to behold. The dragons themselves look more terrifying than ever, sending a shiver down your spine with their razor-sharp teeth and large, looming presence. The town of Berk is perhaps more immersive than it has ever been, with the realism adding a true sense of hustle, bustle and urgency to most sequences, especially those in which it’s under attack from the dragons. The costuming, hair, and make-up are all divine, matching the original flick effortlessly and making it feel like a true Viking settlement. All of that being said, it’s the cinematography that really makes everything pop. The CGI is flawless from start to finish; everything looks polished, pristine, and for lack of a better word, real. The landscapes are captured nicely, making the setting a character all of its own, and the way the scenes are composed gives the film many memorable shots, both on land and in the sky.
As consistent as the movie is in its entirety, there is one sequence that stands out above the rest – the test flight. As good as it is leading to this moment, the film transforms into something remarkable when Toothless and Hiccup take to the skies for their first successful flight, and from this point on, it really puts the pedal to the metal. The score kicks in in full force, reminding us why it’s one of the most memorable and stunning pieces of music DreamWorks has gifted us. The bond between Toothless and Hiccup is at its strongest here, and seeing the pair take this leap is just as endearing as seeing it for the first time. The cinematography is nothing short of jaw-dropping; not only does it look entirely believable, but it’s actually quite dizzying when the camera moves speedily along with our pair. Through rocky mountains and over rolling rivers, it’s an immersive experience that sees us traveling right alongside Hiccup and Toothless, and it’s equal parts exciting and tear-jerking. It may just be one sequence, but it feels like so much more.
Perhaps the main reason for delivering the same amount of heart, soul, and love as the original did back in 2010 is the return of some of our filmmaking team. Director Dean DeBlois, who helmed the entirety of the original trilogy, is back in the director’s chair, once again showcasing what he does best. From the performances to the cinematography, you can see his handprint on everything, making it impossible to imagine this story being handled by anyone else. Composer John Powell returns with perhaps one of the most defining scores of the last twenty years, but adds to it to ensure it makes a new mark. Chris Sanders is on board as Executive Producer, and Gerard Butler returning to the cast as Stoick is the icing on the cake. It’s not that the new additions aren’t great, but perhaps the story being in capable hands that already know this world inside out is what helps it not only excel, but drastically impress.
How to Train Your Dragon might not be perfect, as the animation of Toothless is slightly out of sync with the other dragons (though he’s still as cute!), and many may wish it added a little more flair of its own to warrant it being remade. However, it really pushes the idea of not fixing something that isn’t broken, as How to Train Your Dragon feels just as exciting as it did back in 2010. The characters are just as likable, Toothless is a joy as ever, and some sequences, especially the test flight and the final battle, may even look and feel grander than they did before. How to Train Your Dragon single-handedly proves that there’s still gas in the tank as far as live-action remakes are concerned. It is exceptional.
Grade: B+
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How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
